Balancing Livestock Grazing and Wild Horse Habitats

Balancing Livestock Grazing and Wild Horse Habitats

Public lands are shared by wild horses and livestock, creating a complex dynamic that often leads to conflicts over resources. Effective management and equitable resource allocation are essential to ensure that wild horses have the space and resources they need to thrive. Learn about the challenges and solutions in balancing livestock grazing and wild horse habitats.

Photo: Kimerlee Curyl Photocredit
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The Impact of Public Lands Ranching

Understand how livestock grazing on public lands affects wild horses and burros and the steps needed to achieve balance.

Resource Competition

Livestock grazing on public lands often leads to competition for critical resources such as water and forage. This competition can deplete the resources available to wild horses and burros, leading to poor health and habitat degradation. Effective management practices are needed to balance these competing interests.

Habitat Degradation

Overgrazing by livestock can cause significant environmental degradation, including soil erosion, loss of native vegetation, and reduced water quality. These impacts not only harm wild horse habitats but also affect the broader ecosystem. Sustainable grazing practices are essential to mitigate these effects.

Policy and Management

Current policies often prioritize livestock grazing over the needs of wild horses and burros. This imbalance is driven by powerful livestock industry interests and results in inadequate protection for wild horse habitats. Policy reform is necessary to ensure fair and sustainable management of public lands.

Financial Costs

Taxpayers subsidize livestock grazing on public lands, which often results in financial burdens without corresponding benefits for wild horses. Redirecting these funds towards habitat conservation and sustainable management practices can provide better outcomes for both livestock and wild horse populations.

Marlon Reis
Kaitlynn Carter
Suzanne Roy
Scott WIlson
American Wild Horse Conservation is a national leader in using fertility control to keep Wild Horse populations from increasing to the point where the BLM historically employs roundups and removals. I am beyond grateful for this amazing organization’s leadership and participation, without which the [Colorado] Wild Horse Project would not have come to fruition.
Marlon Reis
First Gentleman of Colorado
I wanted to get involved with AWHC when I saw videos of wild horses getting rounded up by helicopters. These animals are majestic in the wild; seeing them forced into captivity is heartbreaking and cruel. The government can do better, and I’m looking forward to educating the American public and working to keep wild horses in the wild.
Kaitlynn Carter
Ambassador
American Wild Horse Conservation is more than a campaign. We are reforming wild horse and burro protection across the American West, expanding protected natural habitats in places like Fish Springs, Nevada, and setting the conservation standard through the world’s leading wild horse fertility control initiative. We have a new model for wild horse protection through conservation.
Suzanne Roy
Executive Director
There are currently 62,000 wild horses and burros in long term holding. This year, the BLM intends to remove an additional 20,000 from public rangelands, with the North Lander animals to account for 14% of those.
Scott WIlson
Director of Strategy and Awareness

Take Action

Support Our Work

Your involvement is key to safeguarding wild horses and burros.

Donate to Support Our Work

Your contribution helps fund our advocacy, litigation, and protection initiatives.

Contact Your Legislators

Urge your representatives to support policies that help protect wild horses and burros.

Volunteer with AWHC

Join our team of dedicated volunteers and make a direct impact.

Our Commitment to Sustainable Public Lands Management

Discover how AWHC is working to balance livestock grazing and wild horse habitats on public lands.

Advocating for Policy Change

AWHC advocates for policy reforms that prioritize sustainable land use and fair resource allocation. We work with lawmakers and stakeholders to promote policies that support both livestock grazing and wild horse conservation.

  • Policy Influence: Engaging with policymakers to promote sustainable practices
  • Legislative Efforts: Advocating for fair resource allocation
  • Public Awareness: Raising awareness about the impacts of current policies
  • Coalition Building: Partnering with organizations to amplify our advocacy

Sustainable Grazing Practices

AWHC promotes and supports the implementation of sustainable grazing practices that minimize environmental impacts and support healthy ecosystems. These practices benefit both livestock and wild horse populations.

  • Best Practices: Encouraging sustainable grazing methods
  • Collaborative Efforts: Working with ranchers and land managers
  • Research and Education: Providing resources and training on sustainable practices
  • Monitoring and Assessment: Tracking the impacts of grazing on public lands

Habitat Restoration and Conservation

AWHC is dedicated to restoring and conserving wild horse habitats on public lands. Our projects focus on rehabilitating degraded areas, improving water sources, and promoting biodiversity.

  • Restoration Projects: Rehabilitating overgrazed and degraded lands
  • Water Source Improvement: Ensuring reliable access to clean water
  • Biodiversity Promotion: Supporting a diverse and healthy ecosystem
  • Long-Term Conservation: Securing and protecting habitats for future generations

Stay Informed and Take Action

Learn how AWHC is actively implementing solutions to protect wild horses and burros, ensuring their well-being and preserving their natural habitats.