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Effects of roundups on behavior and reproduction of feral horses
Author
Hansen, K. V.
Mosley, J. C.
Publisher
Society for Range Management
Publication Year
2000-09-01
Body

Roundups are used to maintain feral horse populations in balance with rangeland grazing capacity, but little is known about short-term and long-term effects of roundups on horses. We evaluated the effects of roundups on behavior and reproduction of feral horses. The study was conducted near Challis, Ida. during 1994-1995, and repeated near Lander, Wyo. during 1995-1996. Horses were randomly assigned to 3 different treatment groups. One group (ADOPTED) was gathered by a Bureau of Land Management roundup crew using a helicopter. These horses were removed and placed in the Adopt-A-Horse Program. The second group (SIMULATED) consisted of horses that were gathered by helicopter, but these horses evaded capture and remained in the study area after the roundup. Horses in the third group (CONTROL) were not herded by helicopter. Horse behavior was monitored in the SIMULATED and CONTROL groups before and after roundups. Behavioral variables analyzed were the percentage of time spent resting, feeding, vigilant, traveling, and engaged in agonistic encounters. Neither foraging or social behavior of feral horses was affected by roundups in either study area (P > 0.10). Reproduction was monitored within the SIMULATED, CONTROL, and ADOPTED groups during the year following roundups. The percentages of mares with live foals did not differ (P > 0.10) among the 3 treatment groups in Idaho or Wyoming. Foaling success rates in Idaho were 29%, 31%, and 43% for CONTROL, ADOPTED, and SIMULATED mares, respectively. In Wyoming, foaling success rates were 29%, 42%, and 48% for CONTROL, ADOPTED, and SIMULATED groups, respectively. We found no evidence that roundups had deleterious effects on behavior or reproduction of feral horses. The Journal of Range Management archives are made available by the Society for Range Management and the University of Arizona Libraries. Contact lbry-journals@email.arizona.edu for further information. Migrated from OJS platform August 2020

Language
en
Resource Type
Text
Document Type
Journal Issue/Article
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
10.2307/4003647
Additional Information
Hansen, K. V., & Mosley, J. C. (2000). Effects of roundups on behavior and reproduction of feral horses. Journal of Range Management, 53(5), 479-482.
ISSN
0022-409X
OAI Identifier
oai:repository.arizona.edu:10150/643792
Journal Volume
53
Journal Number
5
Journal Pages
479-482
Collection
Rangeland Ecology & Management (REM)
Journal Name
Journal of Range Management
Keywords
fearfulness
female fertility
foaling rate
feral herds
horses
aggression
animal behavior
wild horses
Equus caballus
Adopt-A-Horse Program
foraging behavior
social behavior