County

Letter to the Editor: NBC misrepresented wild horse situation

Dear Editor:
The recent stories by NBC News in regard to the “wild” horse issue misrepresented many facts and omitted the reality surrounding wild horses and burros on the Western range.
First of all, the horses and burros are feral animals that were turned out on the range when pioneers no longer needed them for transportation, farming and mining. The practice of turning domestic horses out on public lands continues today because people can no longer feed and care for them in these difficult economic times. In fact, the BLM was called to remove feral horses from private land in Northwest Colorado and two of the four were determined to be domestic horses that had been turned out on the range with the traditional herd of feral horses.
The Wild Free-Roaming Horse and Burro Act (The Act) was passed in 1971 to protect and manage the horses and their habitat, the rangelands. The act allows horses to be managed only in areas where they were found on the public lands in 1971. The act requires the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to manage for a thriving natural ecological balance because even Congress knew there would be no healthy horses, wildlife, livestock or watersheds without ecological balance on the rangelands.
The Wild Horse Program is costing you and me, the taxpayers, $78 million this year, and $47 million (60 percent) of that will be spent on feeding and caring for the 50,000 horses that have been removed from the range but have no other use under current practices. It is time we quit wasting taxpayer money and make these horses available for sale without limitation. Then that $47 million could be put to beneficial use.
The Herd Management Areas (HMAs) will sustain approximately 26,500 horses and burros. Additional numbers (excess) threaten the sustainability of the range. However, there were approximately 37,300 horses on the range as of February 2012.
Horses have no predators, so their population increases on the average of 20 percent per year. Because the holding facilities are now maxed-out at more than 50,000 excess horses, the BLM has stopped removing horses from the range except in “emergencies. Therefore, there will be significantly more excess horses on the range even though the West is in a significant drought. In areas where there are too many of them, the horses are decimating the range and will soon become an “emergency” because of lack of forage and/or water. As you can tell from these facts, the BLM is certainly not managing them to extinction!
NBC’s reporter wanted you to believe the horses are abused, mistreated and suffering in holding facilities. The activists have shown those same clips for many years. In fact, American Association of Equine Practitioners’ (AAEP) Wild Horse and Burro Task Force report concluded, “the care, handling and management practices utilized by the agency are appropriate for this population of horses and generally support the safety, health status and welfare of the animal.” Accidents do happen when working with feral animals.
The NBC stories also wanted you to believe BLM “breaks up families” and separates the babies from their mothers. This is a case of advocates inappropriately placing human emotion on livestock. In fact, the babies are separated from the herd in working corrals and trailers for their safety. Dependent foals are reunited with their mothers shortly after being unloaded.
This is not a rancher-versus-horse issue. Ranchers I have talked with have great respect for the horses on the range within the appropriate numbers, and they are good stewards of the rangelands. The ranchers know horses, cattle, sheep and wildlife can all thrive only when there are healthy rangelands.
Leonard Thompson
President
White River Conservation District
Meeker

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Rio Blanco County and the White River and Douglas Creek Conservation Districts are still asking for your help to identify additional hatch-outs of crickets so that control efforts can be put in place. The success of the program will highly depend upon local landowners and the public helping to locate crickets as soon as they hatch.  See last week’s paper for a list of ways to help or contact the County Weed & Pest District at 970-878-9670 or the Conservation District office at 970-878-9838 with any questions. Website: www.WhiteRiverCD.com
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It’s getting late, do you know where your kids are? Read all the Rio Happenings for this week in print or online at ht1885.com.
It’s getting late, do you know where your kids are? Read all the Rio Happenings for this week in print or online at ht1885.com.
2 days ago
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Mormon crickets have hatched near Rangely. They were all sighted on BLM land north of Hwy. 64 near the junction of CR 96 and CR 1, down a dirt road near the Moffat County line.  The picture shown was taken yesterday by Mary Meinen from Rangely. She says the crickets are about the size of a ladybug (less than 1/2”). Some of them are actually yellow in color but most of them are darker. They are milling around and getting ready to start moving soon. Note: Photo is not to scale.
Rio Blanco County and the White River and Douglas Creek Conservation Districts are still asking for your help to identify additional hatch-outs of crickets so that control efforts can be put in place. The success of the program will highly depend upon local landowners and the public helping to locate crickets as soon as they hatch.  See last week’s paper for a list of ways to help or contact the County Weed & Pest District at 970-878-9670 or the Conservation District office at 970-878-9838 with any questions. Website: www.WhiteRiverCD.com
Mormon crickets have hatched near Rangely. They were all sighted on BLM land north of Hwy. 64 near the junction of CR 96 and CR 1, down a dirt road near the Moffat County line. The picture shown was taken yesterday by Mary Meinen from Rangely. She says the crickets are about the size of a ladybug (less than 1/2”). Some of them are actually yellow in color but most of them are darker. They are milling around and getting ready to start moving soon. Note: Photo is not to scale. Rio Blanco County and the White River and Douglas Creek Conservation Districts are still asking for your help to identify additional hatch-outs of crickets so that control efforts can be put in place. The success of the program will highly depend upon local landowners and the public helping to locate crickets as soon as they hatch. See last week’s paper for a list of ways to help or contact the County Weed & Pest District at 970-878-9670 or the Conservation District office at 970-878-9838 with any questions. Website: www.WhiteRiverCD.com
2 days ago
View on Instagram |
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Read part three of the story of M.T. Streeter in this week’s edition of History Lessons! Find it in this week’s edition and online at ht1885.com.
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3 days ago
View on Instagram |
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3 days ago
View on Instagram |
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Choose-your-own-adventure…. Hear from our Editor in this week’s edition and online at ht1885.com.
Choose-your-own-adventure…. Hear from our Editor in this week’s edition and online at ht1885.com.
4 days ago
View on Instagram |
5/9
A crew from the Flat Tops Chapter of the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation joined forces last summer to remove obsolete fences to improve habitat for wildlife. Read the full story and the foundation’s update from their 30th Anniversary meeting in this week’s edition and online at ht1885.com.
A crew from the Flat Tops Chapter of the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation joined forces last summer to remove obsolete fences to improve habitat for wildlife. Read the full story and the foundation’s update from their 30th Anniversary meeting in this week’s edition and online at ht1885.com.
5 days ago
View on Instagram |
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Black Sulphur Tavern held a grand opening and ribbon cutting for their new business at 364 Seventh St. The space has been renovated with several TVs and games and provides a fun, friendly atmosphere to watch your favorite sports team and enjoy a burger and wings. Owners Frank Maestas and Pat Maestas are pictured with their new staff and Chamber of Commerce representatives Stephanie Hanson, Trudy Burri and Margie Joy. Follow Black Sulphur Tavern on Facebook. Their hours are Wednesday and Thursday 3-9 p.m., Friday 3 p.m. - 1 a.m., Saturday 11-1 a.m., Sunday 11 a.m. to midnight.
5 days ago
View on Instagram |
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The winning teams and individuals for the 18th annual White River Community Association Buy-Fly Fishing Tournament are as follows. Individual top weight catch was Dave Metrovich and longest fish was Kevin Massey. First place team won by Rio Blanco Abstract: Erik Eckman, Adam Parrett, Dave Metrovich and Wayne Kirkpatrick. Second place team was Drake Consulting: Travis Kaiser, John Douglas, Tony Bartolomucci and Bob Brandeberry. Third place team Mr. Rogers and the Hood (accepted by Doug Rogers) Gary Rogers, Mark Beauchamp, Kyle Schutte and Rick Gunter. The white fish have been frozen and will be served at the annual White River Community Association fish fry fundraiser in June.
6 days ago
View on Instagram |
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Cowboy Carson Klinzmann on the mound for Meeker at Suplizio Field in Grand Junction last Saturday. Meeker took on the 4A Rifle Bears, losing 11-1, and the Basalt Longhorns, losing 7-3. Read the recap online at ht1885.com.
Cowboy Carson Klinzmann on the mound for Meeker at Suplizio Field in Grand Junction last Saturday. Meeker took on the 4A Rifle Bears, losing 11-1, and the Basalt Longhorns, losing 7-3. Read the recap online at ht1885.com.
6 days ago
View on Instagram |
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