March 18, 2020 • Vol. 18, No. 14
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Feds offer financial incentive to help find homes for wild horses and burros BY MADISON STATEN CRONKITE NEWS
Arizona had an estimated 530 wild horses last year, while states like Nevada had thousands. To reduce their impact on the environment, the animals are rounded up by the Bureau of Land Management and offered for adoption. (Photo by Michael Hannan/Cronkite News)
MARANA — Thousands of wild horses and burros roam across millions of acres of public land in 10 Western states, including Arizona. The Bureau of Land Management, which manages these herds, estimated last year there are 88,000 animals – more than three times as many as there should be. The bureau says the number of wild horses and burros exceeds the “appropriate management level” and leads to depleted grass and water resources, “threatening the overall health of the public rangelands and degrading ecosystems,”
according to the BLM’s website. This means deteriorated health among wild horses and burros, which can lead to starvation, dehydration and death. The agency rounds up some of the animals yearly and works to find them new homes through adoptions. The BLM estimates a manageable population would be 27,000 wild horses and burros. John Hall, the Arizona wild horse and burro program lead for the bureau, facilitated an adoption this month in Marana, north of Tucson.
WILD HORSES continued on page 9
Arizona to receive more than $12 Million for COVID-19 response PHOENIX — The Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS) announced March 12 that Arizona will receive $12.4 million from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to support the public health response to the COVID-19 outbreak, according to a ADHS press release. These funds are in addition to the $500,000 already received from the CDC on March 4. ADHS will work with local public health departments to develop and implement plans to help mitigate the spread of COVID-19 in Arizona. Key funding priorities will include surveillance and investigation activities, laboratory testing,
infection control supply procurement and distribution, and risk communication. “The state response to the COVID-19 outbreak is the top priority of ADHS, and we will be working with local public health departments to distribute and use the funds where they will make the greatest impact to mitigate the spread of COVID-19,” said Dr. Cara Christ, ADHS director. “We have community spread of this virus in Arizona, and we will see additional cases. Our public health strategy is to slow the spread of the disease and protect those who are most at risk for serious complications.”
Governor Doug Ducey issued a Declaration of Emergency on March 11 to combat the spread of COVID-19, which will give ADHS access to an additional $500,000 in emergency funds that can be used for resources to protect public health. The governor also issued an executive order aimed at preventing spread among at-risk populations, such as the elderly, and reducing financial burdens on Arizonans by lowering healthcare costs associated with the virus. ADHS activated its Health Emergency Operations Center on January 26 after the first case of travel-associated COVID-19
NORTH VALLEY:
RIO VERDE:
ARIZONA:
Rattlesnakes 101, Part 2 Keeping people and pets safe
Nest watchers keep eyes on bald eagle nests
Verde Valley could become designated wine region
• Bluhm Column
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• Financial Column
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• Pet of the Week
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COVID-19
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Photo courtesy of Getty Images
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