Unveiling the 'Path Forward' Plan: The Fertility Control Deception

March 24, 2020- The 'Path Forward' plan, supported by organizations like the Humane Society of the United States and the ASPCA, claims to prioritize safe and humanefertility controlfor wild horses and burros. However, it downplays the plan's key component: the removal of up to 130,000 horses and burros from public lands over the next decade.

In reality, the 'Path Forward' continues the Bureau of Land Management's (BLM) failed strategy of massive roundups and removals with minimalfertility control. The proposal lacks detail but clearly favors 'business as usual' roundups and removals, with sterilization of both mares and stallions on the table.

The Path Forward: More of the Same - IncreasedRoundupsand Stockpiling.

Despite this, proponents convinced Congress toincrease the BLM’s Wild Horse and Burro Program budget by 25%— $21 million — last year, based on promises of a shift towardsfertility control. According to David Phillips, author ofWild Horse Country, this is the third time Congress has increased the program's budget based on reform promises, only to see theBLMfocus on roundups.

Roundups and Removals

Is the 'Path Forward' truly afertility controlplan asits proponents claim? The plan suggests rounding up 15,000-20,000 horses annually for the first three years, then 5,000-10,000 annually for the next seven years to reach theBLM's desired Appropriate Management Level (AML) of 26,690 wild horses and burros.

The plan justifies these numbers by stating that removals must be higher initially to allowfertility controlto catch up with the population. This reveals the plan's reliance onroundupsoverfertility control, aiming to achieve the AML despite the National Academy of Science's (NAS) 2013 conclusion that these limits lack scientific support.

Additionally, the plan calls for a 70% to 30% stallion to mare sex ratio, which could cause social disruption and increased aggression among herds, impacting their welfare and natural behaviors.

Fertility Control

The 'Path Forward' acknowledges theBLM's poor record on implementing humanefertility control, noting that fewer than 4,353 horses were treated between 2012 and 2018. Yet, it excuses the BLM by citing limited tools due to logistics and controversy, contradicting the NAS's 2013 finding that existing tools could address many challenges.

While calling for annualroundupsof up to 20,000 horses, the plan is vague about the number of horses to be treated withfertility controland when treatments will begin. According to Bruce Rittenhouse, Acting Wild Horse and Burro Division Chief,fertility controlis not cost-effective while herds exceed AML.

Permanent Sterilization

TheBLMincludes permanent sterilization in its definition offertility control, emphasizing surgical removal of mares' ovaries and castration of stallions. The NAS concluded these methods are inappropriate, citing risks of prolonged bleeding and loss of natural behaviors.

• “The possibility that ovariectomy may be followed by prolonged bleeding or peritoneal infectionmakes it inadvisable for field application.”
• “A potential disadvantage of both surgical and chemical castration is loss of testosterone and consequentreduction in or complete loss of male-type behaviors necessary for maintenance of social organization, band integrity, and expression of a natural behavior repertoire.”

Despite these warnings, the ASPCA, a major plan proponent,acknowledgesthat ovariectomy and castration could be part of the plan.

Rep. Chris Stewart, a vocal advocate, stated that Congressional funding would be used for mass sterilization.

UtahBLMWild Horse and Burro Lead Gus Warr has stated that the plan will help implement surgical sterilization and create non-reproducing herds.

With extreme population reductions, sex ratio skewing, and sterilization, the plan could end America's wild free-roaming mustang and burro herds.

Definition of Insanity

Previously, Congress increased funding for the wild horse and burro program, promising reforms based on NAS recommendations. However, theBLMfocused onroundupsand removals, pushing the program to fiscal collapse and illegally selling horses for slaughter.

Albert Einstein defined insanity as doing the same thing repeatedly but expecting different results. This is the third timeCongresshas funded the program without seeing promised reforms. The 'Path Forward' could spell the end for America's wild free-roaming horses and burros.

Read Part I: TheScienceFallacy