Advocates Accuse Federal Authorities of Endangering Wild Horses

America’s wild horses are facing a critical threat as advocates claim federal authorities are quietly pushing them toward extinction. This alarming situation arises from a preference for livestock grazing leases over the preservation of wild horse populations.

Citizens Against Equine Slaughter and Unified Voices of the Eagle (UVOTE), representing over 1.5 million members, have voiced their concerns to lawmakers regarding the 2018 budget proposals for the Department of the Interior. The Bureau of Land Management (BLM), responsible for managing wild horses and burros on federal rangelands, is a part of this department.

Budget Cuts and Their Implications

The advocates are particularly worried about a proposed $10 million reduction in spending on the Wild Horse and Burro Program. They argue that despite past budgets, the BLM has failed to manage wild herds humanely and efficiently, both on public lands and in off-range holdings.

“The proposed budget cut would not make the BLM more accountable or efficient but would mean a death sentence for thousands of America’s federally protected wild horses and burros,” they asserted.

They also oppose any funding for reopening equine slaughter facilities, USDA meat inspectors, or transporting horses to slaughter, citing concerns about drug residues in meat entering the global food chain.

Grazing Program Criticism

The advocates suggest that the BLM’s grazing program is a more logical source for budget cuts, as it costs taxpayers over $150 million annually. They argue that the small herds of wild horses are not the issue but rather the private interests benefiting from public lands.

They emphasize that wild horses and burros are forced to share resources with private livestock, despite being legally allowed to exist in certain areas. The entire Wild Horse and Burro budget is less than subsidies paid to ranchers in New Mexico alone.

Proposed Solutions

The groups propose returning 41% of land taken from wild horse and burro preserves to the program. They argue that repatriating gelded horses would not pose reproduction concerns and would be cost-effective for taxpayers.

They also support on-range contraception, noting that the BLM has avoided using it meaningfully. The current use of PZP, a safe birth control method, is less than 1%, but they suggest it should be around 25% for effective population control.

“Considering that one dose is a near-perfect equivalent of only five days upkeep for horses confined off-range, not pursuing this logical and sound fiscal management approach is indefensible,” they stated.

Land Management and Legal Issues

The advocates support appropriate land trades to resolve conflicts between herds and private landowners. They argue that grazing permits should be retired or rescinded, as they are privileges, not rights.

They call for better funding for enforcement and emphasize that wild horse management must occur on the range, as roundups and removals have proven ineffective and waste taxpayer money.

Originally posted by Horse Talk