It's a difficult call with horses. They went extinct in North America 10,000 years ago, only to be introduced from Spanish stock following the Pueblo revolt in 1680. While 10K years is a relatively short period of time to be absent in geologic terms, most of their principal predators have also gone extinct, so their populations tend to grow exceptionally fast. There is evidence that mountain lions, wolves, and grizzlies will hunt them, but they do not seem to be nearly effective enough (at least at the densities they exist currently) to control their numbers. This isn't a problem in and of itself, an in fairness that is largely the case even for megafauna whose predators did not go extinct, as we have dramatically reduced predator numbers most areas. The issue is that unlike with cervids (deer and elk), where humans have happily stepped in to become the primary predator throughout much of the continent, Americans generally seem to have an aversion to hunting and eating horse, or allowing other to do so. If the cultural taboo against sustainably harvesting horses changes, I would be supportive of their introduction.
Short a couple more species: wolves and grizzly bears. There was a grizzly caught on a game camera in the Missouri River Breaks last year, and the stray wolf probably wander over occasionally as well, but neither species has a meaningful presence in the CMR.
This sounds like a great place to bring back the Wild Horse Herds as well ...
It's a difficult call with horses. They went extinct in North America 10,000 years ago, only to be introduced from Spanish stock following the Pueblo revolt in 1680. While 10K years is a relatively short period of time to be absent in geologic terms, most of their principal predators have also gone extinct, so their populations tend to grow exceptionally fast. There is evidence that mountain lions, wolves, and grizzlies will hunt them, but they do not seem to be nearly effective enough (at least at the densities they exist currently) to control their numbers.
This isn't a problem in and of itself, an in fairness that is largely the case even for megafauna whose predators did not go extinct, as we have dramatically reduced predator numbers most areas. The issue is that unlike with cervids (deer and elk), where humans have happily stepped in to become the primary predator throughout much of the continent, Americans generally seem to have an aversion to hunting and eating horse, or allowing other to do so. If the cultural taboo against sustainably harvesting horses changes, I would be supportive of their introduction.
Love it - love to be there !
Short a couple more species: wolves and grizzly bears. There was a grizzly caught on a game camera in the Missouri River Breaks last year, and the stray wolf probably wander over occasionally as well, but neither species has a meaningful presence in the CMR.
With all the ruminating animals that you are bringing back in, do you guys have wolves in that area that would be their native predators?
The wolves could probably make it into the refuge on thier own since Montana it's self already has a sizeable population
@@Wildman-lc3ur I hope so, but probably not with Montana's aggressive wolf hunting allotment.
The more megafauna the better I say. Let’s throw in some animals that were around last ice age; musk ox, camels, peccary so on...