• @[email protected]
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      71 month ago

      Well if you can’t use explosives, I suggest you soak the carcass with gasoline and light it up using a minigun. That should be American enough.

  • @[email protected]
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    1 month ago

    In less extreme times, the US Forest Service routinely blows up carcasses of fallen horses – after removing horseshoes to minimize the hazard from flying metal debris – to prevent gatherings of ravenous grizzly bears that frequent Wyoming’s open spaces.

    It probably doesn’t make economic sense if the carcasses are in hard-to-access locations, but it is a little unfortunate that the hides can’t be used.

    Back in World War II, bomber jackets were made out of horsehide leather, because it was very tough and durable, and because there were lots of horses in use, so there was a ready supply.

    But today, there are far fewer horses around. They’ve mostly been replaced by motor vehicles for transportation or farm work, so horsehide is in scarce supply. As a result, if you want an actual horsehide bomber jacket, it’s pricey. It’s more common today to use cowhide for leather stuff.

    • @Death_Equity
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      1 month ago

      Makes them break down easier/faster and less logistically challenging and costly than taking them somewhere to be composted. Also stops grizzly and whatnot from gathering at the horse.

    • @Maggoty
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      41 month ago

      They do it in areas where predators would be drawn into human contact. So like hiking areas.

  • Gikiski
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    61 month ago

    Unfortunate that no wildlife will eat dead horses in Wyoming.

    • @DontTreadOnBigfoot
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      141 month ago

      They probably don’t want to contribute to conditioning predators to think of horses as a food source.

      • @[email protected]
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        61 month ago

        The reason is given in the article.

        They don’t want the carcasses to attract grizzlies close to trails where human traffic is expected.

        • @DontTreadOnBigfoot
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          11 month ago

          Ah, I missed that line. But I guess I was on the right track in my thinking.