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Everything on the earth has a purpose and a reason for its existence. Every human being is a warrior and every warrior
has a song written in his/her heart and that song must be sung or the soul forever remains restless.
This song is always about serving the Great Spirit and helping the people. This song is always sung for the people. Many times
I need to learn much about the difficulties of life. I need to know this, so I must experience it. Then I can be of use to
the people. Because I am experiencing difficulty does not mean I have left the path or that I have done something wrong. It
means I'm doing the will of the Great Spirit during these times of testing. I need to pray constantly to keep a good attitude.
Everything
is laid out for you. Your path is straight ahead of you. Sometimes it's invisible but it's there. You may not know where it's
going, but still you have to follow that path. It's the path to the Creator. That's the only path there is."
--Leon Shenandoah,
ONONDAGA
These numbers are recent (if not the latest) Bureau of Land Management numbers, as well as
numbers obtained through independent investigation. Please understand that population levels in particular are fluid and subject
to a significant degree of uncertainty (the same caveat applies to numbers provided by the BLM).
- In the 19th century, more than 2 million wild horses roamed the West (source:
J. Frank Dobie, “The Mustangs”, Southern Methodist University Press, Dallas, 1952).
- Today, less than 25,000 wild horses likely remain on public
lands.
- Over 6 million head of private livestock enjoy subsidized grazing
on public lands.
- More than 200,000 wild horses and burros have been removed from
public lands since 1971. The BLM plans to remove another 6,000 for Fiscal Year 2009.
- The 1971 Wild Free-Roaming Horse and Burro Act mandates that
wild horses and burros be managed on 47 million acres of public lands on 303 herd areas.
- Since 1971, wild horses have been zeroed out from 111 herd areas
representing over 19 million acres.
- Wild burros numbered 14,000 at the time of the 1971 Act’s
first census. Burros share their habitat with bighorn sheep, a highly-prized game species that now outnumbers them at least
16 to 1 on public lands. BLM’s target for nationwide burro population is less than 3,000.
- BLM relies on an annual population increase rate of about 20%
to evaluate population levels and justify round-ups, while the National Academy of Sciences estimates that rate to be closer to 10%.
- Wild horses account for less than 0.5% of large grazing animals
on public lands.
- 6 states have lost their entire wild horse and burro populations.
- In 70% of the remaining herd areas, BLM’s population targets
are set at levels that will not ensure genetic viability.
- The current removal policy is costing over 39 million tax dollars
a year.
- The removal and processing of a single horse through the adoption
pipeline can cost as much as $3,000.
- Over 30,000 wild horses are currently held in government holding
pens. Under the Burns Amendment, about 8,000 of them are threatened with slaughter.
- BLM’s private livestock grazing program encompasses 214
million acres of public lands, costs over $130 million to manage annually, yet only provides 3% of our national beef supply.
- The current fee to graze private cattle on public lands is $1.35
per animal unit month (AUM), the equivalent of $0.06 per acre per year, or about 1/10th of market rates to graze cattle on
private lands.
- Private livestock outnumber wild horses and burros at least
200 to 1 on public lands. (note: some livestock may not be grazed year round)
- In 2008, less than 5% of BLM’s wild horse and burro program
budget was allocated to herd management on the range, with the remaining 95% allocated to captures, holding and placement.
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