Wild horse debate gallops on
By William M. Welch, USA TODAY
LOS ANGELES — The Obama administration’s first try at resolving the debate over the wild horses of the West has not gone over well with some.
Animal rights groups say that Interior Secretary Ken Salazar’s proposal to relocate thousands of mustangs to preserves in the East and Midwest would compound years of federal mismanagement of the horses.
They want the 37,000 horses now roaming federal lands in the West to remain despite the risk of starvation and conflicts with cattle. In response to Salazar’s proposal, they reiterated their stand during the Bush administration: let the mustangs run loose on millions of acres of federal land where beef cattle are raised.
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4 Comments
On October 28, 2009, Dan wrote:
The wild horses should be allowed to roam freely,not herded onto reserves as was done with the native american indians. Are the horses bothering anyone? I don’t think so,cattle have been grazing with horses for hundreds of years. The government should stick to the business of putting this country back together.
On October 31, 2009, tutul wrote:
the animals should be saved and they are our friends
On November 10, 2009, connie allenbury wrote:
This a sad and difficult issue. While free-roamers are opposed to the reserves, what is in the best interests of the horses?
I was heartened to see any action at all on behalf of the mustangs by Ken Salazar. The horses will certainly have enough area to run, will they not?
Would people rather have the animals shot and/or starved? It’s not the wild west anymore. The horses’ situation is past dire, exacerbated by drought.
Plus, ranchers rule.
Want to take a stand? Stop eating cattle.
And… What will keep the horses out of a Big Mac?
On November 19, 2009, leanne wrote:
Come on, please..it’s time to think and protect our wildlife, our animals,our planet, our future..you have a responsibilty to not only them, but to us all, Please !!!