Washington wants to expand wild horse and burro

[DesertBull]

http://www.azgfd.gov/inside_azgfd/WildHorseBurro.shtml

 

Are these peope crazy? I thought they were "green". Nothing could be more "un-green" than wild horses and especially burros.

[Red Rabbit]

As a somewhat related issue, I read where Nevada ranchers are opposed to the Nevada G&F putting drinkers on federal land since the wildlife imapcts their livestock grazing. Wonder what these ranchers are saying about Grijalvas burro bill (Southern Arizonans need to replace/vote Grijalva from office, imo)

 

http://www.idahostatesman.com/usnews/story/1006950.html

[russd]

yes. yes they are crazy.

[Jimmer Negamanee]

Amen, DB!

 

This should be an easy issue for environmentalist and cattle growers to unite around.

 

First these equines are exotic feral animals not “wild.” Exotic species can be major vehicles for extinction of native animals. Sure, cows are exotic too but not nearly as ecologically destructive as equines IMO, all other things being equal. Plus, cattle have ranchers who are motivated to round them ALL up when it’s time to move them or sell them.

 

Burros are aggressive and have commandeered desert waterholes and chased desert bighorn away when they try to drink. Equines don’t have four-chambered stomachs like our native grazers (and cows) and make up for their lack of digestive efficiency by eating A LOT. Also, unlike our native grazers and browsers (and cows) they have top and bottom teeth in front (instead of just bottom teeth) so they really get after anything they do eat. The list goes on.

 

The problem is that they’re cute. And cute often trumps science, especially when elementary school kids start writing letters to congress. Feral horses have been abused and treated inhumanely in the past but you don’t apologize for that mistake be making another.

 

I don’t usually spout off like this but the idea of legal protection for feral horses and burros that do all kinds of ecological damage really gets to me.

 

Hopefully, environmentalists and cattle growers can unite against this common enemy so they can go back to fighting with eachother, the way the Good Lord intended.

[joeybari]

+1

[.270]

whattaya expect em to do in dc? they want reinforcements. there ain't nothin' but jackasses and horses asses in that town anyway. take look at grijalva. them things gotta be his cousins, Lark,

[Rembrant]

It's not just that they are cute, they are sacred, living creatures. The life of even one precious animal is more important than any concept of multiple use, conservation, or any other idea that man can come up with, especially when man is only trying to better his own selfish existance. It doesn't matter that these animals have been introduced and ravage the habitat and hurt the native species. Man must stay out of it and let "nature" take its natural course. We must put back the wolves and grizzly bears and then stop hunting - let nature manage it!!

Animals are more important than people.

Save the whales and kill the baby humans.

Mike