U.S. Seeks Solutions for Wild Horse Overpopulation Crisis

When Velma Johnston, known as “Wild Horse Annie,” successfully advocated for the Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act of 1971, her mission was to protect the iconic wild horses of the American West. Today, the law has resulted in a significant increase in mustang populations, creating challenges for federal authorities tasked with their management.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) oversees more than 40,000 mustangs across ten Western states, where they compete for limited resources with cattle and wildlife. Adoption rates are low, and contraceptive measures have been largely ineffective. U.S. law prohibits the slaughter of these animals, leaving theBLMto seek alternativesolutions.

Currently, theBLMmanages 50,000 horses and burros in pastures and corrals but is running out of space. With $1.5 million allocated from the fiscal 2014 budget, the agency is inviting proposals for innovativesolutionsto curb the population growth of wild horses and burros.

“We need all the help we can get,” said Ed Roberson, theBLM’s assistant director of resources and planning. The agency periodically removes wild horses from 179 herd management areas to prevent overpopulation and environmental degradation.

Critics argue that theBLM's methods, including helicopterroundups, are inhumane and that the real overpopulation issue lies in holding pens, not on the range. TheBLMestimates that the open range can support 26,677 horses and burros, but current numbers exceed 40,000. A National Research Council study suggests these figures may be underestimated by 10 to 50 percent, with populations growing 15 to 20 percent annually.

Without natural predators, the mustang population could reach 145,000 by 2020. TheBLMcurrently spends significant resources on sheltering and feeding horses in pastures and short-term corrals, consuming a large portion of its budget.

Joan Guilfoyle, chief of theBLM’s wild horse and burro division, acknowledges the need to reduce reliance on holding facilities. Bruce Wagman, an attorney for animal protection groups, argues that the government's approach contradicts the spirit of the 1971 law.

Meanwhile, the Nevada Association of Counties and the Nevada Farm Bureau Federation have sued theBLM, claiming it fails to maintain ecological balance as required by law. Overcrowding and drought have severely impacted the rangeland and the horses themselves.

Anne Novak of ProtectMustangsdisputes claims that wild horses harm grazing lands, citing research from Princeton University that suggests co-grazing with cattle can be beneficial.

While slaughter is not an option, adoption rates have declined significantly since the mid-1990s. Fertility control remains the most promising alternative, but longer-actingsolutionsare needed.

Until new ideas emerge, theBLMcontinues to rely on a combination of fertility control androundups. “What is the solution? You know, I really wish I knew,” said Lorinda Wichman, a Nye County commissioner.

Originally Posted By Washington Post