Climate Change Threatens Wild Horse Habitats

Adapting to a Changing Environment

Climate change poses significant challenges to the habitats of wild horses and burros. As weather patterns shift and resources become scarcer, these majestic animals face new threats to their survival. Learn about the impact of climate change on wild horse habitats and how AWHC is taking these effects into account to help ensure wild horses and burros have access to the resources needed to ensure their future.

Photo: Yasmin Tajik
About the issue
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The Impact of Climate Change on Wild Horse Habitats

Understand how climate change is altering the landscapes that wild horses and burros call home.

Altered Weather Patterns

Climate change is causing more extreme and unpredictable weather patterns, including prolonged droughts and intense storms. These changes can severely impact the availability of water and forage, essential resources for wild horses and burros.

Water Scarcity

As temperatures rise and precipitation patterns shift, water sources become less reliable. Many wild horse habitats are already arid, and increased water scarcity exacerbates the challenges these animals face in finding sufficient hydration.

Vegetation Changes

Climate change affects plant growth and distribution, altering the composition of vegetation in wild horse habitats. This can lead to a change in the availability of forage, which has the potential to impact the health and survival of wild horse populations.

Habitat Fragmentation

As wild horse habitats are affected by climate change, they may become fragmented, isolating populations and limiting their ability to migrate in search of resources. This fragmentation can reduce genetic diversity by reducing connectivity between interbreeding populations.

Marlon Reis
Kaitlynn Carter
Suzanne Roy
Scott WIlson
American Wild Horse Conservation is a national leader in using fertility control to keep Wild Horse populations from increasing to the point where the BLM historically employs roundups and removals. I am beyond grateful for this amazing organization’s leadership and participation, without which the [Colorado] Wild Horse Project would not have come to fruition.
Marlon Reis
First Gentleman of Colorado
I wanted to get involved with AWHC when I saw videos of wild horses getting rounded up by helicopters. These animals are majestic in the wild; seeing them forced into captivity is heartbreaking and cruel. The government can do better, and I’m looking forward to educating the American public and working to keep wild horses in the wild.
Kaitlynn Carter
Ambassador
American Wild Horse Conservation is more than a campaign. We are reforming wild horse and burro protection across the American West, expanding protected natural habitats in places like Fish Springs, Nevada, and setting the conservation standard through the world’s leading wild horse fertility control initiative. We have a new model for wild horse protection through conservation.
Suzanne Roy
Executive Director
There are currently 62,000 wild horses and burros in long term holding. This year, the BLM intends to remove an additional 20,000 from public rangelands, with the North Lander animals to account for 14% of those.
Scott WIlson
Director of Strategy and Awareness

Take Action

Support Our Work

Your involvement is key to safeguarding wild horses and burros.

Donate to Support Our Work

Your contribution helps fund our advocacy, litigation, and protection initiatives.

Contact Your Legislators

Urge your representatives to support policies that help protect wild horses and burros.

Volunteer with AWHC

Join our team of dedicated volunteers and make a direct impact.

Our Commitment to Climate Adaptation

Discover how AWHC is leading efforts to help wild horses and burros adapt to the challenges posed by climate change.

Climate Resilience Research

AWHC utilizes climate research to  inform our strategies for enhancing the resilience of these habitats to ensure the long-term survival of wild horse populations.

Habitat Restoration and Improvement

AWHC is actively involved in habitat restoration projects that can help mitigate some of the impacts of climate change. These projects include improving water sources, planting native  vegetation, and promoting wildlife corridors to connect fragmented habitats.

Advocacy and Education

AWHC advocates for policies that address the impacts of climate change on wild horse habitats. Through education and outreach, we aim to raise awareness about the importance of climate adaptation and encourage support for climate-smart conservation practices.

Stay Informed and Take Action

Learn how AWHC is actively implementing solutions to protect wild horses and burros, ensuring their well-being and preserving their natural habitats.