Grace Kuhn: Brutal federal plan for Utah’s wild horses must be stopped

By Grace Kuhn, Special to The Salt Lake Tribune

December 11, 2020

Utahns need to know what’s happening to their horses. It’s not pretty.

Position in Opposition to H.R.8541

 Position in Opposition to H.R.8541 – the Wild Horse Integrity and Slaughter Prevention Act, introduced by Rep. Luna (R-FL) – in its current form.

American Wild Horse Conservation (AWHC) and the Animal Welfare Institute (AWI) oppose H.R.8541 in its current form for the following reasons: 

New Wild Horse Adoptions Report Overlooks Impact of Federal Cash Incentive Program

American Wild Horse Conservation Criticizes PERC's Analysis of BLM Adoption Incentive Initiative Program, Urges Vet Vouchers Over Cash 

FOIA Reveals 9% of Population At BLM's Largest Holding Facility Dies in One Year

According to records provided by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) in response to an American Wild Horse Conservation (AWHC) Freedom of Information Act request, a staggering 267 wild horses died in 2023 at the Fallon (Indian Lakes) Off Range Corral. This is the agency's largest short-term holding facility. 

24 days, 23 deaths, the Hidden Impacts of the BLM’s Off Range Holding

On November 16, 2023, the American Wild Horse Campaign’s investigations team filed a Freedom of Information Act Request for all emails and email attachments sent from the Winnemucca Off-Range Corral (ORC) contractor to their BLM Contracting Officer Representative (COR) that discuss or describe deaths of horses. The timeframe of this request was for Fiscal Year 2023 and covered from October 31, 2022, to October 31, 2023. 

Legal Letter: Halt the McCullough Peaks Roundup

On Friday, January 26 2024, American Wild Horse Campaign (AWHC) sent a legal letter to the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) with an urgent appeal to halt the ongoing McCullough Peaks bait trap Roundup. This roundup, which began November 1, 2023 and is set to run through March, 2024, sparks major concerns for the genetic diversity of the herds, their population numbers, and the impact of a winter gather on foals and elders.

Apache Sitgreaves National Forest Sends 50 Arizona Wild Horses to Texas Slaughter Auction

Horses to be sold on Sunday, leaving no time for rescue groups to save them

U.S. House of Reps approves funding bill with protections for wild horses and burros

Vote is welcomed by nation’s leading wild horse and burro conservation organization, the American Wild Horse Campaign

Report: Tour of Fallon Lakes Facility

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) will host a free public tour of the Indian Lakes Off-Range Wild Horse and Burro Corral in Fallon, Nevada, on Friday, October 27, 2023. Attendees will have the opportunity to view wild horses gathered from overpopulated herds in Nevada and Oregon.

The privately owned and operated corral is located Fallon, Nev. which is approximately a 90-minute drive east of Reno. There will be two public tours offered to begin at 10:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. and each will last about two hours and accommodate up to 20 people on each tour. 

Ejiao Act Reintroduced to Protect Donkeys from Dangerous Gelatin Trade

Washington, DC (October 27, 2023)—US Rep. Don Beyer (D-VA) reintroduced the Ejiao Act Tuesday in the House of Representatives to ban the sale and trade of ejiao (donkey-hide gelatin) products in the United States.