Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Miscellaneous/2022 February 16

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February 16

Wolves in U.S. Bureau of Land Management feral horse and burro areas

The article here says the animals don't have natural enemies, so they get overpopulated. Is there any introduction of wolves planned? Rich (talk) 02:32, 16 February 2022 (UTC)

Which article? --Jayron32 12:51, 16 February 2022 (UTC)

Currently, "The BLM gathers and removes wild horses and burros from public lands to protect the health of the animals and health of our nation’s public rangelands. In some locations, the BLM also uses birth control to slow the growth of wild horse herds. Absent management and natural predators, wild horse herds can double in just 4-5 years and quickly outgrow the ability of the land to support them."[1] Clarityfiend (talk) 12:53, 16 February 2022 (UTC)

That quote doesn't actually say that there are no predators. It simply says that if predation and active management did not occur, then the population could double in that time. --User:Khajidha (talk) (contributions) 13:22, 16 February 2022 (UTC)

"Unchecked herds double in size every four years, due to a lack of natural predators and a rapid growth rate. To prevent overpopulation and overgrazing, the BLM gathers excess animals and offers them for adoption or sale to a good home."^[2][3]  --Lambiam 15:39, 16 February 2022 (UTC)

• It should also be noted that there are other feral horse populations managed by other agencies. The National Park Service manages herds of Banker horses. The populations are small and their range is equally as small; population is managed by adopting out young horses to farms and the like. Chincoteague Ponys, another group of barrier island horses, are managed by a combination of the NPS and local agencies. That article mentions population is controlled by, among other methods, contraception. Again, compared to some of the vast acreage managed by the BLM, these barrier island herds are much easier to maintain. --Jayron32 17:15, 16 February 2022 (UTC)

I can see why so many people say the reference desk is a waste and should be shut down.Rich (talk) 08:55, 23 February 2022 (UTC)

I can understand the OP's frustration. None of the above responses attempt to answer the question directly. --Viennese Waltz 09:05, 23 February 2022 (UTC)

Michigan geography

If i were to travel 35 kilometers northwest of Lansing, Michigan which county would i be located in? --Trade (talk) 18:11, 16 February 2022 (UTC)

That would be Clinton County, Michigan, I guess. --Wrongfilter (talk) 18:28, 16 February 2022 (UTC)

It's about 11 kilometers from downtown Lansing along Grand River Avenue (Business I-96) to reach Interstate 96 northwest of town at Mile Marker 90 on I-96. Another 14 km is about 8.6 miles, which is pretty much right on the Clinton/Ionia county line. You're in either Eagle Township, Michigan (Clinton County) or Portland Township, Michigan (Ionia County) at that point. --Jayron32 18:50, 16 February 2022 (UTC)

11 km + 14 km = 25 km, less than 35 kilometres (21.7 miles). Google maps shows a driving distance from Lansing to Eagle Township of 14.7 miles and to Portland of 22.7 miles. County borders are not shown, but since Portland is located on a stretch of the Grand River where it flows on the average due north, a map of its course showing county lines suggests that also one mile short of Portland we are firmly in Ionia. Going in a straight line as the crow flies in the exact northwest compass direction, I think you'd be in Lyons Township at about 42°56'N, 84°52W, which is also in Ionia County.  --Lambiam 09:31, 20 February 2022 (UTC)