Arizona Department of Agriculture Signs Agreement to Reduce Salt River Wild Horse Herd to 120 in Five Years
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Arizona Department of Agriculture Signs Agreement to Reduce Salt River Wild Horse Herd to 120 in Five Years
An estimated 274 horses make up the Salt River herd, but that number will be reduced to 120 horses after five years, according to a recent agreement by the Arizona Department of Agriculture and the Salt River Wild Horse Management Group.
The agreement represents a significant shift in how the state manages one of the most controversial wildlife populations in Arizona. The plan balances ecological concerns with the cultural and economic importance of the horses to tourists and local advocates.
Controversy at the Capitol
On April 7, more than 50 people rallied at the Arizona Capitol in support of the horses. The crowd included advocates who say they have been fighting for the herd for the last 10 years.
Susie Bell, an advocate who is a member of the Friends of the Salt River Wild Horses group, was among those who came to protest. She said the fight has received renewed attention due to a new controversial management agreement and a potential legislation that would offer more protection for the herd.
We want the governor to stand up and protect the Salt River horses like Governor Doug Ducey did when we fought for them ten years ago. She hasn done anything yet as far as standing up to protect them. Were calling on her to do that as part of the effort in trying to stop the removals of over half of the Salt River wild horses with no justifiable imperative to do so at this time.
Bell said the horses represent a significant cultural and ecological attraction for those visiting the Salt River. The wild horses draw tourists from around the country and the world, contributing to ecotourism that has become a booming business in wilderness areas.
The Management Plan
In a news release, the Agriculture Department said the gradual reduction balances the limited range resources available while maintaining the genetic integrity of the herd. The plan also provides new safeguards to protect the horses that leave the management area and only be relocated to sanctuaries approved by the department.
The group was awarded the contract again in February and has seen previous success at managing the size of the herd. They rely on natural attrition and a birth control method delivered via dart to reduce the herd size.
The herd size has been decreased from 450 over the past several years for the sake of preserving ecological stability in the areas surrounding the river. Currently, the horses live on about 19,000 acres around the Salt River, but advocates said there are no peer-reviewed scientific studies to determine how many horses can be supported on that amount of land.
Department Pushes Back on Specific Numbers
The department said in an email they have never mandated a herd reduction target and have not specified or required a herd target of 120 horses. They said the contractor, the Salt River Wild Horse Management Group, proposed reducing the herd to 120 over the term of the five year contract.
AZDA is committed to preserving the health, safety, and integrity of the Salt River Horse Herd and is statutorily mandated to humanely manage the herd. Humanely and sustainably managing the herd requires balancing what the ecosystem can sustain as well as the size and diversity of the herd.
The department said it considered a variety of proposals to reduce the size of the herd, including the continuation of fertility control and the gradual, humane relocation of horses.
Federal Coordination Lacking
The department said it does not have authority over wild horses or burros managed on the Bureau of Land Management lands and are not coordinating with BLM on the removal of horses in Arizona.
A spokesperson for BLM Arizona said they are removing some burros from Lake Pleasant and Black Mountain Herd Management Areas, but not removing horses from the herd management areas near Kingman or Yuma.
The state department said their management of the Salt River Horse Herd is vital to preventing federal management of the herd.
AZDA role in managing the Salt River Horse Herd came after a federal plan to remove large amounts of horses from the Tonto National Forest, the department wrote, referencing the fight to keep the horses before the 2016 law was passed. AZDA current approach to sustainably and cooperatively manage the Salt River Horse Herd serves to prevent future federal efforts that could result in significant removal of horses from the Tonto National Forest.
New Legislator Seeks to Protect Horses
Newly appointed Republican Rep. Cody Reim is introducing a striker amendment to provide clarity and definitions in the existing law, known as the Salt River Wild Horse Act, passed in 2016.
The Maricopa County Board of Supervisors appointed Reim to fill former Rep. Joseph Chaplik seat after he resigned to run for Congress. Bell said his appointment was a wonderful surprise because they needed a hero.
The draft is still in progress and Reim said he plans to introduce it as a floor amendment. The proposal would also provide protection for a certain amount of time while genetic diversity studies can take place, but he is still working through the stakeholder process.
He said he has gotten mostly bipartisan support in the House and the Senate.
As a constituent, its an issue that I followed over 10 years ago, Reim said. Apparently the interpretation of the current law that were under now is being interpreted to favor removals, which was never the intent of the legislation.
Ongoing Debate
A mix of research exists in support and opposition to wild horses in general. Advocates say more peer reviewed research is needed to show that wild horses can benefit ecosystems.
While studies continue, the horses tend to attract a lot of visitors from around the country and the world. Ecotourism has become a booming business in wilderness areas even more than hunting and other traditional activities.
Bell said she usually visits the sandy riverside area three times a week, unless she is at the Capital fighting for the horses. The group has been involved in a decade-long battle over the management of the herd, with supporters and opponents taking turns rallying at the Capitol.
The controversy highlights the complex relationship between ecological management, cultural preservation, and public opinion in Arizona. As the five-year agreement moves forward, advocates and legislators will continue to debate the best approach to managing the Salt River wild horse herd.