Heinz, M. (2022, August 17). Mustangs vs. Muleys: Wild horses out-competing mule deer for food, water . Cowboy State Daily. Retrieved September 14, 2022, from https://cowboystatedaily.com/2022/08/17/mustangs-vs-muleys-wild-horses-out-competing-mule-deer-for-food-water/
In the vast grasslands of the central United States, two species roam the prairie and compete for food and water. Mule Deer and Mustangs, well known to many, cohabitate this land and share its resources. But lately, the wild mustangs have started to outcompete the mule deer, leaving them struggling to find their share of food. The horses are all around grazers, while Mule deer only graze on specific plants, such as sage bush and buck bush. So when grassland forage becomes scarce, the deer simply struggle to compete. The Bureau of Land Management has been rounding up the mustangs in an attempt to rebalance the ecosystem, but many question the treatment of the captured horses.
This article highlights how biotic relationships affect differing species within an ecosystem. The biological advantage of a larger possible diet makes it easy for mustangs to overpopulate, threatening damage to the habitat and the population of other species. However, the article also raises the question of the ethics involved in culling the horses’ population. Currently, the Bureau of Land Management will drive the horses using low flying helicopters to capture sites. The helicopters will chase panicked horses who can injure themselves, and foals can be separated from their mothers. Family herds are separated, and the wild horses are moved to large holding facilities around the country. While the BLM encourages the training and adoption of the mustangs, for example the mustang makeover challenge, there are still over 59,000 wild horses and burros in off site holding facilities. The facilities are yet another expense to the local taxpayer. I have to agree with the contrasting argument mentioned in the later part of the article, and that there are more humane and effective ways to control the population, such as darting mares with contraceptives. The article highlights the effect of the wild horses on grassland environments, but it can be argued that there are better ways to keep the mustang’s numbers in check.
I really love the article! Do you think local governments should interfere with situations like this where the ecosystems are at risk? Or is it just part of nature for systems to change like this?
I think the argument for government interference is that the mustangs are similar to an invasive species, as they aren’t native to the US. Most likely they descended from escaped horses originally brought here by the europeans, so they can be called an invasive species to justify the rounding up of them. But in my honest opinion I think there are much better ways of interfering rather than rounding them up. I know there has been talk of possibly darting mares with contraceptives to help control populations. So to kind of answer/clarify your question, this isn’t quite a completely natural ecosystem, but im sure the horses have additional roles in the food chain rather than just competing with the mule deer. But if they are really such an issue, there are better ways than just having them sit in holding pens for the rest of their lives.