LETTERS: HORSES SHOULD NOT OCCUPY LAND AT OZARKS RIVERWAYS

To the editor:

However locally popular it may be, we should not bow to pressure to manage our few Missouri public parks for plants and animals that threaten the system that the parks were designated to protect. If the local residents wish to maintain and protect farm animals, they should arrange to do so on private land or public land specifically set aside for livestock grazing and pay the fee.

It is troubling that U.S. Rep. Bill Emerson should attempt to subvert the legitimate management goals of the national park system. If local sentiment favored cattle grazing in the park, or local residents released a herd of goats in the area, could we expect legislation to be introduced that would require the park to manage for these creatures as well? Feral horses are no different. Evidence from the science of conservation biology argues convincingly. They should not occupy national park lands.

The sentiment favoring the small herd of feral horses in the Ozarks National Scenic Riverways may be politically persuasive to the congressman. Unfortunately, requiring national parks, with their limited budgets and personnel, to manage for farm livestock is neither wise use of this valuable natural resource, nor is it common sense.

ALAN R.P. JOURNET

Cape Girardeau

Rep. Emerson responds: I have introduced legislation to protect the wild horses roaming the Ozarks National Scenic Riverways from removal by the National Park Service. After exhaustive attempts at common-sense diplomacy, I only took this step after the park superintendent stated congressional action was necessary.

It has been decided by the NPS that the feral horses should be removed because they are a non-indigenous species. I must point out that neither is the speckled trout, nor various other flora or fauna found in the Ozarks. There is no cost to taxpayers by allowing the horses to remain free, but there could be significant administrative costs should the NPS proceed with a roundup, confined refuge area or any other government-run plan to restrict their free movement. In fact, the horses are known to attract tourists who contribute to Missouri's economy, actually helping our tax base.