24 WHEMAGAZINE MAY 2018
Power lines installed, construction sites, fencing, gathering our wild horses and burros “for their own good”, soil and vegetation disturbance or loss, noxious weeds, gravel pits, usage of parched water resources, erosion, increased fragmentation of habitat, seasonal movement throughout and between HMAs. But wait, there’s more; loss of genetic interchange, loss of availability to access water sources, migratory patterns, noise and dust levels, constructing drill pads, removing available forage, erosion, etc. Is this what should prevail in our limited Herd Management Areas?
The vulnerable environment, wildlife and wild horses have no choice in the results of the gluttony, and insatiability of the grazing program and mining industries. “Federal land is not managed by a bunch of scientists and research biologists trying to balance use and resource preservation.” ~ Laura Leigh https://wildhorseeducation.org/2018/03/15/tax-payer-burden/
Technically these are OUR lands, but do we really own them? My sentiment is that we have the honor to inhabit them, that we have a duty to respect them, and a culpability to the long-term health of their survival. Each, and every living cell on Mother Earth; flora, fauna and all creatures that inhabit this planet are relying on us as self-appointed masters of the earth to leave behind in the least, a thriving legacy for future generations to come. Will WE permit a dreary circle to perpetuate?
The Stone Cabin area was the subject of a huge oil and gas sale last year. Will the area survive what we chose to do next? Will our wild horses?