Editor’s Note: Yes, I know I am supposed to be writing about our trip to Utah and Arizona and I swear I’m working on it tonight. But the #NatureWritingChallenge is so fun! I promise I’ll go right back to it after this post…
This is going to be mostly about pictures because, well, a picture tells a thousand words, right?
On our family road trip through Colorado and Utah two years ago, we spent two days in Mesa Verde National Park and it was amazing. The cliff dwellings and petroglyphs were something you just don’t forget. But I have to say, my most memorable moment was an animal encounter we had while hiking the Nordenskiold’s Trail #16 on our second day.
We were admiring the grey trees against the blue sky as the early morning sun brightened our day when we heard a rustling in the foliage to our right. Was it a White-tailed antelope squirrel? A coyote? A black bear?
Nope.
A wild mustang (known as feral trespass livestock by Mesa Verde National Park). We didn’t know what to do, we were so surprised! He was gorgeous. I’m guessing a he because I didn’t get too close. My pictures might be a bit grainy for that very reason.
We kept going on the trail in front of us, leaving him behind us but as we turned a bend he was actually walking our way.
According to the American Wild Horse Campaign, there are about 80 horses roaming free and they are a significant part of the history of Mesa Verde National Park even though they have been deemed a nuisance for their destruction of archeological sites and possible danger to visitors. You can read more about on their website here.
There has been controversy as the management of the horses has included adverse choices such as fencing off water sources resulting in the deaths of some of the horses. The NPS had plans to work with the National Mustang Association to round the horses up until it was learned they would have to be sold to auction and end up at the slaughterhouse.
The articles are several years old and predate our time in the park, testifying that protest efforts must have raised awareness and the horses remain. Whether “wild” or “feral”, it was a memorable moment to witness this beautiful creature on our hike. I’ll be following this story now that I am aware to know what the park finally decides to do to manage the horses.
This post was written in an hour for the #NatureWritingChallenge: “Most memorable animal encounter on public lands”.
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