Wild Mustang horses running in a meadow in the Nevada desert.. Image credit: Adobe Stock
Project Summary
Principal Investigator(s):
- Kathryn A Schoenecker (Fort Collins Science Center)
Co-Investigator(s):
- Jacob Hennig (University of Arizona)
Cooperator/Partner(s):
- Julie Thorstenson (Native American Fish and Wildlife Society)
- Robert Compton (Bureau of Indian Affairs)
- Paul Griffin (Bureau of Land Management)
- Michelle Crabb (Bureau of Land Management)
- David Wooten (Bureau of Indian Affairs)
- Tolani Francisco (US Forest Service)
- Courtney Duchardt (Oklahoma State)
Fiscal Year: 2024
Start Date: 08/01/2024
End Date: 07/31/2026
Project Overview
Feral horse populations in the southwestern United States, including on tribal lands, are far above sustainable levels. This overpopulation poses threats to rangeland ecosystems as the feral horses compete with native species and livestock for limited resources – which likely will become even more limited with climate change. Researchers supported by this Southwest CASC project will partner with tribal agencies to generate reliable population size estimates of feral horse populations. These estimates are essential for tribal agencies to create effective management plans to protect rangelands.
Summary:
Overabundant feral horse populations are a major concern on southwestern rangelands because of their tendency to degrade resources and compete for forage and water with native species and livestock. The populations are estimated to be 300% above appropriate levels for public land, and there is evidence that they are even more abundant on tribal lands. Climate models predict warmer temperatures and less rainfall in the Southwest, which will likely reduce forage and water availability, further threatening the sustainability of tribal rangelands. However, many tribal agencies lack the funds and resources to conduct the first step of instituting a horse management plan: estimating population size.
The primary objective of this project is to partner with tribal agencies located in the southwestern U.S. to generate reliable population size estimates of feral horses on tribal lands. These estimates will allow tribal leaders to develop targeted management plans for horses while monitoring the outcomes of those interventions. The research will also provide the foundational data required to address questions surrounding overpopulation and its impact on rangelands, especially in the face of climate change. Researchers will conduct aerial surveys of feral horse populations across southwest Tribal Nations and will train tribal biologists and rangeland managers on the ground and in the helicopter, enabling them to conduct future assessments independently.
Developing horse management plans is currently being led by tribes and discussed by tribes within the NAFWS. The project will produce statistically validated population size estimates for feral horses on tribal lands and co-produced tutorials for future data collection. Tribal agencies can use these results to create and implement management plans that address feral horse populations and future climate threats, protecting the ecological integrity of tribal rangelands.