BLM Investigates Allegations of Adopted Wild Horses Sent to Slaughter

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is conducting an internal investigation into allegations that some wild horses and burros adopted through its program have ended up at auctions for slaughter. This investigation follows claims by the American Wild Horse Conservation (formerly American Wild Horse Campaign) and other advocacy groups.

Nada Culver, BLM's deputy director of policy and programs, announced during an online hearing that the bureau is working to identify specific instances where an animal in its pay-to-adopt program was later sold at auction and slaughtered. Culver emphasized the BLM's commitment to addressing these concerns seriously.

BLM is implementing additional measures to ensure the welfare of adopted animals, although details have not been disclosed. Culver's statement marks the first time BLM or the Interior Department has addressed these allegations in detail.

The American Wild Horse Conservation and other groups have documented cases where wild horses adopted through BLM were sold at auctions with slaughterhouse buyers. A New York Times report highlighted that potentially "truckloads" of adopted wild horses and burros were shipped to these auctions.

Attorneys for the American Wild Horse Conservation sent a legal petition to Interior Secretary Deb Haaland and Culver, urging them to halt the adoption incentive program due to violations of federal law. The petition demands either the shutdown of the program or a moratorium on payments while a new adoption program is developed.

The adoption incentive program offers $1,000 to adopters, with $500 paid upfront and the remainder after a year, contingent on proper care and title transfer. However, BLM acknowledges it lacks the authority to track animals post-adoption.

BLM plans to round up and remove thousands of wild horses and burros from federal rangelands, with increased use of fertility controls on mares. The goal is to manage and protect healthy wild horse and burro populations on public lands.

For more details, visit the original article by E&E News.