Life Without Parole: ...
by Robert Fogel
Overpopulation of free roaming horses (a symbol of the West) and burros, compete for forage, damage stream banks, and destroy vegetation. These impacts are exacerbated by overpopulation. The Public Rangeland Improvement Act 1971 states that "excess animals be humanely captured and removed for private maintenance and care." Horses can live 25 to 30 years and mares produce 20-30 foals during their lifetime. Private maintenance holds increasingly more animals as captures greatly exceed adoptions.