Some of these numbers...
Jul. 18th, 2005 11:27 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
sitaangelMind boggling. ^.^
Private cattle outnumber wild horses and burros at least 100 to 1 on public lands.
These numbers are recent (if not the latest) Bureau of Land Management numbers, as well as numbers obtained through independent investigation. Please understand that population levels in particular are fluid and subject to a significant degree of uncertainty (the same caveat applies to numbers provided by the BLM).
In 1900s, more than 2 million wild horses roamed the West.
Today, less than 30,000 wild horses likely remain on public lands.
Over 4 million head of private cattle enjoy subsidized grazing on public lands.
More than 200,000 wild horses and burros have been removed from public lands since 1971. The BLM plans to remove another 9,800 by fall 2005.
The 1971 Act mandates that wild horses and burros be managed on 47 million acres of public lands on 303 herd areas.
Since 1971, wild horses have been zeroed out from 102 herd areas representing over 12.5 million acres.
Less than 5,000 wild burros remain on public lands, with a BLM population target set at less than 3,000.
BLM relies on an annual population increase rate of about 20% to evaluate population levels and justify round-ups, while the National Academy of Sciences estimates that rate to be closer to 10%.
6 states have lost their entire wild horse and burro populations.
In 70% of the remaining herd areas, BLM’s population targets are set at levels that will not ensure genetic viability.
The current removal policy is costing over 39 million tax dollars a year.
According to the USGS, $7.7 million could be saved annually through the use of contraceptive measures alone.
The removal and processing of a single horse through the adoption pipeline costs about $3,300.
22,000 wild horses are currently held in government holding pens. Under the Burns Amendment, 8,500 of these horses are threatened with immediate slaughter.
BLM’s private livestock grazing program encompasses 214 million acres of public lands and costs over $130 million to manage annually.
Public land grazing accounts for only 2.5% of our national beef supply and contributes less than 1% of total income and employment throughout the West.
The current fee to graze private cattle on public lands is $1.79 per animal unit month (AUM), the equivalent of $0.06 per acre per year.
Market rates to graze cattle on private lands range from $25 to $50 per AUM.
Private cattle outnumber wild horses and burros at least 100 to 1 on public lands.
These numbers are recent (if not the latest) Bureau of Land Management numbers, as well as numbers obtained through independent investigation. Please understand that population levels in particular are fluid and subject to a significant degree of uncertainty (the same caveat applies to numbers provided by the BLM).
In 1900s, more than 2 million wild horses roamed the West.
Today, less than 30,000 wild horses likely remain on public lands.
Over 4 million head of private cattle enjoy subsidized grazing on public lands.
More than 200,000 wild horses and burros have been removed from public lands since 1971. The BLM plans to remove another 9,800 by fall 2005.
The 1971 Act mandates that wild horses and burros be managed on 47 million acres of public lands on 303 herd areas.
Since 1971, wild horses have been zeroed out from 102 herd areas representing over 12.5 million acres.
Less than 5,000 wild burros remain on public lands, with a BLM population target set at less than 3,000.
BLM relies on an annual population increase rate of about 20% to evaluate population levels and justify round-ups, while the National Academy of Sciences estimates that rate to be closer to 10%.
6 states have lost their entire wild horse and burro populations.
In 70% of the remaining herd areas, BLM’s population targets are set at levels that will not ensure genetic viability.
The current removal policy is costing over 39 million tax dollars a year.
According to the USGS, $7.7 million could be saved annually through the use of contraceptive measures alone.
The removal and processing of a single horse through the adoption pipeline costs about $3,300.
22,000 wild horses are currently held in government holding pens. Under the Burns Amendment, 8,500 of these horses are threatened with immediate slaughter.
BLM’s private livestock grazing program encompasses 214 million acres of public lands and costs over $130 million to manage annually.
Public land grazing accounts for only 2.5% of our national beef supply and contributes less than 1% of total income and employment throughout the West.
The current fee to graze private cattle on public lands is $1.79 per animal unit month (AUM), the equivalent of $0.06 per acre per year.
Market rates to graze cattle on private lands range from $25 to $50 per AUM.
