Preservationists Sue BLM Over Alleged Wild Horse Mismanagement

Wild horse management has become a contentious issue in Utah and beyond, with debates over state and federal roles in roundup efforts gaining national attention. The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) plans to round up over 800 wild horses from federal lands in Wyoming, sparking legal action from preservationists.

Wild horse preservationists have filed a lawsuit against the BLM, delaying the roundup from August 20 to September 1 to allow the court to rule on a preliminary injunction. If the case proceeds, Suzanne Roy, director of the American Wild Horse Conservation (formerly American Wild Horse Preservation Campaign), stated that the roundup will be postponed until a court decision is made.

Roy argues that the BLM has not complied with the National Environmental Policy Act and the Wild Horse Act, as they proceeded with the roundup without conducting an environmental analysis or allowing a public comment period. She claims the roundup would reduce the wild horse population below levels set by the BLM itself.

“We’re hoping to compel the government to exert its influence to resolve the conflicts between ranchers and wild horses in this area in a way that honors both the ranchers and the American public, which overwhelmingly supports protection of these horses on the public lands,” Roy said.

The horses roam in a “checkerboard” area of Wyoming, consisting of alternating parcels of public and private land. Two-thirds of this land is federally owned, while less than four percent belongs to the state of Wyoming, with the remainder privately owned.

Despite their limited land ownership, the state of Wyoming has filed to intervene in the litigation on the federal government's side. Roy contends that the state's claim of sovereign rights to manage the wild horses is misleading, as these horses have special federal protections.

Roy highlights that the area has relatively few wild horses, with under 2,000 horses on over 2,000,000 acres. She suggests land trades to create contiguous public land parcels, providing a seamless habitat for the wild horses.

“These ranchers enjoy the privilege of grazing their livestock on our public lands,” Roy said. “So in exchange for the privilege and the tax subsidies that accompany public land grazing, they should be able to be convinced to trade their land parcels and create contiguous habitat.”

Roy also advocates for birth control measures as a successful management strategy for the horses. She notes that 40,000 people signed a petition within a month to protect the wild horses, demonstrating strong public support for their protection.

Originally Posted By UPR