S0ME INTERESTING WILD HORSE AND BURRO NUMBERS BY CARLA BOWERS

The Numbers 

  • 38,500: BLM reported total of WH&B population (as of 2/28/11, not validated)
  • 26,600: BLM high AML (appropriate management level) for WH&B population
  • 16,000-18,000 BLM actual current targeted low AML for WH&B population
  • 21,354: WH&B population as of 2/28/11 using BLM’s own data& 20% growth model (independent analysis)
  • 240,000-480,000: Approximate head of livestock on WH&B management areas
  • Up to 3M livestock on BLM lands
  • Up to 1.5M livestock on USFS lands
  • 20 million mule deer, 1 million elk, 700,000+ pronghorns, 70,000 bighorns (considered a “species of concern”) on Federal, state & private lands
  • 245 million: Number of acres BLM currently manages
  • 160 million: Number of BLM acres allocated to livestock use
  • 8 million: Number of BLM& privateacres originally designated for WH&B in 1971
  • 6million: Number of BLM & private acres currently managed for WH&B
  • 2 million: Number of acres WH&B have lost since 1971
  • 27 million: Number of BLM acres currently allocated to WH&B use (with livestock)
  • 11%: Amount of BLM land currently designated for WH&B use
  • 83%: Amount of forageallocated to livestockin BLM WH&B areas
  • 17%: Amount of forageallocated to WH&Bin BLM WH&B areas
  • 339: Number of BLM original Herd Areas designated for WH&B in 1971
  • 179: Number of BLM reduced-size Herd Management Areas currently designated for WH&B
  • 160: Number of WH&B Herd Areas BLM has zeroed-out
  • 193 million: Number of acres USFS currently manages
  • 91 million: Number of USFS acres allocated to livestock use
  • 2 million: Number of USFS acres allocated to WH&B use (with livestock)
  • 04%: Amount of USFS land currently designated for WH&B use
  • 650 million: Number of Federal land acres
  • 5%: Amount of Federal land acres (BLM/USFS) designated for WH&B use (with livestock)

Costs to Taxpayers:

  • $75.7 million: FY2011 total cost of BLM’s WH&B Program
  • $11.4 million: FY2011 cost of roundups, including fertility control
  • $48.2 million: FY2011 cost of BLM warehousing WH&B
  • $766,164: FY2010 cost of BLM WH&B census & range monitoring (3.3% of budget)
  • $144-500 million: FY2011 cost of livestock grazing program
  • $13 million: FY2011 cost of predator control program to benefit livestock

Compiled by Carla Bowers, carla84bowers@yahoo.com, 10/26/11, Revised 11/6/11

For NAS/NRC Study Panel of BLM Wild Horse & Burro Program

All numbers above are verifiable                                                                             (over)

Conclusions 

– America’s “legally protected” WH&B are not getting a fair share of land, forage & water.

– The AML range of 16,000-26,600 for WH&B is too low & threatens the genetic viability& survival of healthy, self-sustaining herds over the long-term.

– An independent, state-of-the-art census is required.

Questions

– Considering the above numbers, is it fair to claim WH&B are overpopulated in America?

– Why is livestock allocated the majority of forage on WH&B legal areas?

– How does BLM arrive at AML for WH&B versus livestock on WH&B legal areas?

– Is WH&B genetic viability & survival of healthy, self-sustaining herds considered at all in AML establishment?

– Shouldn’t the above requirement be the first consideration in WH&B AML establishment before forage allocations are set on WH&B legal areas?

– What is the best mechanism to correct the insufficient & unfair allocations between livestock & WH&B on WH&B legal areas?

– How is damage to the range studied exactly& how much time is dedicated to monitoring?

– How is it determined unequivocally what animals did anyrange damage, i.e., WH&B, livestock or other wildlife?

Compiled by Carla Bowers, carla84bowers@yahoo.com, 10/26/11, Revised 11/6/11

For NAS/NRC Study Panel of BLM Wild Horse & Burro Program

All numbers above are verifiable

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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