Wild horses roam around Apex Mountain.
Image Credit: Jason Frank/RDOS
October 02, 2014 - 11:57 AM
PENTICTON - Wild horses are becoming a greater problem in Penticton as they continue to wander off band land and onto highways, causing injury to themselves and drivers. But despite the need to remove hundreds of horses, the band chief says there will always be horses on their land.
There are over 600 horses on the Penticton Indian Band reserve. In order to keep the environment safe, the ideal number of horses to have on the reserve would be 100, said Chief Jonathan Kruger, who hopes to sell some of the horses to reduce the growing population.
Band officials have been working with their community, horse owners and specialists, as well as the Regional District of the Okanagan-Similkameen to find solutions to the growing problem. Earlier this week, a dead horse was found lying in a ditch off Highway 97. It had been there for three days.
The Band council has created a draft bylaw that outlines solutions to the horse problem, including fencing options, horse removal plans and ownership registry, Kruger said. He expects they’ll be able to take action in the near future.
Kruger said the band may have to look to the province and ICBC for solutions and involvement as the process moves forward.
“Once we get a mandate to create a healthy number of horses, we’re gonna need help dropping the number of these horses down,” Kruger said.
To contact the reporter for this story, email Meaghan Archer at marcher@infotelnews.ca or call 250-488-3065. To contact the editor, email mjones@infotelnews.ca or call 250-718-2724.
News from © iNFOnews, 2014