http://www.hlntv.com/video/2014/01/07/animals-stranded-extreme-weather?clusterId=#videoplayer
As people across the country huddle indoors to escape arctic temperatures, millions of animals are stranded out in the cold. Critics say the approximately 45 thousand wild horses that have been rounded up by the government’s Bureau of Land Management are in grave danger. These horses hide from the cold in nooks and crannies when they’re in the wild. Now, they’re stranded in holding pens out in the open. We reached out the Bureau of Land Management for comment, and the Bureau’s Jeff Krauss responded: “Wild horses and burros live in rugged weather conditions, both hot and cold, on the range throughout the year.
Wild horses at holding facilities are provided with man
-made and natural wind breaks. In contrast, there are not many natural wind breaks on the range because of the desert terrain. In terms of behavior, on-range wild horses and burros huddle together in groups to protect one another from the elements, just as they do in corralled environments. Animals held in holding facilities are healthy and hardy. They are provided humane treatment that includes veterinary care and daily feed with access to fresh water sources. Hay provided at the facility is very high in nutritive value, and the wild horses there typically gain weight and their body condition improves. (A wild horse will eat 20 pounds of hay every day.)
Because of limited water on the range, wild horses must eat snow and ice to stay hydrated in extreme weather conditions. Wild horses in holding facilities are given plenty of fresh, clean water, which enables the horses to be fully hydrated.” They say horses and burros are hardy enough to survive in these temperatures-when even polar bears can’t withstand this cold! It’s so cold in Chicago that the Lincoln Park Zoo moved its polar bear to a climate controlled environment. The polar vortex has brought arctic temperatures to the Midwest.
Today in Detroit, the high was zero degrees and the low negative two! There are tens of thousands of stray dogs wandering the streets of Detroit in these subzero temperatures. Right now, these poor homeless animals could be freezing to death. Jane speaks to Kristen Huston from All About Animals Rescue about how you can help save these poor animals.
—