The Herald should do some fact checking before representing so many fallacies as facts, as was done in the “Feral horses” editorial (Aug. 1). The Mesa Verde wild horses have lived in the geographical area of the park for more than 100 years; there were wild horses in the area before it was designated as a park. Local historians believe some horses in the park are descended from these original horses. Thus, the horses actually are less an “invasive” species than we are. If overpopulation is the problem, whose problem is it? Who is to blame?
The park historically has refused to prepare a management plan while simultaneously attempting to fence horses out of water sources and secure the boundaries of the park without managing for resources or population. Properly managed, horses could remain wild in the park for generations.
The editorial attempts to distinguish the Disappointment Valley wild horses as “wild”; in fact, they are descended from domestic stock and have strains of Morgan, Thoroughbred and quarter horse stock. The Bureau of Land Management, charged with managing the horses, occasionally introduces new horses in order to maintain genetic diversity and integrity. That’s simply responsible management. All “wild” horses in North America originally were domesticated stock; the “feral” nomenclature is misleading, meaning simply undomesticated.
Scientific research shows that horses actually evolved originally in North America, so reintroduction is no different than reintroducing wolves or bears or other threatened species into their original habitat.
The editorial expressed a preference for “natural” species, such as deer and elk; in fact, there were horses in the park long before elk came in the 1940s.
Finally, horse slaughterhouses have been banned partially, at least, because of the torture and suffering of the horses in transport and slaughter. To suggest that something so inhumane be reconsidered defies credibility and renders our humanity suspect.
Mahatma Ghandi is reputed to have said, “The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated.” Hopefully, we can progress to a solution of this issue, rather than regress.
Lynda Larsen
Cortez
