Month: August 2019

NDA Signs Another Cooperative Agreement with Non-Profit

A report posted today by Carson Now says the Nevada Department of Agriculture has joined forces with Wild Horse Connection of Reno to manage the free-roaming horses of the Virginia Range.

Accordingly, WHC will respond to citizen concerns regarding public safety, including wild horse removal and adoption, diversionary feeding and installation of fencing.

The agreement follows one signed earlier this year for fertility control (PZP darting).

IMG_9525

Wild Burros Bad for Business?

For years we’ve heard that taxes and regulations are destroying businesses—weakening our competitive position—but now we’re learning that wild burros are the culprit, at least in Arizona.

They’re trampling the ground, reducing vegetation, invading farmland, breaking fences  and releasing livestock, according to a story posted Thursday by the U.S. Small Business Administration Office of Advocacy.

They have no natural predators and compete with domestic cattle for resources.

While all of these things may be true, the author did not indicate if they were occurring on public lands set aside for the burros.

If not, were those lands designated as open range, where the owners are responsible for keeping the burros out (by constructing suitable fences)?

Whatever the answers, the ranchers want the burro populations reduced and are willing to look at all options.

Complaints about the burros from oil companies, mining companies, timber companies, hikers, campers and tourists appeared nowhere in the story.

Fifteenmile Roundup to Occur Later This Year

BLM said today that the number of wild horses in the Fifteenmile HMA, northwest of Worland, WY, would be reduced from nearly 700 to around 100 this fall, the point at which the HMA can support the horses and other mandated uses of the land (privately owned sheep in this case).

Horses that have moved onto private and state lands will also be removed, according to the news release.

mccullough_peaks_hma_map-1

Supporting documentation, including the final environmental assessment and herd management plan, can be found on this page.

The HMA intersects five grazing allotments, according to the EA, with 3,370 AUMS per year allocated to sheep (60%) and 2,300 AUMs per year allocated to the horses (40%).

Wild Horse Mesa Confirmed

A story by Taos News dated 08/01/19 confirms it’s in southern Colorado near the New Mexico border.  A herd of 150 wild horses inhabits an area formally known as San Pedro Mesa, which includes the Sanchez Reservoir.

Judy Barnes of Spirit of the Wild Horse, a non-profit organization she started, cares for the animals, protecting them from mustangers.

The article did not indicate if the land was public or private and if it was subject to livestock grazing.

RELATED: Wild Horse Mesa.

UPDATE: Judy said WHM is on private land, part of a real estate development known as Melby Ranch, with some livestock grazing on the east side.