Obama and BLM's Plan to Remove Wild Horses: A Critical Look

For over two decades, Ginger Kathrens, Executive Director ofThe Cloud Foundation, has been a leading voice in documenting wild horses through award-winning films forPBS/Nature. Her work has made her a foremost expert on wild horse behavior.

Upon learning that theBLMbudgeted $6 million for helicopterroundupsin 2014 and $1.5 million for plans to sterilize stallions and mares, Kathrens expressed concern: "TheBLMis breaking their promise to Congress and the American public. This seems like a solution to rid the range of our wild horses, mocking the Wild Horse and Burro Act, which aims to preserve, not destroy, wild horse families."

The Cloud Foundation advocates for economical, sustainable methods to manage wild horses and burros "on the range," as recommended in the June 2013 National Academy of Science (NAS) Report:Using Science to Improve the BLM Wild Horse and Burro Program: A Way Forward. The report criticizes currentBLMpractices, such as helicopterroundups, for facilitating high population growth rates.

BLM's approach appears unsustainable, as they continue inhumane and costly helicopterroundupswhile holding facilities are over capacity. Will they resort to castrating stallions and spaying mares, creating non-reproducing herds and destroying the complex social structures Kathrens has documented?

In October 2013, theBLMissued a request for information onWild Horse and Burro Sterilization or Contraception: Development of Techniques and Protocols, seeking ideas for permanent sterilization or contraception of wild horses and burros.

Kathrens fears that theBLMmight showcase areas where PZP effectively controls population growth while aiming to eliminate other herds. She argues that the overpopulation claim is misleading, as most wild herds are not genetically viable.

"Rather than spend $1.5 million on further studies, theBLMshould use existing tools. The proven, reversible fertility vaccine PZP can control population growth economically and sustainably without helicopterroundups," Kathrens stated. "On-range management is practiced in the Pryor Mountains of Montana, McCullough Peaks of Wyoming, and Little Book Cliffs of Colorado, and is considered for the Onaqui herd in Utah. PZP has successfully controlled populations in Assateague National Seashore for decades. Yet, theBLM treated only 332 mares out of 4,702 horses rounded up in 2013."

The Cloud Foundation argues thatBLM's management of wild horses and burros is flawed:

• It wastes taxpayer dollars.
• It deprives the public of experiencing these inspiring wild animals.
• It violates the intent of the1971 Wild Free-Roaming Horse and Burro Act.

Originally posted by The Desert Independent.