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Managing Our Rangelands

By Jeremy Peters
The Western rangelands in our country are being destroyed, depleted and degraded by the
overpopulation of wild horses and burros. The entire ecosystem has become vulnerable as a
result of this growing issue.
Rangelands in the West can sustain roughly 27,000 wild horses and burros. Any number
above this limit has a major effect on the balance of the ecosystem. A toll is taken on the
vegetation, wildlife, water supply, and the horses and burros themselves. The survival of every
plant and animal in the area is put at risk when the population increases.
At this time, the estimated number of wild horses and burros on the Bureau of Land
Managements public lands is 58,000. The rangelands do not contain enough resources to
provide for the number of free-roaming horses and burros that currently inhabit the area.
This is not a number that can be sustained for long, and unfortunately, it is a number that
is growing at an alarming rate. The population of these animals is showing a growth of roughly
18-20 percent annually. With the potential of the population doubling every four years, action has
to be taken to slow it down.
As an organization that looks to conserve natural resources, the National Association of
Conservation Districts stands with the National Horse and Burro Rangeland Management
Coalition in their efforts to sustain the nations rangelands. We support whatever steps the
Coalition and the Bureau of Land Management deem necessary to turn around the situation that
has developed.
At this time, the Bureau of Land Management is doing what it can to slow the population
growth. Their efforts include gathers and fertility control methods. In gathering, the BLM
collects horses and burros from the public lands and transfers them to holding facilities.
Unfortunately, while the BLMs efforts are making an impact, it is not enough to keep up
with the rate of population growth. Further action needs to be taken in order to return the
rangelands to a healthy state.
The National Horse and Burro Rangeland Management Coalition has recently given their
support to scientific research on the possible sterilization methods that can be used on wild
mares. I stand firmly with the Coalition in my belief that sterilization methods are an option
worth further pursuing. Sterilization of mares as a management method is permitted under the

Wild Free-Roaming Horse and Burro Act of 1971 as long as the effort is both a viable and
effective option.
Although the BLM is currently using fertility control as a way of management, the
vaccine being used becomes less effective in individual animals after only one year. Long-term
fertility control practices like ovariectomies and tubal litigations can have a larger effect on the
growth of the wild horse and burro population.
The resulting reduction in growth will allow for many benefits. We need that kind of
improvement in the rangeland ecosystem. This problem is not only relevant to ranchers, farmers
and conservationists; it has an effect on every American taxpayer as well. The animals in the
BLM holding facilities are cared for using the taxpayer dollar. This care costs nearly $50 million
annually. Money is being put toward short-term fixes for a long-term problem.
There is more progress to be made on the status of the wild horse and burro population,
but awareness has to be brought to the issue. This can be done by contacting elected officials in
Congress. Action has to be taken to manage our rangelands. It is the responsibility and the duty
of the American citizen to conserve our natural resources for our future.
Jeremy Peters is the CEO of the National Association of Conservation Districts. He took over
the position in 2015.

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