Elko Newspaper Highlights the Importance of Wild Horses

September 9, 2016

AWHC Contributor

The Elko Daily News has published a surprisingly good editorial that addresses the ongoing wild horse controversy in an area often referred to as "ground zero." This editorial underscores the importance of these noble creatures, which have played a significant role in the history of the American West.

The newspaper writes, "One thing the various parties can agree on is that this is truly a time of tragedy for these noble creatures that enabled man to tame the West. Whether you believe horses lived here prior to the arrival of pioneers or that they are nothing but the feral remnants of early ranching, the horse is still a timeless symbol of man’s relationship with nature."

The editorial calls for a balanced approach to wild horse management, aligning with the goals of the American Wild Horse Conservation (formerly American Wild Horse Campaign). Today, AWHC will be present at the advisory board meeting in Elko, advocating for the Board to recommend that the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) address three critical areas:

Management practices must change. The National Academy of Sciences found that BLM's current management practices, which involve a constant cycle of roundups and removals, are contributing to high population growth rates and increasing the number of horses in holding facilities. The agency must transition to humane management on the range, utilizing the proven PZP fertility control vaccine where necessary to reduce population growth rates.
"Appropriate" Management Levels (AMLs) need revision. The NAS could not identify a science-based rationale for the BLM's AMLs, concluding that the process is not transparent, scientifically supported, or adaptable to new information and changes. The national AML of just over 26,000 wild horses and burros is based on outdated figures from 1971. These levels should be increased to support larger, genetically sustainable populations.
Livestock grazing must be reduced in wild horse and burro habitats. Wild horses and burros occupy only 17 percent of BLM land grazed by livestock, yet over three-quarters of available forage resources are allocated to privately-owned livestock. Wild horses and burros deserve a fairer share of resources in their habitats. The BLM and Congress should explore compensating ranchers for reduced or non-use of grazing permits in these areas, which would be more cost-effective for taxpayers than continued roundups and removals.