The wild horses that have become a must-see along the lower Salt River are about to get a lot less numerous. Under a new state management plan, the Arizona Department of Agriculture has directed that the herd be trimmed from roughly 274 animals toward a target of about 120, using fertility control and staged relocations. Officials say the goal is to ease pressure on sensitive riparian habitat and cut down on clashes between horses and river visitors.
New five-year contract requires removals
The Salt River Wild Horse Management Group says the state awarded it a five-year contract on Feb. 18 that sets a population cap and spells out removal requirements. The nonprofit plans to rely on a mix of fertility control and what it describes as “gradual relocations to pre-vetted sanctuaries” to get there, moving roughly 25 horses a year until the herd hits the new limit, according to a press release from the Salt River Wild Horse Management Group.
Agency concerns: habitat and recreation
The U.S. Forest Service has argued that the current herd size “damages natural habitats and disrupts recreational areas,” a concern highlighted by FOX 10 Phoenix. Those worries mirror guidance in the Arizona Department of Agriculture’s Salt River Horse Management Plan, which calls for birth control, monitoring and fewer horses to protect streamside habitat and other wildlife. The Arizona Department of Agriculture notes the management area covers about 20,000 acres and has long required a careful balance between public access and the health of the range.
Relocations will be gradual and vetted
Managers say they plan to move horses in stages and vet each receiving site before any animals are trucked out, with a particular emphasis on avoiding large roundups and keeping family bands together whenever possible. Local reporting says the plan envisions roughly 25 relocations per year, while fertility control slows future growth of the herd. For details on the schedule, see KJZZ, and for how sanctuary placements will work, see the summary from the Salt River Wild Horse Management Group.
Locals split as debate continues
The plan has locals firmly divided. Some regulars along the Salt River worry that cutting the herd nearly in half will erase a defining Valley experience. Others, including some advocates and scientists, argue that reducing horse numbers is necessary to protect native plants and wildlife. Reporting in the Phoenix New Times tracks months of infighting, competing bids and legal battles that helped shape the state’s new requirements.
What’s next
The management group says it is actively looking for land or leases closer to the river so relocated bands can remain near their historic range and still be visible to the public, even if they are technically off the wild landscape. The Arizona Department of Agriculture says ongoing population counts and range monitoring will guide future decisions as officials try to juggle habitat recovery, public safety and public access. The department’s plan also outlines how partners will help with monitoring and fence maintenance, with technical details available from the Arizona Department of Agriculture.
Legal questions remain
All of this is unfolding against a backdrop of long-running legal disputes and conservation fights over how the Salt River horses should be managed and who should be in charge. The Center for Biological Diversity has argued in court that habitat degradation along the Lower Salt River threatens endangered birds and other species, concerns the group details on its website. Center for Biological Diversity.
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