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Alliance of Wild Horse Advocates' WILD HORSE WAR ROOM SESSION NOTES SOCIETY FOR RANGE MANAGEMENT Wild & Feral Horse and Burro Management and Policy Conference (Nov. 3, 4, 5, 2009)

Issue: Society for Range Management Conference on Wild Horses Priority: Informational Attendee Notes, Day 2, Nov. 4, 2009 Notes taken by Betty Retzer These are word for word postings of the actual notes being taken. Once all the original notes have been posted, a more "readable" discussion will be presented as to what it all means. Added comments appear in italics. (Day 2 involved a moderated discussion) - - - Again, these are notes taken as people were speaking. I tried to capture the content of what was being said. I tried to get the names of the speakers but was not always successful. This will be a long document – over 8 hours of discussions / notes. Ken Conley: It is the policy of the society (of range management) to protect rangeland and to protect the horses. We need to improve rangeland health by making difficult decisions – not the easy thing but the right thing. Bob Abbey was to be the special guest speaker, but he didn’t attend. Special Guest speaker Janet Vreeland: Doesn’t know wild horses but she and her students can help do any research needed. UNR did research on re-entry grazing after a wild fire – they got permission to put animals back on the land that had burned earlier than normally allowed – they found that it wasn’t detrimental to do so. When the cheat grass was eaten all the way down, then other natural grasses grew back with less cheat grass coming back. She suggests talking to everyone involved can help solve differences and help find a managed approach. Her students and department are ready to do any scientific research needed. Barry Perryman (Moderator): Horses have been on public lands “officially” since 1971. it is what it is. Deal with it the best way we can. The original law was passed based on some logic but this authority may or may not still be appropriate. Changes have taken place in: Perceptions Economy Budgets Landscape Authorized users The law may still be useful. His opinion – we cannot keep continuing as we are – not sustainable. It is not just public lands – include private and tribal lands when he says public. Today’s purpose is to be informational – what’s real, what do we know. Tomorrow will identify commonalities to agree on. What is good about the current situation? What needs to be changed? What should Congress be responsible for? Be civil and patient tomorrow – limit what you say and make it useful Bud Cribley: 35 years with BLM Big challenge to manage western rangeland – stresses are different urbanization / population growth change the uses of public lands energy development – oil/gas to meet energy needs renewable energy development – will result in “industrialization” of public lands climate change – fire/ invasive species – no resources or techniques to restore 2001 initiative to achieve AML budget was 20 – 30 m 5 years to bring to AML with 2007 being closest with 40K horses removed Congress stated that the problem was then solved and cut the budget to eliminate the gather program kept trying to maintain level at 27 to 37K animals were adopting 7500 to 8500 animals per year there are about 37K animals on the range while the AML level was 26-27K there are over 30K in Long Term (LT) holding adoption is down to 3500 per year Bring up euthanization and other solutions Wild Horse Advisory Board (Henri Bisson) created recommendations This is a passionate and illogical issue that got Congress’ attention Horse advocacy groups are up in arms The rider was lifted that protected horses from being euthanized Congress to redraft the WHB Act – commit acreage for horses and burros – need to put alternatives on the table GAO report a year ago supported BLM but stated that the problem wasn’t easy to solve. FY 09 – 70% of budget goes toward holding costs – 10K to ST; 20K to LT Pastures in Kansas have 22180 horses – more contracts are needed Gathers about double what adopted – have reduced the number gathers to divert money to holding costs Salazar/Abbey has 3 core principles owe horses high quality habitat unadopted horses to be held in good care owe the public taxpayer 7 new preserves – grassland in Midwest and East $93m to purchase land 2 public / 5 privately owned and managed – opportunity for public to participate may need an additional $3m to improve some pasturage showcase certain herds – that warrant recognition – Pryor, Kiger asset to local tourism preserve historic lines new strategies aimed at balancing growth rates with adoptions – need lower reproduction rate skew sex ratios non-reproducing herds fertility programs results: 2014 reduce need for holding 2019 costs reduced Recent GAO report states that we are at a critical crossroad – costs are above sustainable levels – prepare a new strategy Fertility control:>BR> PZP used since 1990 – 2300 mares studied for 2 years with collaboration with HSUS Cattle Grazing: Cows have declined 50% since 1940s – fewer on land than authorized because of water, etc. Initiative subject to Congress approval and appropriations – looks for support from stakeholders to accomplish goals – get with senators and legislators to get opinions stated Q – what kind of skewing sex ratios? A – think it should be 50/50 but skew in favor of fewer breeding mares – more studs Q – what % going into contraception? A – minimal – about 500K to 1M Q – any money from public to fund this (contraception)? A – HSUS has grant for 1.5M to research effectiveness – studying in Colorado and maybe Utah. No resources from advocacy groups – they have no money – looking for partnerships ---------------------------------- Jason Fearneyhough from Wyoming Resource issues are at the state level too. 37K on public land and 31K in holding – what is the right number for AML. Historically there were millions of horses Economic issues: Over 220,000 horses have been adopted Increased marketing efforts – Mustang Heritage – Ford Motor company So why is there an issue? All decisions have impacts on the people and horses ROAM Act – passed House and is now in Senate – concerning to him. looking at the number of acres they can use reduce the need for LT holding and management – does that mean eliminate no predators except starvation every 4 years double the number of horses (based on 20% population growth rate) – at the end of 30 years – 8M horses What has Wyoming done? They have 16 HMAs with AML of 3700 (but have over 7000 horses) Money got shifted to other emergencies. They got a consent decree that the money will go to AML and threatened to go to court. How many other states will need to do this. ROAM looks great - %s change – will have long term problems – will have the opposite effect than what people want. Salazar plan will manage the horses Paths open to us – no or little management or intensive management Comments from group: Horses are reproducing faster than they are dying. There are fatal flaws in BLM marketing – bad matches with wild horses / untrained horses. Met threshold on what they can do with the horses – need to change the focus. Rob Pliskin – can horse herd co-exist on energy use land? A – yes and that is one thing to aim for along with other planning ---------------------------------- Jeremy Drew – Pres. Safari Club Look at the impacts at the Sheldon Range (USF&W) Overpopulation – cattle gone since 1994 – only horses and burros remain Management challenge Consequences of ROAM Sheldon established by Executive Order in 1931 – horses introduced in 70’s and 80’s Horses were managed by ranchers – AML 75 – 125 horses / 30 – 60 burros 17 – 23% population growth environmental assessment – 800 horses / 90 burros consume forage, water trample vegetation compact soil disturb fish causes negative impact on native wildlife unseen impacts budget / time / effort to manage the horses / burros 50% of time going to manage Overall problem: Not able to stay at AML Excessive inventory in holding Excessive costs of holding Lagging adoption Bottom Line – cannot manage properly with other wildlife Is ROAM Act the answer? horse managed on all public lands defines “thriving ecologic balance” requires the secretary of the interior to exhaust all practical options before removal only remove those for which there is an adoption demand restore holding to 6 months (Think this should be "Limit short term holding to 6 months.") limits humane disposal of unadoptable, old, lame, sick authorizes removal if population detrimental to plant or wildlife requires best science of inventory ROAM is not the answer The answer does not reside in Congress or the Courts The answer lies with managers, researchers, professionals Craig Downer – you are overlooking the native horses and that this is being set up by man – fencing out water A – yes, but needs to be properly managed (Sheldon Wildlife Refuge) Q- Sheldon run differently because is (operated by) Fish and Wildlife – have restrictions on adoption? A – yes, that is a problem – cannot manage as they want to Q- see any changes for co-operative agreements? A – no decisions until 2010 – public opinion Q – only 1 adoption place now – creates imbalance? A – yes, this has enhanced the problem and they are resistant to change Wildlife parameters for AML water most restrictive resource use local people with knowledge perhaps see horses as “wildlife” with hunting season – not politically correct and no appetite here for horses ------------------------------------------ Moderator: what will come from this meeting – written documents, power point and video – will be available at their website ---------------------------------------- Wayne Burkhardt: Been on WH&B board since 1990 1971 – 1991 – Act passed bureaucratic floundering no dissenting votes – where were the cattlemen and wildlife people political polarizing horse population expanded 1991 WH&B advisory board formulated management recommendations Intro: controversy yet not dissenting votes had potential to be showcase program all people share interest should have been image maker like Smokey the Bear used to create conflict on public lands 2009 situation more horses in holding than on the range / spend more money there overgrazed ranges litigation congressional meddling micro-managing wild horses vs. livestock – livestock grazing not cause or solution – is a scapegoat lack of sustainable management framework creates conflict ignore biology and economics ignores eolutionary history horses evolved in North America 20M years ago – natural herbivore – went extinct about 7 – 10K years ago and reintroduced successfully Ecological balance = sustainability – absence of controls on population – existing controls: Ice age – large predators 1500 – 1971 – man current - BLM all populations of large grazers expand beyond their habitat if no controls – elk/ deer/ horses (look at Nellis) 1971 WH&B Act secretary of interior should manage horse population ecological balance with other uses 1992 – WH&B Advisory Board recommended HMA balance with other uses – what is carrying capacity / AMLs balance with society’s capacity to absorb excess horses Range wide AML based on outlet capacity current – adoption 3K head congress has restricted how to deal with excess Potential outlets: unrestricted sale for excess young euthanize excess old on range or let natural mortality remove Management imperative: moral and ethical responsibility to take care of horses no successful natural predators manage horse populations cannot continue emotion driven hands-off non-management sustains problems to turn horses back loose Q – how would you recommend that the problem be solved? A – congress must allow horse to be removed and commercially processed – bite the bullet Q – advice on shift to technology? A – get to government / use other tools/ sales to commercial outlets/ we are spending too much time discussing what to do with the horses in holding Q – will Salazar plan work? A – with restraints – has some useful ideas in it but not the end all answer – sanctuary is only a band aid ------------------------------------------------------ Arlen Washines – Yakima Indian 500 tribes / cultures and traditions on the horse Indians are stewards of the land – respect/honor/take care of it Horse is food / medicine Management of the horse / holistic approach They are experiencing the same problems – 700 acres with 12K horses on it – need a sustainable level to manage Must include tribes in these discussions – government to government. They are not included in the Salazar plan. They are only seeing horses on the land – no other animals / resources. They have a tribal plan to manage the horses and plants (over 50% of plants noxious). Getting youth involved. Federal Policy and Tribal Sovereignty – treaties signed / protect resources / need clarification on free trade and Federal policy Future of tribal management: NW Tribal Horse Coalition (pro slaughter) – get factual information to public – reaffirm ties to horse – develop management plans. Have 20 – 30% growth rate on their reservation – looking at sterilization – but the animals still need to eat Horse processing is a tool – an option Wanted to establish a slaughter plant on tribal land (only for their horses) – would be done correctly if done Want to be part of the Federal budget and be included in discussions ----------------------------------------------------- David Thain – previous state vet Contraception and Population Control 360K acres for estray and wild horses Immunocontraception – controls immune system PZP – porcine zona pellucida – sugars that control fertility - anti-bodies bind to egg and sperm cannot get through. Horse still produces eggs. They add adjuvants to “increase” natural response on this. Get one shot and then booster 6 months later>BR> 1 year vaccine - $30 - $50 pellet - $200 – 300 PZP spray – not as purified – get multi-year duration but currently not available (from Canada) These don’t work on all mares – mares still ovulate but the eggs are not fertilized – no adverse effects GnRh – occurs naturally in body but too small to trigger immune system. Use an algae to “increase” GnRh. Long duration Females – no cycle – no eggs releases Males – stops release of male hormones – young males won’t have stud characteristics – older studs will still have stud characteristics/behavior. Oral vaccine development underway – challenges – how to deliver; sex specific (not currently) and non-targeted species IUD: Works great in ponies but won’t stay in mares Results: one shot PZP - 83% effective GnRh – 46% effective Second injection would probably be for life Behavior: GnRh – cycled rarely PZP – always in heat in the pens but not in the field MARBLES: Quit cycling (tried in Sheldon horses) but won’t stay in SURGICAL: Castration – controls sexual behavior / permanent / would need 90% of studs done Spay – remove ovaries – worked well with Sheldon horses Vasectomy – surgical cutting of vas deferens Chemical Vasectomy – inject into vas deferens – causes sclerosing – permanent but requires sedation/surgical Castration – turn into geldings Future needs: long term effective method – 10 years or longer EPA / FDA licensed approval oral product species and sex specific contact DR. Thain at www.cabnr.unr.edu/thain 775-784-1377 ----------------------------------------------- Rex Cleary – resource concepts 6 variable management factors AML Selective Removal fertility AML – single figures for upper and lower – now shown as range – gather to lower number – let get to upper number then re-gather Selective Removal – get to lower number – remove younger animals for adoption – let older animals attrition – also keep some young animals for viability Fertility control – slow down reproduction rates – PZP – 22 month formula 94% year 1 82% year 2 68% year 3 normal year 4 BLM issued an instruction manual – should be part of the gathers Sex Ratio: Change the ratios – if changed from 50/50 may cause stress in the herd Combine with vaccines Non-breeding Herd Composition 240 – 400 breeding 60 – 100 geldings – total 300 – 500 AML 60/40 but less stress because geldings Gather Frequency Each year up to every 4th year Jenkins Model WinEquus – Dr. Stephen Jenkins at UNR Helps evaluate different management alternatives Many combinations and factors BLM has adequate tools to manage the horses so what’s wrong? absence of focus on stopping – excess horses in holding facilities absence of dependable and consistent funding Litigation (but said let’s not talk about that) Bill Phillips think it is possible to manage on the range / can have self-sustaining herds without holding facilities No discussion on how to get to self-sufficiency Need dependable and consistent funding – much unfunded – cannot postpone gatherings This year’s budget is $64M – roughly double what they’ve been getting ------------------------------------- Thomas Harris – Economic Consequences Economics is a science – management is the art of recognizing a problems, determining what to do about it and doing it. There are tradeoffs and impacts – there has been no or little study of economic research since the WH&B Act of 1971 Recreational viewing of horses – tourism – how much do people value the wild horse What does it cost vs what are we willing to actually pay Studies done to investigate wild horse and livestock densities and their impacts on the rangeland Study done on the unintended consequences of the ban on horse slaughter Investigate a better way to hold auctions – perhaps bid to be able to bid or pay more to be the first bidder Lyon County Nevada study on having a national wild horse and burro interpretative center – tourism Maximize revenues while minimizing costs Risk makes inefficiency. Please continue to Thursday's notes. (Please contact the webmaster if you or your group wishes to contribute a story link for this section.)

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