Equidae: Zebras, Wild Asses & Horses

[smedz]

Here in North America, we have tons of species, including introduced animals like Wild boars, which have some pretty bad effects on the ecosystem. However, not all introduced species have a bad impact, in fact, mustangs, the wild horses of the west, have a great impact on the ecosystem. 

In winter, they will use their hooves to break through the deep snow to get to the grass, and they also break through frozen bodies of water with their hooves, and this, allows other species to survive the harsh winter months. One example is during the huge blizzard of 1886, when tons of cattle died, but some cattle lived, and those that did survive followed herds of wild horses. Another benefit of wild horses is that they can act as protectors of other prey species. Allow me to explain, When the wild horses of Anza Borrega National Park, California were removed in an effort to try to increase the bighorn sheep population, the number of bighorn sheep deaths ended up increasing because the cougars of the park, which hunted wild horses, simply turned more of their attention towards the sheep because the wild horses were removed. When it comes to grazing, wild horses are better for the plains than the cattle are because of the ways the 2 animals graze. Cows graze by wrapping their tongues around the grass since they don't have upper front teeth, and if the ground is wet, then the cow will grab a plant by the roots, and the grass will never have a second chance of growing back, horses are different, as they have upper front teeth, and flexible lips to grab the grass, then clip parts of the grass, and the grass can grow back. 

Source of information. 

https://americanwildhorsescampaign/wild-horses-and-ecosystem Reply