Comments on: Horsing around http://www.dustbury.com/archives/8143 I couldn't possibly fail to disagree with you less. Mon, 13 Feb 2012 13:36:57 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Gabrielle Dolly http://www.dustbury.com/archives/8143/comment-page-1#comment-18277 Gabrielle Dolly Fri, 24 Apr 2009 12:52:19 +0000 http://www.dustbury.com/?p=8143#comment-18277 Considering that horses are an introduced (i.e., alien) species, one would expect that the Usual Suspects would be calling for their removal by any means necessary. Just like they're doing for humans. GFD Considering that horses are an introduced (i.e., alien) species, one would expect that the Usual Suspects would be calling for their removal by any means necessary. Just like they’re doing for humans.

GFD

]]> By: McGehee http://www.dustbury.com/archives/8143/comment-page-1#comment-18245 McGehee Thu, 23 Apr 2009 16:36:07 +0000 http://www.dustbury.com/?p=8143#comment-18245 The bill seems to be aimed at addressing the outrage over what happens to removed wild (really, <i>feral)</i> horses that aren't adopted. I think we'd be better off with a bill to thin the human herd, to get rid of people who would rather those horses die miserably of starvation and disease int he wild than quickly in a slaughterhouse (for pet food, in case anyone wonders). And feral horses don't only compete with domestic livestock; in many parts of the horses' range they also compete with indigenous wildlife such as pronghorn, desert bighorn sheep and mule deer. Some of the same people who don't want feral horses sold to slaughter, also don't want those big game species hunted -- and they'd rather crash those populations with competition from burgeoning herds of hooved rats, than have them be so plentiful that they <i>have</i> to be hunted for their own long-term survival. The bill seems to be aimed at addressing the outrage over what happens to removed wild (really, feral) horses that aren’t adopted. I think we’d be better off with a bill to thin the human herd, to get rid of people who would rather those horses die miserably of starvation and disease int he wild than quickly in a slaughterhouse (for pet food, in case anyone wonders).

And feral horses don’t only compete with domestic livestock; in many parts of the horses’ range they also compete with indigenous wildlife such as pronghorn, desert bighorn sheep and mule deer. Some of the same people who don’t want feral horses sold to slaughter, also don’t want those big game species hunted — and they’d rather crash those populations with competition from burgeoning herds of hooved rats, than have them be so plentiful that they have to be hunted for their own long-term survival.

]]> By: fillyjonk http://www.dustbury.com/archives/8143/comment-page-1#comment-18240 fillyjonk Thu, 23 Apr 2009 13:10:41 +0000 http://www.dustbury.com/?p=8143#comment-18240 My first thought: what preys on wild horses? (Mountain lions, it turns out. Especially the foals). Not sure whether there are enough mountain lions to take care of a surging population. Hrm. I wonder how horse reproductive rates compare to deer, that's the only model I have to go by. I hope Pickens gets his sanctuary, but as you pointed out, that doesn't help ones still in the wild. I'd hate to see, some ten years down the road, lots of outraged news stories on the "poor starving" wild horses because they overpopulated. My first thought: what preys on wild horses?

(Mountain lions, it turns out. Especially the foals).

Not sure whether there are enough mountain lions to take care of a surging population. Hrm. I wonder how horse reproductive rates compare to deer, that’s the only model I have to go by.

I hope Pickens gets his sanctuary, but as you pointed out, that doesn’t help ones still in the wild.

I’d hate to see, some ten years down the road, lots of outraged news stories on the “poor starving” wild horses because they overpopulated.

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