Wild Horse Facts

 

Quick Wild Horse Facts:

  • 1971 Wild Horse and Burro Act passed by Congress
  • 317 herds of mustangs identified for protection 1974—54 million acres
  • 171-199 HMA’s on 34.5 million acres in 2006 (The low herd # is number is USGS and the high is BLM)
  • 3% estimate of American beef produced by public lands ranching
  • 6 million head of cattle and sheep on public lands (estimated number)
  • $1.35 per cow/calf pair per month to run cattle on public lands (lowest allowable rate)
  • 26,000 approximate number of wild horses remaining on the range
  • 33,000 mustangs in holding facilities
  • 75% of herds non-viable (under 150 animals)
  • Nearly 20 million acres taken away from the mustangs since 1974.