Wild Horse management problem video

[MtGomer]

I really struck a nerve on this topic in the comments where this was shared on the AZ chapter BHA Facebook. Wild horses bring out downright emotional stupidity beyond anything I’ve seen even with wolves and G bears.
Usually I can understand, but disagree with other’s points of view. I cannot for the life of me see things through the eyes of somebody that values ferals over iconic native species and sensitive ecosystems.

 

[cmahoney]

It’s crazy how many people have no idea what’s going on, especially here where those things are everywhere. The wild horses and burro act is really the invasive species protection act.

Why not federally protect Quagga Mussels and cheatgrass.


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[wyodan]

I've seen huge arguments against even suggesting spaying mares, but they are all for gelding stallions. It seems some have a very hard time understanding one stallion can breed dozens of mares. It's a shame that the folks won't allow any discussion on the subject of population control. Hell, I've even been debating adopting a couple of burros myself, but there is definitely not enough people adopting the overpopulated herds to really even make a dent.

 

[Billinsd]

Feral horses has absolutely ruined Northwest Nevada. If there are worse places, I have not heard of them.
Bill

 

[Mike7]

I did an informal survey today at the office (majority female staff), and the initial general reaction seemed to be that all outcomes are acceptable except killing horses. I got the feeling that it would take a concerted PR effort with films showing horses and other cute animals dying a painful looking death from starvation and dehydration, followed by BLM veterinarians coming in and putting horses to sleep humanely and then maybe putting them in nicely marked graves, before population control might be acceptable to some people.

I have only been offered horse meat once and did not eat it. But that was raw horse meat in Japan, which apparently is a delicacy there. These wild/feral horses are a beautiful creature, but I think that I would try cooked horse meat...especially if it meant a 50 million dollar yearly tax savings.

 

[Idaho_Potato]

I did an informal survey today at the office (majority female staff), and the initial general reaction seemed to be that all outcomes are acceptable except killing horses. I got the feeling that it would take a concerted PR effort with films showing horses and other cute animals dying a painful looking death from starvation and dehydration, followed by BLM veterinarians coming in and putting horses to sleep humanely and then maybe putting them in nicely marked graves, before population control might be acceptable to some people.

I have only been offered horse meat once and did not eat it. But that was raw horse meat in Japan, which apparently is a delicacy there. These wild/feral horses are a beautiful creature, but I think that I would try cooked horse meat...especially if it meant a 50 million dollar yearly tax savings.

We just need the fellas over at MeatEater to come up with a horse meat fad. We could have the flat-brim puffy-jacket army dropping round steaks into a sous vide bath in no time.

 

[Mike7]

Discussed the horse issue and the info in this video briefly every day for the rest of the week, probing why work staff felt the way they did.

By the end of the week, the staff member with the most ardent initial guttoral anti-horse management/killing opinion, had completely changed. She was completely fine with euthanizing horses if done in a humane way, and as long as the horse meat was not allowed to completely go to waste, if this meant saving horses and other animals from starvation due to habitat destruction.

 

[4ester]

I say we feed horse meat to inmates and kill two birds with one stone.


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[rayporter]

i can remember horses selling for 40 cents per lb on the hoof for dog food.

when they closed the processing plants a big market went away. now many are lead out back and shot or taken out in the desert and turned loose.

 

[Mt Al]

Not wild...
Feral

This has to be part of the lexicon. If horses are wild, so are hogs, quagga muscles (as above), snake head fish, etc.. Make the supporters answer why feral horses get love and hogs don't, etc..

I'm going to ask my local Montana elected official to introduce a bill that calls them "feral horses", then the state Senator to require that BLM language use "feral" vs. wild, like on this website: https://www.blm.gov/programs/wild-horse-and-burro.

Not holding my breath for anything reasonable to happen.

 

[cmahoney]

It’s like a religion.


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[zachary.peterson]

I'd say "wild" is used to distinguish them from domestic horses. You wouldn't say "wild deer" you just say deer and everyone assumes they're wild. You say "horse" people assume domestic. Feral is used as a term for something that's basically gone from domestic to wild, become savage, and shouldn't be there. Ie, feral hogs, feral cats, feral dogs. Horses are supposed to be on the landscape. I still think we should hunt them.

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[Mike7]

I thought all wild horses were feral, being brought over from Spain originally, and then escaping their owners back in the 16th century?

 

[cmahoney]

I thought all wild horses were feral, being brought over from Spain originally, and then escaping their owners back in the 16th century?

I thought the same thing, along with the ones currently released by their owners.


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[DenverCountryBoy]

I thought all wild horses were feral, being brought over from Spain originally, and then escaping their owners back in the 16th century?

Yep. The ancestors of the modern horse went extinct in the Americas during the last ice age.

The non native modern horse was first reintroduced to the Americas in the Virgin Islands in 1519.

 

[Miller8812]

Put a $10 bounty on em I would use them for target practice.

 

[wymtnpounder]

The BLM will now pay you 500$ within 60 day of adopting a "wild" horse or burro and then another 500$ within getting the title. Crazy

Programs: Wild Horse and Burro: Adoptions and Sales: Adoption Incentive Program | Bureau of Land Management

www.blm.gov

 

[socoalt]

I don't know anything about Charles Post but it's clear from watching the video that his message will be well received by the granola hiker crowd and even city-dwelling "environmentalists" too.

He wasn't targeting hunters with his video. He was targeting a much larger audience.

He educated people is a subtle way and said that management is needed to improve the health of the habitat, wildlife, and the horses themselves. He didn't say or even suggest what management is needed. He just said that management is needed. This is an important first step for the non-hunting public.

I agree. I have never heard of Charles Post and after watching the video I still have no idea what his stance is other than what has been said about him on this thread. If he can make a video about an issue and not preach a stance then the guy deserves some credit. A damn sure way to let this specific problem get worse is to keep arguing with the other side because of their other beliefs. I take it as a plus if he is anti hunting/2a because hopefully he can present the issue to the animal rights side with out getting immediately shut down.

 

[Middleofnowhere]

The horse and burro numbers are staggering. No predators.
Just like the California Sea Lion in a problem on the west coast, protected by an ignorant congressional act...