Believe it or not, there are still some who would still like to see large numbers of Salt River wild horses removed. Those people focus on negative environmental effects of wild horses, most of which are unsubstantiated. But wild horses, just like any species, have both negative and positive effects on the environment. So let's consider some positive effects too:
*By grazing and trampling down dry brush and weeds, they are most definitely reducing fire hazard in the Tonto National Forest.
*By clearing paths through non-native salt cedar and giant reed, they make more accessibility to the river for people and other wildlife. Most places where you see openings and paths to the river (through thick vegetation and giant reeds), they have been made and maintained by wild horses.
* By spreading the seeds in their manure, they regenerate and create mesquite forests. These trees provide shade and forage to other wildlife species as well as to us!
*By eating the river eel grasses, they create more beneficial aquatic habitat for fish and other organisms by reducing the eel grass, improving open water habitat in the river and also making it easier for kayakers to travel the river.
If you've ever been to Butcher Jones when the wild horses were there, and you go there now, you will KNOW beyond a doubt, the positive impact they had, on even just that one recreation area. Now you can hardly get to a bench to sit down and we will guesstimate that the fire danger is very high there with all the dry underbrush now. Also our volunteers are no longer there picking up the trash daily, which is accumulating.
Also keep in mind that the Tonto National Forest has nearly 6 million visitors annually (roughly the same number that visit the Grand Canyon), with many of those visitors going to the lower Salt/Saguaro lake region where the horses live. The human negative impact, plus drought, invasive plant species, un-natural water management and many other issues effect the environment of the area. Scape goating the horses, is unfair, inaccurate and not supported by objective science.
Go to Butcher Jones and decide if the Tonto National Forest is better off with wild horses and with the Salt River Wild Horse Management Group, or without. ... See MoreSee Less
21 hours ago
