Ecology Checks and Balances

Habitat is very important to wild horses, burros, and domestic livestock. Because wild horses and burros have no true natural predators, other than an occasional mountain lion, herds increase at relatively high rates. Populations generally increase at a rate of about 18-20 percent per year. In years of adverse weather and poor forage conditions the rate may decline to as low as 5 percent, but in good years the rate may be as high as 40 percent.

"When populations of wild horses, wild burros, or domestic livestock exceed the capabilities of their habitat, the environment begins to decline, and there is no longer a thriving natural ecological balance."

When populations of wild horses, wild burros, or domestic livestock exceed the capabilities of their habitat, the environment begins to decline, and there is no longer a thriving natural ecological balance. Ranchers must remove excess livestock and state government officials must remove excess wildlife. The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) conducts the removal of wild horses and burros from public lands. Their removal is based on years of monitoring the habitat and observations of the herd.