Number: 2010-05
WHEREAS, the provisions of the Free-Roaming Horse and Burro Act of 1971, its amendments, and conditions imposed on yearly appropriations by Congress have resulted in excessive numbers of feral horses and burros on western rangelands; and
WHEREAS, a large portion of these rangelands have experienced wildfire, drought or near drought conditions in the recent years and climate forecasts offer little hope for relief; and
WHEREAS, wildlife numbers have decreased because of poor range conditions; and
WHEREAS, the population of feral horses and burros has increased far above appropriate management levels causing serious damage to riparian areas in particular and an increased rate of deterioration of rangeland health in general;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the National Wildlife Federation, at its annual meeting assembled April 8-10, 2010, in Houston, Texas, hereby urges Congress to appropriate adequate funds for the federal agencies with responsibilities of public land management to implement plans that address the problem outlined above; and that these plans shall include: (a) a complete survey of feral horse and burro populations on public lands; (b) an immediate effort to reduce feral horse and burro populations to the low range of appropriate management levels; (c) managing all herds of captive unadoptable feral horses and burros to be non-reproducing; and (d) the use of multiple population control methods endorsed by professional wildlife managers on feral horse and burro herds to reduce populations to manageable levels; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the appropriate federal agencies be required to document and file a bi-annual report to Congress on the impacts and damage on public lands and wildlife caused by feral horses and burros.