A sure sign of autumn on the high desert plains is the return of the mustangs. Down from the hills, they come looking for food and water. Both are scarce right now, although the herds look fit and feisty. Spring’s foals have lost their fluffy newborn tails and are now walking endless miles with their families.
It’s best not to name them or even look for favorites each day. Mustangs are a funny bunch. You might see the same group every day for a week and then not see them again for the rest of the season.
One of my favorites is a white mare. Not a true albino, she has a platinum sheen to her coat. Older than my time on here on the high desert plains, she’s produced a foal each spring, every one as white as her. For a time, she liked bunking next to Winterpast to escape the wind. I hope she’s wise enough to live out the rest of her days wild and free.
The mustang round-up’s continue around the area. Each time one is announced, I’m relieved they aren’t taking our group. Not yet anyway.
Opinions about the Mustangs are varied and intense. The Mustang groups want them left alone. Watching the herds that have become family members, I appreciate their point of view. Then, cattle ranchers using the open range insist wild horses harm BLM (the ONLY BLM — Bureau of Land Management) land used for cattle. People from the EPA claim the horses ruin the land for native species. The horses aren’t native, but invasive.
The highway patrol wishes the horses were miles from Highway 50, the loneliest highway in the United States. We all agree horses and vehicles don’t mix.
All those groups come together to clash, year after year. All the while, the number of mustangs keeps growing. It’s an impossible problem to solve. With any choice, unhappy people will continue to fight for years to come.
Add a deadly fire and the risks are greater. Just a few days ago, a video was taken of wild mustangs running up Geigher grade to the safety of the Virginia city range. Now, that’s a traffic jam. I tried to post it here, but the attached political ads included curse words. Google “wild mustangs escaping Davis Fire on Geigher grade” to see the mass exodus. There are many more than that living right outside our front door.
Oy. Vey.
One thing that does change the picture is a growing population and our town is on the verge of exploding. With thousands of new apartments and homes under construction, wild animals are pushed East, further onto the desert plains.
Just yesterday, I found that a new Italian restaurant, a Wine Lounge, a dress shop, and new salon are opening in our town. Along with those new shops, Squeeze Inn is opening their 9th store on September 21. A new place to enjoy breakfast and lunch, this isn’t opening a minute too soon. Businesses grow as the population expands. The horses and wild life will be lost somewhere along the way.
For now, I’ll enjoy this very moment and things as they are today.
Whatever you do today, look around to find signs of autumn where you live. Pretty soon it will be time for sweaters and pumpkin spice. I can’t wait!
More tomorrow.