Wild Horses Denied Shelter and Shade
As temperatures soared above 100 degrees last summer, the public urged the BLM to address the harsh conditions at the Palomino Valley wild horse adoption facility near Reno. Nearly two thousand horses and burros were suffering in open, dirt pens without shade or shelter.
Despite public outcry and rising temperatures, the facility only installed two household sprinklers for the nearly 2,000 animals, with no plans for additional sprinklers or shade. The horses and burros continued to endure extreme weather conditions, including scorching heat, rain, wind, and snow.
Half of the horses and burros have since been relocated to other facilities. A shade "trial" with three temporary tarps is underway, but it is insufficient for the remaining 900 animals. The initial sprinklers have been removed, leaving advocates feeling betrayed by unfulfilled promises.
Ironically, to adopt one of these animals, you must prove you have proper shelter available, including a structure with a roof to block winds. Tarps are deemed "unacceptable."
Last year, the National Academy of Sciences criticized the BLM's Wild Horse and Burro Program. Despite the study's findings, the BLM continues its current practices, leading to a surge in the number of horses and burros in holding and their associated costs.
The situation has reached a crisis point. Some members of the BLM's Wild Horse and Burro Advisory Board, primarily representing ranching, mining, and hunting interests, have suggested slaughtering the animals to control their numbers. The winds are shifting against the horses and burros, leaving them without shelter.
Despite federal protection, managing America's wild horses and burros is fraught with politics and special interests. However, extreme temperatures are straightforward threats. With half of the remaining wild horses residing in Nevada, the BLM must provide these animals with at least minimal shade and shelter. Anything less is unacceptable to a public tired of empty promises.
Originally Posted By Reno Gazette Journal