In response to the Sept. 11 article on fires in the West (“Fires, floods in the West” on the cover); “I would rather have it all burn up than have a cow eat one mouthful” was the response a leader of Western Watersheds Project gave when asked if they were concerned about the fire hazard created if cattle were removed from public lands.
Decades of litigation has led to expanding fire problems. As long as the Equal Access to Justice Act continues as a funding source for litigants, it will only get worse.
Much of BLM’s budget goes to wildfires and re-hab. Regulations require questionable rest periods that produce more fuel for fires. The solution is obvious. Clean air and water regulations do not affect wild horses and burros. They are federally protected and are multiplying while licensed use is declining. They have little or no retail value which fits in with anti-profit litigants.
BLM estimates it costs up to $50,000 per head caring for the horses in facilities. If all were running free, there would be less forage and fire. This doesn’t make much sense, but what’s going on now doesn’t either! — Michael Hanley IV, Oregon rancher
