America's feral horses need our assistance. These animals, running on Federal Lands in the West, need a helping hand. With the recent act by the House to pass the Rahall-Whitfield Amendment, it is clear that people donât understand the plight of the wild horse. The public urged their legislators to support this bill that prevents the sale of BLM horses to unrestricted buyers, despite their condition. Currently the horse population grows by 20 percent each year. Yet, no one asked why--why only an increase of 20 percent annually?

Don't these people care about all of the foals that die annually because of the management plans that are being forced upon them? These poor, defenseless babies need someone to look out for them.

To begin with, the horses are plagued with a high degree of inbreeding. You don't need to be a scientist to understand that inbred animals are more susceptible to disease and genetic abnormalities. Why else would your grandma tell you that you couldn't marry your cute cousin? Furthermore, the recent environmental conditions have not allowed the horses to sustain their populations due to the drought, which leads to premature death and restricted population growth.

Last fall, Montana Senator Conrad Burns generated and got Senate approval of an appropriation-spending bill that would have allowed for the sale of BLM-owned horses. Undoubtedly, the sale of horses would have made for a healthier population on the range. The Rahall-Whitfield Amendment prohibits the horse management necessary to prevent these cruel desert deaths. As a firm believer that we must always seek alterative answers to the issues we face, here is my solution:

One of the nation's most revered critters is, for some reason, the wolf. Once endangered and now on the rebound, the wolf just needs a boost to be thriving again. Wild horses could easily be managed to benefit their own herds as well as the wolf. As luck would have it, the government has been attempting to develop wolf populations on the same lands where wild horses roam. Nevada is home to more than half of the country's wild horses and wolves are beginning to be seen around the state. More of the country's favorite predators, mountain lions and bears, are also on the rise in Nevada but without proper foodstuffs, none of these species will thrive.

If the government would open a "managed horse-hunting season," all of these species would benefit. Animals of inferior genetic lines, within taxpayer owned horse herds, would be targeted because they are more susceptible to disease and contribute the most to colt death loss. I understand this "hunting" season would need a greater degree of management than, say, a white tail deer hunting season, but it would be not a lot unlike what is currently being done on ranch hunts for specific bull elk.

The BLM continues to struggle with funding for the proper management of their horse herd and this results in neglect of these animals. Fees could be generated from willing hunters who would most likely pay up to $10,000 for the opportunity to hunt the genetically inferior stallions. This money could go toward proper management of the healthier animals.

Additional benefits to the eco-system would be seen if this hunt were a consumptive use program. Since we don't consume horsemeat in the United States, carnivores from wolves, bears and mountain lions to scavengers like the bald eagle could benefit. The successfully harvested horse carcasses could be properly placed for the benefit of countless creatures in nature. Wolf and bear populations would flourish and mountain lion numbers would continue to grow as would bald eagles, hawks and other meat eaters.

Nevada recently kicked off the "Bird Nevada First" marketing campaign in the middle of horse management areas in response to the tremendous increase in bird watching in the state. Rick Gray, executive director of the Fallon Convention Center and Tourism Authority, "expects a statewide marketing plan that appeals to bird watchers will increase the number of visitors to Spring Wings in the future." The careful placement of these horse carcasses could mean that bird watchers could thrill at the sight of eagles and hawks in their viewing area.

I see this as the best-case scenario for all involved. It seems as though everyone, including elected officials, believe that all species can be managed independently. Sustaining the life of all species is about the end of one being enabling to the continued existence of another. This is a tremendous opportunity for the horse, as every species can truly have only one goal in life--to make a difference. The death of a few carefully selected horses would benefit the eco-system of all for generations to come. Wildlife lovers should be thrilled with this proposal because it will help to build the populations of all things wild on federal lands.

Editor's note: Trent Loos is a sixth generation United States farmer, host of the daily radio show, Loos Tales, and founder of Faces of Agriculture, a non-profit organization putting the human element back into the production of food. Get more information at www.FacesOfAg.com, or e-mail Trent at trent@loostales.com.

Date: 5/26/05

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