Wild Horse Advocates Seek Lawsuit Dismissal

A group of wild horse advocates is seeking the dismissal of a lawsuit asking the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to remove excess horses from public and private land in Utah. This legal battle highlights the ongoing conflict between ranchers and conservationists over the management of wild horse populations.

Background on the Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act

The Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act of 1971 federally protects wild horses and burros and places them under BLM jurisdiction. According to the BLM website, more than 2,500 wild horses and 100 burros reside in 22 Utah herd management areas.

The Ranchers' Complaint

In a complaint filed in May in the U.S. District Court in Utah, 13 ranchers allege that the BLM violated the 1971 act by failing to remove excess horses from private lands and public grazelands under the state of Utah's jurisdiction. The complaint further alleges that the excess wild horses damage the rangelands and compete for resources with cattle and other livestock owned by the ranchers. Finally, the lawsuit alleges that BLM's failure to control the expansion of wild horse herds threatens the ranchers' livelihoods.

Advocates' Response

In August, the court granted the American Wild Horse Conservation (formerly American Wild Horse Preservation), The Cloud Foundation, Return to Freedom, photographer John Steele, and wild horse advocate and adopter Lisa Friday permission to intervene in the case. On Oct. 22, this group filed a motion asking the court to dismiss the lawsuit on grounds that the ranchers' case lacks merit.

“This lawsuit was filed by livestock owners that view wild horses as competition for below-market, taxpayer-subsidized grazing on public lands," said the advocates' attorney Caitlin Zittkowski. "We are asking the court to reject its claims without delay."

Current Status

Karen Budd-Falen, the Utah ranchers' lead attorney, was unavailable to comment on the motion. Tom Gorey, BLM spokesman, declined comment. The case remains pending.

Originally Posted By The Horse