Letter to Editor Supports BLM Plan

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Dear Editor,

Secretary Ken Salazar deserves praise for his bold and responsible plan to care for our nation’s wildhorse and burro populations through utilization of both western rangelands and grassland preserves. His plan would provide due respect and care to these icons of the west while ensuring that healthy herds of animals can thrive on healthy rangelands. The Secretary’s proposal demonstrates his commitment to managing public lands and resources for their long-term health and sustainability and for meeting the needs of multiple land uses and users.

Under the proposed plan, 25,000 of the nation’s estimated 59,000 wild horses and burros would be moved to seven preserves located in the Midwest and East. The preserves would be accessible to the public, allowing people to observe and admire these beautiful animals. Currently the State of Utah and the BLM house and care for thousands of these wild animals at State Correctional facility in Gunnison, Utah.

I applaud Secretary Salazar for his wisdom, vision and leadership in administering his stewardship responsibilities. Congress should now move swiftly to support and fund the proposal and restore balance to our western rangelands.

Leonard M. Blackham
Commissioner,
Utah Department of Agriculture and Food

Visit the Bureau of Land Management's (BLM) page on wild horses and burros.

Read a Deseret News article on the Secretary's proposal.

See a video of some of Utah's wild horse's being cared for at the Utah Correctional Facility in Gunnison, Utah.

 

 

Posted October 27, 2009