BLM Euthanizes 32 Wild Horses During Oregon Roundup
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) recently completed the Warm Springs Herd Management Area (HMA) Roundup on October 23, 2018. During this operation, 846 horses, 41 burros, and 2 mules were rounded up, with the tragic loss of 32 horses. This roundup marks the beginning of the BLM's controversial Spay Feasibility Study, which has drawn significant criticism and legal challenges.
Background
The Warm Springs HMA Roundup aimed to remove all federally-protected wild horses from the area. With the roundup concluded, the BLM plans to sort the captured horses, selecting 270 for the spay study. The study involves releasing 200 horses back into the range in two groups, with one group undergoing a controversial spaying procedure. The procedure, known as ovariectomy via colpotomy, has been criticized for its inhumane nature, especially as it involves mares in various stages of pregnancy.
Lawsuit
American Wild Horse Conservation (formerly American Wild Horse Campaign), along with the Animal Welfare Institute and The Cloud Foundation, has filed a lawsuit to prevent these procedures. The legal team will argue for a Preliminary Injunction in Portland, Oregon, on November 2, 2018, to stop the BLM from proceeding with the spaying.
Details of the Roundup
On October 8, 2018, AWHC and AWI sent a complaint to the BLM Oregon-Washington State Director after reports of a foal dying from capture shock. The agency did not respond. At the roundup's conclusion, 32 wild horses had died. AWHC has submitted a Freedom of Information Act request to investigate these deaths.
Reasons cited for euthanasia included "angular limb deformity," a condition often manageable in horses. The BLM also euthanized a three-year-old horse allegedly due to arthritis, a rare condition at such a young age. The methods used for euthanasia remain undisclosed, as the BLM has not provided public access to veterinary reports.
The Law
The Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act of 1971 mandates the protection of wild horses as symbols of the West. The BLM's actions, particularly the euthanasia of horses with non-life-threatening conditions, appear to violate this law. The agency is required to follow the American Veterinary Medical Association's euthanasia guidelines, which emphasize the animals' best interests.
American Wild Horse Conservation (formerly American Wild Horse Campaign) believes the BLM's actions contravene humane management policies. The organization is committed to holding the BLM accountable and ensuring the humane treatment of wild horses.