Advocates Sue Zinke and BLM to Halt Controversial Sterilization Tests
September 24, 2018
A coalition of wild horse and animal rights advocates is suing Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to stop research into a controversial permanent sterilization technique on wild mares in Oregon. The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Oregon, claims BLM has limited public access to observe and document the experiment, violating federal laws and the First Amendment.
The research project proposes to test a procedure called ovariectomy via colpotomy, involving the removal of mares' ovaries. The surgeries would be conducted on 104 mares from the Warm Springs Canyon Herd Management Area in Oregon. The coalition, including the Cloud Foundation, American Wild Horse Conservation (formerly American Wild Horse Campaign), and Animal Welfare Institute, seeks to halt the experiments until public acceptability is fully explored.
Wild horse roundups are typically open to public observation, but BLM has restricted access to the sterilization tests. The lawsuit names several BLM officials as defendants and highlights the agency's struggle to manage nearly 82,000 wild horses and burros across federal lands, far exceeding the appropriate management level.
BLM spends millions annually to care for additional animals in private holding facilities, warning Congress of potential billion-dollar costs. The lawsuit challenges BLM's approach, advocating for increased use of fertility vaccines like PZP, despite logistical challenges.
BLM's draft environmental assessment and finding of no significant impact outline the project's parameters, including a behavior analysis of spayed mares. The coalition argues the procedure is barbaric, while BLM defends it as a standard practice for domestic horses.
The wild horse and burro program faces ongoing litigation, with advocates opposing reductions in wild horse numbers. The lawsuit emphasizes public opposition to the proposed sterilization experiments.