Wyoming's Legal Battle Against Wild Horses: A Critical Update
UPDATE: THE STATE OF WYOMING HAS NOW APPEALED THE LOWER COURT'S DECISION TO TOSS OUT ITS MERITLESS LAWSUIT; WE ARE NOW DEFENDING THE LOWER COURT DECISION AT THE TENTH CIRCUIT COURT OF APPEALS.
The American Wild Horse Conservation (formerly American Wild Horse Preservation Campaign), alongside The Cloud Foundation, Return to Freedom, and photographers Carol Walker and Kimerlee Curyl, filed a motion to intervene in Wyoming's lawsuit against the BLM. This lawsuit seeks the removal of hundreds of wild horses from the range, driven by ranchers and political allies who view these horses as competition for grazing lands.
Despite fewer than 2,500 wild horses remaining in Wyoming, Governor Matt Mead and the state continue to blame them for environmental issues caused by larger numbers of cattle and sheep. This lawsuit is part of a pattern where ranchers and local governments sue the BLM, prompting horse roundups.
In the case of the Wyoming Checkerboard, the federal government even invited ranchers to sue to secure more funding for roundups. With the federal government unlikely to defend these horses, intervention is necessary to protect Wyoming's last mustangs.
Media
- Wyoming won't back down in wild horse lawsuit
- Wild horse advocates push to enter Wyoming lawsuit
- Wyoming Sues Feds Over Wild Horse Management
- Wild horse advocates speak out against Mead’s lawsuit against the BLM
- Federal appeals court in Denver dismisses lawsuit calling for wild horse roundup in Wyoming
- Appeals Court: Roundup not required for overpopulated horses
- Bently Foundation "Wild Night" to benefit American Wild Horse Conservation
- In major decision, 10th rules Wyoming can't force BLM to remove wild horses
- Court tosses Wyoming mustang removal appeal
Press Releases
- Court Grants Wild Horse Advocates’ Motion to Intervene in Another Rancher Anti-Mustang Lawsuit
- Federal Court Dismisses State of Wyoming Cattlemen’s Anti-Mustang Lawsuit
- Federal Court Rules BLM Violated Law in Wyoming Wild Horse Roundup
- Monday: Federal Court to Hear Lawsuit Against Massive BLM Wild Horse Roundup
- Court Grants Wild Horse Advocates Right to Intervene in State of Wyoming Anti-Mustang Lawsuit
Legal Docs
TENTH CIRCUIT COURT OF APPEALS
- Wyoming's Opposition
- RSGA's Opposition
- Foster Declaration
- Feds' Opposition
- Reply Brief
- Intevenors Opening Brief
- Government's Answering Brief
- District Court Ruling
- Wyoming's Opening Brief
- Govt's Answering Brief
- Intervenors' Answering Brief
- Wyoming's Reply Brief
- Ruling Affirming District Court Decision
LOWER COURT
- State of Wyoming vs. DOI
- Attachment 1
- Attachment 2
- Attachment 3
- AWHPC, et. al. Motion to Intervene
- AWHPC, et. al. Memorandum in Support of Motion to Intervene
- Declaration of Suzanne Roy
- Declaration of Ginger Kathrens
- Declaration of Carol Walker
- Order Granting Motion to Intervene
- AWHPC et. al. Motion to Dismiss
- Wyoming Stockgrowers Amicus Brief
- Order Granting Motion to Dismiss