BLM Issues New Animal Welfare Policy for Wild Horses

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has introduced a new comprehensive animal welfarepolicyto improve the treatment of wild horses and burros during roundups on Western rangelands. Thispolicyaims to address concerns from animal rights groups about the inhumane nature of previous roundups. Thepolicyoutlines guidelines for using helicopters, electric prods, and other methods to ensure humane treatment.

TheBLM's newpolicycovers various aspects of animal welfare, including the use of helicopters in roundups and the conditions under which electric prods may be used. Additionally, the agency has released guidance on public and media observation of gathers and strategies to enhance communication.

These measures come in response to pressure from lawmakers and the public to improve the management of the 37,000 wild horses across nearly a dozen Western states. This follows a previouspolicyto prevent the sale of wild horses for slaughter.

"These changes are part of our ongoing commitment to ensure the humane treatment of animals gathered from our public rangelands," stated actingBLMDirector Mike Pool. "Increasing public transparency is a cornerstone of this administration's approach to our work."

By law, theBLMis tasked with both protecting wild horses on public rangelands and managing the lands for other uses, includingendangered species protectionand ranching. The agency estimates that there are about 11,000 more horses than the range can sustain, necessitating the gathering and holding of many horses in facilities.

Animal welfaregroups, including the Humane Society and American Wild Horse Conservation (formerly American Wild Horse Preservation Campaign), have criticized theroundupsas inhumane and costly. Advocates often document gathers, highlighting cases of alleged abuse.

"If thispolicyis put into action and culture, it promises to be a sea change in the fate of the wild horse program," said Holly Hazard, senior vice president of programs and innovations for the Humane Society of the United States.

Hazard noted that theBLMseems to have adopted several Humane Society recommendations but expressed disappointment over the discretion given to contractors and field personnel regarding temperature and the exertion of horses.

"We are hopeful that this is a living document and that some of its shortfalls will be addressed in subsequent amendments," she added.

The welfarepolicyspecifies that helicopters should not contact horses, animals should not be whipped or beaten, and electric prods should not be routinely used. Field personnel are expected to accommodate animals that are weak or struggling.

"It is expected that animals may be tired, sweaty, and breathing heavily on arrival at a trap, but they should not be herded in a manner that results in exhaustion or collapse," thepolicystates.

In general, theBLMwill use "the best available science, husbandry, and handling practices" and make improvements when possible, according to the memorandum.

Tom Gorey, aBLMspokesman, has previously stated that while accidents are unavoidable when working with wild animals, they can be minimized. "We don't promise gathers where there are no incidents; it's not possible," he said. "But we are committed to a humane program."

TheBLM's three other new policies on media and public access, incident command, and communications and reporting can be foundhere.

The agency is also working to increase its use of fertility drugs to control herd growth, which can double in size every four years without natural predators.

Originally Posted By Greenwire