Wednesday, April 29, 2015

BLM: Lack of precipitation a bad sign for horses, cows

Diminishing water on the range could spell disaster for wild horses this summer, according to a Bureau of Land Management representative. Speaking to the county’s natural resources board, Rich Adams, BLM Tuscarora Field Office manager, said it’s not the lack of feed that has staff concerned, but the drying creeks and springs. “I think we’re going to be reaching some really critical issues with water and horses,” he said. “… If it really turns bone dry, we’re probably going to end up tipping horses over because of a lack of water.” BLM has continued hauling water to guzzler troughs and rounding up horses in overcrowded areas, though a lack of space in short-term and long-term facilities has made gathers problematic. Regardless of wild horses, the drought has affected ranchers, many of whom have already voluntarily reduced their grazing on public land this season. Some allotments are up to 70 percent nonuse, according to Adams. “Later this summer, we may be facing one of those points where there just ain’t enough water to support the number of head out there and we’ll have to work with permittees to deal with that accordingly,” Adams said. Ron Torell, president of the Nevada Cattlemen’s Association, said operators in northeastern Nevada have been forced to export or sell cattle and he expects that trend to continue so long as the drought persists. “It’s getting to be an ugly situation,” he said. “… Our numbers are lower than they’ve ever been.” Torell said cattlemen have taken voluntary nonuse because it’s good for the land, but also because if there’s little feed on the ground it can’t sustain many cows...more

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