In December of 2020, Sierra Club’s Conservation Policy Committee sent out a request for comments on their draft policy on wild horses and burros.  I took on this task as not only do we have horses in Mono County and burros in Inyo County, but I live a few miles from a BLM/Forest Service Wild Horse Management Area. This does not make me an expert, but I do have a soft spot for the critters. 

To educate myself on this issue, I read papers on the effects of large-hooved animals on water sources, desert biocrust soils, native flora and fauna, on herd population growth, predator/prey relationships, historical perspectives of wild herds on public lands, and current programs for dealing with ongoing and potential problems. 

History - In 1971 the US Congress passed the Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act.  Up to this time horses and burros were removed from public lands mostly by capture and/or slaughter.  The Act declared “that wild free roaming horses and burros shall be protected from capture, branding, harassment, or death; and to accomplish this they are to be considered in the area where presently found, as an integral part of the natural systems of the public lands”.

Today - Since the Act passed, public lands biologists and managers have learned much about how large-hooved animals impact desert ecosystems which is where most wild herds are found and what they have learned shows that wild herds have done exceedingly well on public lands.  There were an estimated 25,300 wild horses and burros in 1971.  The current estimated on-range population is 95,114.  Unfortunately, public lands have not fared as well.

Our local horse herd in Adobe Valley has also grown and groups have lately wandered west into areas where they have not previously been seen.  There have been reports of damaged springs, endangered sand tufas, and the possibility of increased tourist/horse contact.  (I can attest to this last as I came very close to hitting a horse on 120E coming back at night from Lee Vining.)  Death Valley National Park has had to address the wild herds issue as burro populations have been growing at approximately 20% per year.

What to do with our wild herds is a very controversial issue as it often pits horse/burro lovers against conservationists, and can pit both against the cattle industry.  Sierra Club is attempting to thread the way through by writing a policy emphasizing the humane treatment of wild herds but that ensures that conservation issues remain at the forefront.

I submitted comments on behalf of ROLG on February 15th in support of the new draft policy (with a few suggestions) and will post the new policy once Sierra Club has it is finalized. 

by Janet Barth

Sierra Club's current wild burro and horse policy. BLM Herd Management Areas in CA. USFS Wild Horse and Burro Territories.