Drought led to 50% more horse roundups in U.S.
8/30/2021 12:00:00 AM
CATEGORIES:
Plants & Wildlife
Water Supply & Quality
AFFECTED AREAS:
Colorado
Nevada
Oregon
Utah
Wyoming
Start Date: 8/1/2021
- End Date: 10/1/2021
The Bureau of Land Management manages the wild horse population in the West and intended to gather around 6,000 horses, largely in Nevada, Oregon, Wyoming and Colorado by October, rounding up 50% more horses than in 2020. Meager precipitation allowed little vegetation to grow this spring and summer for the animals to eat.
Animal advocates want the horses left on the range and given fertility treatments to limit herd size, but fertility treatments must be readministered annually. Cattle ranchers were voluntarily reducing grazing on federal land and were hauling water to livestock, which also benefits the horses.
Associated Press News (New York), Aug 18, 2021
The Bureau of Land Management plans to round up 50% more horses in 2021, due to intense drought. Recent emergency roundups were focused on horses in Nevada, Oregon and Colorado where “chronic overpopulation” has exhausted food and water supplies.
Associated Press News (New York), Aug 3, 2021
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