Ag & Range

Wild horse are a problem

u By Kamryn Kozisek

Ag and Range Editor

Anyone that has studied rangeland management or anything similar in the midwest, knows about ‘range maggots’ as they are unlovingly referred to.

When land managers say this, they are talking about wild horses. Its hard to be a supporter of natural lands and ecosystems and be a fan of wild horses.

Wild horses have long sense been a difficult problem to manage for anyone and a big part of it is animal activism.

I think in some scenarios some animal activism can be a good thing but in this case I disagree.

With many other invasive and non-native animals, lethal control is used to manage the problem, something we see often in wild hogs.

When any other wild animal is causing issues we solve it, all accept wild horses.

Let’s start at the beginning and how they got here in the first place. See contrary to popular belief horses are not native to America, they were brought her by Spanish explorer.

They were left or traded to Native Americans and soon became a wild species.

The species then came close to eradication right before a federal law was implicated allowing for wild horses to grow to numbers that are extremely difficult to manage.

Wild horses can have major effects on vegetation communities, they eat more than cattle and also tend to consume more vegetation from individual plants. This leaves plants unable to grow back.

They also impact bare ground, increasing the amount in well-traveled areas and also increase in soil erosion.

The lack of vegetation can also cause issues for wildlife, that need vegetation. These grazing species have to travel farther to find vegetation or be left with the leftovers from wild horses.

I think it is interesting that any other species that causes this many issues would be managed, what makes wild horses different.

Its always strange to me that support for species like wild horses is so strong but so many people find issues with native species that are important to ecosystems, like wolves and coyotes.

I think it is time to reconsider, in the age of climate change, you really can’t have both.

Photo by Kamryn Kozisek A black-footed prairie dog sits in one of its burrows watching other member of its colony in Wind Cave National Park.

Nebraska Game and Parks hosts October events

u By Kamryn Kozisek

Ag and Range Editor

Starting in October Nebraska Game and Parks Commission will have many educational based events.

On Oct. 4 and 18, marks the Family Nature nights in Norfolk, the program is free and will be from 6-8 p.m.

Starting on Oct. 6 the virtual webinar “The Science of…”, starting with lizards. On Oct. 13 it will feature nocturnal animals, followed by waterbirds on Oct. and lastly Oct. 27 with seeds and leaves.

Big Sit Birding Event will be hosted at Holmes Lake on Oct. 9. The goal is to communicate and find as many birds as possible. The event is at the sound boat ramp and will run from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m.

On Oct. 18 Nature Nerd Night will be about Nebraska Turtles and will go over all nine species found in Nebraska. Participants can registers at calendar.outdoornebraska.gov.

Nebraska Nature Nerd Trivia Night, on Oct. 19 will be hosted at the Flyover Brewing Company in Scottsbluff, The Happy Raven in Lincoln, Zipline Beer Lounge in Omaha, Johnnie Byrd Brewing Company in Wayne and finally in North Platte at Pals Brewing company.

Also on the 19th a homeschool hike will be hosted at Schramm Park SRA, used to help homeschool families learn about nature.

These events can be viewed and registered for, as required on calendar.outdoornebraska.gov.