PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Fonner, Robert
AU  - Bohara, Alok K.
TI  - Optimal Control of Wild Horse Populations with Nonlethal Methods
AID  - 10.3368/le.93.3.390
DP  - 2017 Aug 01
TA  - Land Economics
PG  - 390--412
VI  - 93
IP  - 3
4099  - http://le.uwpress.org/content/93/3/390.short
4100  - http://le.uwpress.org/content/93/3/390.full
SO  - Land Econ2017 Aug 01; 93
AB  - Effective management of wild horse populations has proven difficult for land managers. This paper develops and evaluates dynamic optimization models of wild horse management for three nonlethal population control methods: removals, fertility control, and a hybrid method combining removals and fertility control. Two state variables are included in the models to account for horses on the range and horses in off-range holding facilities. The optimization problems are solved and dynamic simulations are generated for each method. The results indicate that a strategic approach to nonlethal wild horse population control has the potential to significantly improve management efficiency. (JEL Q28, Q57)