Directors at the RDOS today thanked Dolly Kruger, horse owners on band land and the band leadership for getting serious with wild horses coming off the reserve into the West Bench residential areas and even down to the highway.

Local area rep Michael Brydon said he cannot say enough and is glad he doesn’t have to as the problem seems heading toward a great solution.

Regional District directors voted today to support a grant being applied for by the Penticton Indian Band for range restoration and herd reduction.

A new bylaw on band land is set to be activated in the new year.

“The RDOS has been and continues to be engaged in assisting the PIB in resolving the long standing free roaming horse issue as it crosses boundaries into the Regional District.”

A new PIB department and a bylaw will :

reduce the horse herd working with owners

address domestic animal/human conflict

impose a limit on how many animals can be on a range

actively engage in restoring range land.

The RDOS has been working with the PIB for two years. It is apparent the loss of rangeland (food) has forced wild animals to forage elsewhere.

(Dolly Kruger seen with RDOS staff Zoe Kirk)