WHEREAS, the American Society of Mammalogists and other interested organizations are concerned with certain population increases of feral horses and feral burros resulting from recent laws which protect feral equines in the various western states; and
WHEREAS, the Bureau of Land Management is starting to fund research efforts to determine the effects of mustangs and burros on the native mammal populations, the American Society of Mammalogists extends appreciation to the Bureau of Land Management and to the persons who helped to initiate these scientific efforts; and
WHEREAS, the levels necessary to eliminate serious competition between feral equines and optimum native populations has yet to be determined; and
WHEREAS, it is known that mustangs and burros can and do seriously reduce the environmental quality in areas where they are not controlled;
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the American Society of Mammalogists fully support the National Advisory Board on Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros, the Bureau of Land Management, The U. S. Forest Service, the U. S. Navy and the U. S. Park Service and other governmental agencies in their efforts to maintain these equine populations at such levels as to avoid potentially serious competition with native mammals on all ranges where feral equines are federally protected; and
FURTHER BE IT RESOLVED, that additional research be sponsored to deal with the critical situation which now exists in several western states.