Wild Horses an Endangered Species

Man only natural enemy;

From "Parades Intelligence Report" online;

Protecting Wild Mustangs
Thousands of wild mustangs have lived for decades on federal land, protected by the government and sustained by allocations to the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). But now the BLM says the program—w hich had a budget of $36 million last year—is overwhelmed, and the horses are in danger.

Since mustangs have virtually no natural predators, herds will double every four years if left unchecked. To prevent overpopulation, the BLM removes thousands of the horses from the wild each year and seeks to place them in adoptive homes. But adoption rates have declined by 36% since the 1990s, leaving thousands of homeless horses in temporary facilities at government expense. Without an influx of new money, the BLM may have to begin killing horses with no adoption potential or selling off horses for possible slaughter. Tom Gorey, a BLM spokesman, says the agency hopes to gain new resources in the federal budget now under consideration by Congress. At the same time, it is seeking new strategies for increasing adoptions.

— Brooke Lea Foster

Several non-profit groups have formed to try to protect the wild mustangs living on federal land and some powerful individuals, including Madeleine Pickens -- wife of oil magnate T. Boone Pickens -- have taken on the project as a personal cause. The following links have more information about the issue, and suggest ways to get involved.

http://www.savethemustangfoundation.org

http://www.wildhorsepreservation.com

http://www.madeleinepickens.com

If you are able to care for a mustang and wish to adopt, the Bureau of Land Management runs a website where you can apply online:

https://www.blm.gov/adoptahorse


Click on title above for original article and place to leave comments; http://www.parade.com/news/intelligence-report/archive/090719-protecting-wild-mustangs.htm