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