Utah Official Criticizes BLM's Handling of Wild Horse Overpopulation
Utah officials have voiced their frustration over the Bureau of Land Management's (BLM) handling of wild horse populations, citing a lack of resources and ineffective management strategies. The issue has become a significant concern, particularly in relation to sage grouse habitats and rangeland conditions.
A frustrated Beaver County commissioner compared the U.S. Department of Interior's agency to a gelded horse, describing it as "impotent" in solving the wild horse problem in the West. Jim Lyons, deputy assistant secretary under Interior Secretary Sally Jewell, was in town to discuss sage grouse management but was met with complaints about the wild horse population issue in Utah.
"This is the worst managed horse population, but you guys always seem to pick on grazers," said Beaver County Commissioner Mark Whitney. "It has to come down from Congress. Congress has to step it up. … You guys are like a gelded horse. You're impotent. They do not give you the skills to manage this problem."
Lyons acknowledged the agency's challenges, stating, "We recognize the problem with the wild horses. We don't have the resources." He emphasized the need for solutions, particularly concerning the impact on sage grouse habitats and rangeland conditions.
Population Problem
As of March 2015, wild horse and burro populations in 10 Western states were estimated at 58,150, significantly exceeding the BLM's target of 26,715. In Utah, the appropriate management level is 1,956, but the population stands at 4,906. The BLM reported an 18% population increase from 2014 to 2015, with no effective fertility control methods available, according to a 2013 National Academy of Sciences report.
Current Strategy Ineffective
Utah's rural county leaders have expressed dissatisfaction with their meetings with Neal Kornze, the Bureau of Land Management's national director. A letter from several Western senators and members of Congress to Kornze, seeking solutions and cost estimates for population control, has gone unanswered.
"We believe that it is clear that the current management strategy of wild horses and burros has proven ineffective," the letter stated. "Wildfire, drought, and invasive species exacerbate poor range conditions caused by overstocked areas."
Legal actions have been taken by Beaver County, Iron County, and a coalition of private landowners against the agency over wild horse populations. The Utah School and Institutional Trust Lands Administration also sued the federal government, alleging damage to trust lands. However, an agreement was reached to prioritize wild horse removal in south-central Utah, pending congressional funding.
Adoption rates for wild horses and burros have stagnated, with the agency maintaining nearly 47,000 animals in holding pens at an annual cost of $49 million. Utah's first private holding facility opened in 2015, and proposals for additional off-range pastures are being considered.
The BLM is proposing a roundup and research effort in the Conger and Frisco herd management areas, involving gelding stallions and studying fertility rates. This project is part of a $11 million initiative across the West, involving researchers from the U.S. Geological Survey and Colorado State University.
Editor's note: Wild horses range on just 2 million acres of BLM land in Utah, while livestock graze on 22 million acres. Ranchers are scapegoating wild horses for rangeland damage and threats to sage grouse to divert attention from the larger issue of livestock grazing across the West.