Wild Horses at Mesa Verde National Park: A Growing Concern

Wild horses at Mesa Verde National Park have become a significant concern, as they are considered 'trespass livestock.' These horses have been known to trample archaeological sites, damage facilities in search of water, and breach fences designed to keep them out. Despite the challenges, the park has decided to halt plans to manage the approximately 150 horses within its borders due to limited resources.

The Challenge of Managing Wild Horses

Officials at Mesa Verde, a popular park in southwest Colorado, face a dilemma. While the presence of wild horses conflicts with the park's mission to preserve archaeological resources, the park lacks the manpower and funding to manage them effectively. Paul Morey, the park's wildlife program manager, acknowledges the complexity of the issue.

Wild Horses and Their Status

Unlike on Bureau of Land Management and Forest Service lands, where wild horses are protected under the Wild Free Roaming Horse and Burro Act of 1971, these animals are not classified as wildlife in national parks like Mesa Verde. The horses have been part of the area since colonial times, with many originating from the neighboring Ute Mountain Ute reservation.

Advocacy and Management Proposals

Earlier this year, Mesa Verde announced plans to develop a management strategy for the horses and sought public input. The American Wild Horse Conservation (formerly American Wild Horse Preservation) submitted suggestions to preserve a wild herd in the park. Suzanne Roy, director of the campaign, highlighted the National Park Service's track record in managing horses and proposed humane methods such as birth control and strategic fencing to protect sensitive areas.

However, treating the horses as an attraction, as seen in other parks like Assateague Island National Seashore, poses challenges. Morey points out that while some visitors view the horses as an attraction, they can be dangerous if approached too closely.

Current Management Efforts

Mesa Verde has reinforced fences around its boundaries, but horses continue to enter from reservation lands through unfenced areas. The scarcity of water in the arid park leads horses to damage tourist facilities in search of water, causing issues like torn-up weather station wires and vehicle collisions. The park plans to continue strengthening fences and using them to deter horses from water sources, indirectly managing the population by limiting access to resources.

Despite the challenges, Mesa Verde remains committed to balancing the preservation of its archaeological resources with the presence of wild horses.

Originally Posted By Denver Post