BLM Wild Horse and Burro Advisory Meeting: April 2015 Highlights
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Wild Horse and Burro Advisory Meeting
The first meeting of the BLM Wild Horse and Burro (WHB) Advisory Board was held in Columbus, Ohio on April 22-23, 2015. This meeting highlighted the ongoing challenges and controversial policies surrounding the management of wild horses and burros on public lands. Key discussions included the agency's focus on surgical sterilization over noninvasive birth control methods, budget allocations, and public concerns about transparency and humane treatment.
The BLM continues to pursue surgical sterilization of wild horses, despite public opposition and the availability of the PZP birth control vaccine. In 2014, only 387 mares were vaccinated with PZP, and fewer than 700 were planned for 2015, a significant decrease from previous promises. Instead, the agency is investing $9 million in research, primarily on surgical sterilization techniques, which are controversial and years from implementation.
Current Authorized Management Levels (AMLs) are based on outdated figures from 1971, contributing to high population growth rates and overcrowded holding facilities. The BLM's reluctance to adjust these levels exacerbates the crisis, potentially leading to the sale of wild horses for slaughter, a solution favored by ranchers who see wild horses as competition for grazing resources.
Despite claims of transparency, the BLM has withheld critical reports on the sale of wild horses to a known kill buyer and the deaths of horses at a Kansas feedlot. The agency has not provided a timeline for the release of these reports.
Wild Horse and Burro Program at a Glance
- 2,158 wild horses and burros removed from the range in 2014.
- 2,118 wild horses and burros adopted in 2014.
- 387 mares treated with the PZP birth control vaccine.
- 17,085 wild horses in short-term holding pens.
- 31,250 wild horses in long-term holding facilities.
- 40,815 wild horses on the range (BLM estimate).
- 8,394 burros on the range (BLM estimate).
- $77.2 million annual program budget.
- Fraction of 1% of budget expended on humane on-the-range management, while over $1 million was spent to round up and remove horses from the range in 2014.
Board Changes
The board includes two new members: Julie Weikel, DVM, a livestock veterinarian advocating for spaying wild mares, and Jen Sall, program manager for the National Outdoor Leadership School. Ranching interests continue to dominate the board, with several members directly tied to the livestock industry.
Program Update – Mary D’Aversa
New Personnel:
- Mike Tupper is the new Deputy Assistant Director overseeing the Wild Horse and Burro Program.
- Joan Guilfoyle is out as Wild Horse and Burro Division Chief after a nearly four-year term.
- Mary D’Aversa is serving as acting division chief.
- Holle Hooks heads the new “off-range branch.”
- Bryan Fuell leads the new “on-range branch.”
Rearranging the Deck Chairs:
- Adoption is now “placement into private care.”
- Short-term holding facilities are “off range corrals.”
- Long-term holding facilities are “off range pastures.”
- Fertility control is “Population Growth Suppression” (PGS).
Program Priorities:
- Research on more effective PGS techniques, with $9 million allocated for studies.
- Moving more animals into private care.
- Securing high-quality, low-cost pasture space.
- Finalizing Comprehensive Animal Welfare Standards.
- Implementing new census standards.
Other initiatives include a Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to evaluate new PGS techniques and a Prize Challenge for innovative PGS tool delivery methods.
Public Comments
Approximately 25 citizens and organizations addressed the Advisory Board, advocating for humane, in-the-wild management of wild horses. AWHC and coalition partners, including Ginger Kathrens and Lisa Friday of The Cloud Foundation, spoke out against permanent sterilization and for the use of PZP.
On Range Update – Bryan Fuell, On-Range Branch Chief
Key facts:
- 179 HMAs
- 26,684 AML
- 49,209 horses on the range (2014 estimates)
- 20% average growth.
- 25,525 over AML.
Helicopter Roundups 2015 (completed):
- Conducted in 12 HMAs
- 1,827 horses removed
- 179 horses treated with PZP
Helicopter Roundups 2015 (planned - beginning in July):
- 3 HMAs targeted
- 277 horses to be removed.
Water Bait Trapping 2015 (completed):
- 87 horses removed
Water Bait Trapping 2015 (planned):
- 269 horses to be removed in the summer
- 10 to be treated with PZP
PZP Treatment via Darting (no gather/removal):
- 402 proposed
Research Update – Dr. Kate Schoenecker, Ecologist, US Geological Survey (USGS) and Colorado State University
Ongoing Research – USGS conducting these projects for BLM:
- Population Estimation Using Fecal DNA
- Radio marking collaring – pen trial
- Carrying Capacity Model
- SPAY VAC
Proposals being developed by USGS at the request of BLM include burro population estimation techniques and evaluating the behavior of spayed free-roaming mares.
Other Presentations of Note
Wild Free Roaming Horse and Burro Act – Mary D’Aversa
This presentation outlined the Act, amendments since 1971, and BLM implementing regulations. The discussion addressed the Act’s designation of ranges for use “principally but not exclusively” for wild horses.
Rangeland Policy and Management - Kenneth Visser, BLM Rangeland Management Specialist
Mr. Visser discussed the history of public lands livestock grazing and the various laws relating to it, including the Taylor Grazing Act.
Working Group Reports
The meeting ended with reports from the Advisory Board’s working groups, highlighting public support for PZP birth control and concerns about the deaths of horses at the Kansas feedlot.
Recommendations
The meeting concluded with the board’s approval of several recommendations, including increasing funding for population growth suppression methods and encouraging BLM to proceed with a programmatic EIS.