Center For Biological Diversity - Tucson, Arizona

Gene O.

I have been a Wildlife Biologist for 30+ years, and am highly qualified to speak on behalf of wildlife, biodiversity, and ecological systems and health.

Friends, most everyone loves horses. They are phenomenal creatures, beautiful, graceful, handsome, simply outrageous. And they have been a blessing to millions of humans for millennia. They are fast, sleek, and powerful, and as such, can literally outrun virtually any predator hoping to get a meal. And there's the rub.

They are not native to North America, but were brought here from Spain in the 1500's, if not earlier. There are no natural checks and balances on their populations, as there are with all native species here---even if wolves were fully re-established. They are simply too big and too fast.

And I'm sorry, but they do over-populate the lands they inhabit here, and dramatically degrade the vegetation and riparian zones of our beautiful continent. This in turn negatively affects native wildlife of many species, which are all under many other deleterious impacts from human encroachment, landscape destruction, and, Yes, grazing livestock.

Even if we took all livestock off of public lands, which I would be very supportive of, horses would continue to overpopulate and degrade the environment, at probably accelerated rates given the added forage. Meaning that, to avoid their own starvation, managers would have to continually call the herds. That is, kill some percentage of the populations regularly. There simply are not enough human homes for these animals. And besides, is it right to take a free animal, who loves to run and roam at will, and put them in a pen, or 'break' them for riding?

Do you love elk, deer, pronghorn antelope, rabbits, prairie dogs, hawks and eagles, and many other native species, as much as you do horses? If not, I would suggest you ponder this question. Native species populations are declining, and this is more than heartbreaking, for me and all Earth lovers.

Our biological diversity shrinks with every passing year, and if you don't support, or understand, the significance of biological diversity, please try reading up on it. I empathize with your love of horses, and the fact is, I love them deeply myself. But our choices are limited, unfortunately, and our native species are in serious trouble.

Thanks for reading this.

Christine B.

If I could leave a 0 review, I would. I can no longer support this organization because of it’s lawsuit against the Salt River wild horses based on false allegations that they are ruining the environment. In this photo you will see two Salt River wild horses eating the dried grass which would fuel any sort of fire that could start at the river or in the Tonto National Forest. They also do NOT eat the cottonwood trees as they are accused of. They are not ruining the environment, they are in fact helping it. Humans are the ones ruining it by leaving all of their trash and discarded inner tubes, tents, camping supplies or anything else unwanted. Shame on you, CBD. Drop your ridiculous lawsuit against the Salt River wild horses.

cris B.

Biological Diversity seems to be a cover for Biological warfare. I moved to Arizona 7 years ago because of the diversity and beauty. I supported this group until I actually researched their history and motives. The battle they have raged against the wild horse population, especially a well managed herd such as the Salt River Wild horses is repulsive. My support will be for the Tonto forest service and all who are working to preserve Arizonas historic treasures. Go away CBD!!!!!!!!

angela K.

I can no longer support this organization. They teamed up with known hunters and ranchers to file a lawsuit to remove the Salt River horses!! What's so horribly disappointing is this organization claims to love the environment and all wildlife but they don't. The Salt River Horses are not only iconic to AZ, they are known all over the world!! People travel from everywhere every year to see them. Arizona is KNOWN for these horses. There is a hidden agenda here and it's not to save "birds" or anything else from these beautiful horses. Horses would have lived harmoniously within their unique ecosystem balanced perfectly with everything in it. Why hasn't CBD addressed the trash left behind or the thousands of marshmallows thrown into this ecosystem by the thousands of visitors it sees each year and only growing? Why did it quote inaccurate numbers and data not relevant to the environment itself Shame on you CBD and the ugliness you partnered up with!!!

Nichole A.

This organization does not include scientifically gathered evidence to support claims, repeatedly. They continuously lobby to remove species in Arizona that are less detrimental than owned, claimed livestock allowed on rented government lands. Cattle are far more damaging than deer or horses or big horn sheep. Yet, their "studies" ignore impact except on targets. The Alpine Horse Herd has been removed viciously and now the Salt River Herd is under attack by these ignorant, paid off people who DO NOT SERVE THE PUBLIC regarding Public lands. Trash generated from tubers on the river and irresponsible humans play a greater factor on river health than the horses. We've removed thousands of pounds yearly in Kayaking groups volunteering, Natural Restorations & Salt River Wild Horse Management Group. The horses suffer from HUMANS and trash, not the riparian area. The horses keep brush down to decrease fire spreading, the over use of water by individuals having pools in every yard in new housing developments contribute to damage done to AZ, along w 50 yrs of drought. Address the REAL ISSUES. Humans. And leave your blood soaked money out of our public lands! We want the HORSES not your ignorance and stupidity interfering with what WORKS. Remove human access and see how THAT effects the nature you lie about!

Jennifer T.

Very disappointed with CBD. I used to support them but can not anymore. They are targeting the wild horses of Arizona. First they had the Alpine wild horses rounded up. Now they have a BS lawsuit again the forest service to have the Salt River wild horses rounded up. This group is supported to look out for animals? I don’t think so. Drop the lawsuit against the Forest service and leave the Salt River wild horses alone.

Karen C.

I wish I could leave no stars...this group is responsible for removing wild horses all over the country. Their hatred of wild horses leads them to file lawsuits with nothing but lies. They are nothing but a bunch of lawyers filing frivolous lawsuits while collecting outrageous donations. They have duped their supporters using the front of helping extinct species while the real reason is to make wild horses extinct. The most recent lawsuit is to eradicate the world loved Salt River wild horses. The whole lawsuit is based on nothing but lies. This herd is being successfully and humanely managed by SRWHMG, the Forest Service and Az department of Agriculture.

Katherine D.

Because of your current lawsuit involving the Salt River Wild Horses I can no longer support you. You promote keeping wildlife free and wild yet you are attacking one of the most diverse ecosystems in my area. The 8 million people who visit the area cause more damage than the wild horses. There are an alarming number of irresponsible hunters frequenting the area. Yet you are collaborating with the Arizona Sportsmen for Conservation group. The eagles are flourishing because the wild horses don’t eat cottonwood trees or saplings. They do however eat invasive plants like arundo and salt cedar which can make a wildfire burn really hot. The wild horses create paths that work as fire breaks in the forest. There is more damage caused to riparian areas from the way SRP manages the dam system stopping the flow of the river in the winter then increasing the flow substantially in the spring and overflowing the banks of the river washing away any new growth. This current action will most likely impact your organization negatively!