AWHC Challenges BLM's Controversial Sterilization Experiments on Wild Mares

In January 2016, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) announced its controversial plan to conduct sterilization experiments on wild mares at the Burns Corrals in Oregon. The American Wild Horse Conservation (formerly American Wild Horse Campaign) has been at the forefront of opposing these inhumane procedures, advocating for the humane treatment of federally-protected wild horses.

Since the announcement, AWHC has mobilized significant opposition to these experiments. The organization has secured veterinary opposition, submitted detailed comments to theBLM, lodged complaints with the Oregon State University Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee and Office of Research Integrity, and produced a video exposing the nature of the proposed procedures.

Chronology of Events

• January 2016:AWHC secures the release of theBLM Expert Veterinary Panel Report, previously withheld from the Environmental Assessment (EA).
• February 2016:AWHC obtains expert veterinary statements fromDr. Robin KellyandDr. Pamela Coreyregarding the proposed sterilization experiments.
• February 2016:AWHC submitsdetailed public comments on the sterilization research EA.
• February 2016:Nearly 21,000 citizens submit comments opposing the sterilization experiments in response to AWHC's alert.
• March 2015:AWHC releases avideo of the proposed sterilization procedurebeing performed by the veterinarian who will conduct the BLM experiments. (Uncut video available here.)
• April 1, 2016:AWHC submits thefirst in a series of animal welfare complaintsto the Oregon State University (OSU) Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC).
• April 6, 2016:AWHC submits asecond complaint to OSU IACUC.
• April 8, 2016:AWHC submits athird complaint to OSU IACUC, including aneyewitness declaration from Simone Netherlands.
• April 13, 2016:AWHCdelivers petition signatures and a complaintto the BLM Wild Horse and Burro Advisory Board.
• April 18, 2016:AWHC submits asummary complaint to BLM and OSU IACUC, includingpublic comments from the National Cattleman's Associationopposing the spay research.
• May 9, 2016:AWHCsubmits another complaintto the BLM and OSU IACUC regarding the death of a horse previously withheld from BLM.
• July 20, 2016:AWHCdemands public observationof BLM wild horse sterilization experiments.
• August 15, 2016:AWHC and The Cloud Foundation file aFirst Amendment Lawsuitto secure the right to public observation of the experiments.
• September 9, 2016:TheBLM drops its planto surgically sterilize wild horses.