By: William E. Simpson II – Wild Horse Etholog
What is an ‘invasive species’?
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Friday, June 26, 2026
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By: William E. Simpson II – Wild Horse Etholog
What is an ‘invasive species’?
5 Comments
Does it really matter if horses are labeled indigenous or native? My understanding has been that the Spanish first brought horses to the Americas and the wild horses we see today are descendants of those Spanish horses. I remember reading about fossils being discovered in North America that are horse-like animals that are much smaller than today’s horses. If we can use sheep or goats to reduce fire hazards, why not use horses, regardless if you believe they are native or not? Maybe somebody can explain the significance.
Mr. Perdue:
I have over 200 published articles on natural resource management, including water, forest, fisheries and herbivores. Here is one article that explains the important differences between ruminant livestock grazing and non-ruminant horses and why those differences require careful management.
Texas Rancher, cattleman, oilman, banker and now owner of the rancher formerly owned by the founders of DHL (air freight company, Mr. Chris Gill featured this article on his ranch website:
https://pitchstonewaters.com/understanding-wild-horse-fire-brigade/
Mr. Gill is one of the nation’s most highly educated and informed ranchers and the fact that he’s publishing this article (and others about horses, hunting, ranching, predators, wildfires, and more) should be carefully considered by ranchers who are just getting caught up on what new in the world of Natural History and evolution.
Here is another article that directs the differences between ruminant herbivores (cattle, sheep, goats and deer) and non-ruminant herbivore horses:
https://pagosadailypost.com/2021/01/18/opinion-wild-horses-chronic-wasting-disease-in-deer/
There’s a comment here from Mr. Lemos who is clearly misinformed and merely repeating obsolete myths about horses, who seems unwilling to read and view the scientific information that was provided in the article. Moreover, one of our Orgs. board members is Kansas cattle ranchers, Mr. Mike Schultz who is the Founder of the Kansas Cattleman’s Assn., a Life Member and Board Member of R-CALF, and a Board Member of Organization for Competitive Markets (OCM) an org that protects the American Beef Industry. Mr. Schultz also agrees with my position on horses and also, wild horse management:
Here is the Board for WILD HORSE FIRE BRIGADE: https://www.wildhorsefirebrigade.org/advocacy-board
My email address is: [email protected]
My phone is: 858. 212-5762
Thanks for the question.
Modern feral horses in the Iron Gate, copco area are definitely an invasive species. People that form nonprofit groups and collect money for feeding and caring for these animals are perpetrating a fraud. These individuals should be held accountable.
Mr. Lemos:
It seems you need to brush up on Science and recent research, and start by re-reading the substantive science facts cited in the article. Your conjectured opinion is not supported by any science whatsoever, just your personal opinion, and you saying something doesn’t make it even remotely true.
And the herd of horses you are referring to are not ‘feral’! They are in fact privately-owned livestock under CA livestock law (ask Jim Smith at the AG Dept, he’ll fill you in).
Furthermore, they are legally on the Open Range, just like your cattle that are ranging on other people’s private property under the same Open Range law. And it’s a felony crime to harm or take away any of those privately owned horses legally grazing the Open Range.
P.S. I was on the Klamathon Fire fire-line for 9-days (July 7-16) as the local knowledge advisor to CALFIRE. I documented the benefits of our local herd of Horses, which helped CALFIRE save the Monument from being incinerated along with all the wildlife therein.
William E. Simpson II (former producer of registered polled Hereford cattle and member FFA and Logger)
Mr. Lemos:
Instead of trying to reinvent local area natural history, you would do well to pay attention to reality, namely the EATS ACT. Our (Wild Horse Fire Brigade) Board member Mike Schultz is in fact working to STOP passage of that Act, which has been silently slipped into the FARM BILL…
https://www.mdjonline.com/pressrelease/campaign-against-farm-bill-s-trojan-horse-the-eats-act-launched-by-farmers-and-ranchers/article_30c5b7ec-0485-11ee-93b0-5b06a7b586a3.html