Wyoming Governor Appeals Wild Horse Lawsuit Ruling

Wyoming Governor Matt Mead has appealed a federal court decision to dismiss a case alleging that the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) failed to manage wild horses appropriately in that state. This legal battle underscores the ongoing conflict overwild horse managementin Wyoming.

Last fall, theBLMbegan removing wild horses from the Checkerboard—a part of the range where private, federal, and state lands intermingle—to comply with a consent decree between the bureau and owners of livestock that also graze the rangelands. Wyoming subsequently filed suit against the Department of the Interior and theBLM, alleging that the gather was illegal and asked the courts to order theBLMto manage the state’s wild horses according to the Wild Free-Roaming Horse and Burro Act. Some wild horse advocates asked the court to dismiss the case on grounds that a favorable ruling would promote the removal of all wild horses from Wyoming’s ranges.

The case was dismissed. However, on June 19, Michael J. McGrady, Wyoming’s senior assistant attorney general, filed notice that the state would appeal the decision of dismissal. In a written statement, Mead said the appeal was filed because theBLMhas still not managed the Wyoming wild horse population appropriately.

Tony Brown,BLMspokesman, declined comment on the pending litigation.

However, American Wild Horse Conservation (formerly American Wild Horse Preservation) Director Suzanne Roy believes Mead's appeal is intended to benefit ranchers in the state.

The appeal remains pending.

Originally Published by the Horse: http://wildhor.se/1Cqs1lh