Horses & Winter: Too A lot For Western Wildlife? – Eastmans’ Official Weblog | Mule Deer, Antelope, Elk Searching and Bowhunting Journal
The letter beneath got here by way of my e-mail this morning. I’ll not expose who wrote it and it was unsolicited, but it surely does mirror my private views on the problem of feral horses competing with wildlife. The mule deer, elk and particularly pronghorn of southern Wyoming are at a tipping level this “spring” with extra massive blizzards on the best way as I write this.
It’s a foregone conclusion that Wyoming, northern Colorado, Utah and Idaho have suffered and can proceed to see large winter kill on ungulate herds for 2023. Sadly, because the beneath letter states, there isn’t a lot we will do about that within the second. However what about giving the surviving animals each attainable benefit to rebuild their numbers?
Learn the beneath letter and be at liberty to move it alongside to whomever you assume must learn it.
April 2, 2023
Senator John Barrasso
307 Dirksen Senate Workplace Bldg.
Washington, DC 20510
Pricey Senator Barrasso:
I’m certain you’re effectively conscious that massive recreation populations in Wyoming are struggling large losses as a result of extreme winter of 2022-23. Tens of 1000’s of antelope, deer, and elk have perished with extra to comply with.
Our wildlife populations had been hit laborious by a number of years of extended drought solely to be hit once more by repeated blizzards and deep drifting snows this winter. Sadly, lots of of those animals at the moment are being killed on our roads, highways, and freeways as they search among the solely vegetation obtainable to them. The state of affairs is now so unhealthy that WYDOT crews are utilizing dump vans to take away piles of carcasses alongside Wyoming roadways.
There’s nothing we will do about droughts and blizzards. They’re out of our management. Nevertheless, there may be one factor inside our management that we will do to alleviate among the stress our decimated massive recreation populations are experiencing—let’s take away feral horses which might be overpopulating and degrading our public lands, instantly competing with resident wildlife for meals, water, and house.
I strongly urge you to contact the U.S. Bureau of Land Administration (BLM) and to have them conduct the roundups (“gathers”) that they’ve been planning on doing for a number of years. THE TIME TO ACT IS NOW. Please do no matter you possibly can to get the BLM off lifeless heart and do their job. The necessity is URGENT. Let’s get this finished ASAP!
Sincerely yours,
XXXXX
XXXXX
Sheridan, WY
Cc: Mr. Mark Gordon, Governor of Wyoming
Mr. Brian Nesvik, Director WGFD