BLM Issues New Animal Welfare Policy for Wild Horses
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has introduced a new comprehensive animal welfare policy to improve the treatment of wild horses and burros during roundups on Western rangelands. This policy aims to address concerns from animal rights groups about the inhumane nature of previous roundups. The policy outlines guidelines for using helicopters, electric prods, and other methods to ensure humane treatment.
The BLM's new policy covers various aspects of animal welfare, including the use of helicopters in roundups and the conditions under which electric prods may be used. Additionally, the agency has released guidance on public and media observation of gathers and strategies to enhance communication.
These measures come in response to pressure from lawmakers and the public to improve the management of the 37,000 wild horses across nearly a dozen Western states. This follows a previous policy to prevent the sale of wild horses for slaughter.
"These changes are part of our ongoing commitment to ensure the humane treatment of animals gathered from our public rangelands," stated acting BLM Director Mike Pool. "Increasing public transparency is a cornerstone of this administration's approach to our work."
By law, the BLM is tasked with both protecting wild horses on public rangelands and managing the lands for other uses, including endangered species protection and ranching. The agency estimates that there are about 11,000 more horses than the range can sustain, necessitating the gathering and holding of many horses in facilities.
Animal welfare groups, including the Humane Society and American Wild Horse Conservation (formerly American Wild Horse Preservation Campaign), have criticized the roundups as inhumane and costly. Advocates often document gathers, highlighting cases of alleged abuse.
"If this policy is put into action and culture, it promises to be a sea change in the fate of the wild horse program," said Holly Hazard, senior vice president of programs and innovations for the Humane Society of the United States.
Hazard noted that the BLM seems to have adopted several Humane Society recommendations but expressed disappointment over the discretion given to contractors and field personnel regarding temperature and the exertion of horses.
"We are hopeful that this is a living document and that some of its shortfalls will be addressed in subsequent amendments," she added.
The welfare policy specifies that helicopters should not contact horses, animals should not be whipped or beaten, and electric prods should not be routinely used. Field personnel are expected to accommodate animals that are weak or struggling.
"It is expected that animals may be tired, sweaty, and breathing heavily on arrival at a trap, but they should not be herded in a manner that results in exhaustion or collapse," the policy states.
In general, the BLM will use "the best available science, husbandry, and handling practices" and make improvements when possible, according to the memorandum.
Tom Gorey, a BLM spokesman, has previously stated that while accidents are unavoidable when working with wild animals, they can be minimized. "We don't promise gathers where there are no incidents; it's not possible," he said. "But we are committed to a humane program."
The BLM's three other new policies on media and public access, incident command, and communications and reporting can be found here.
The agency is also working to increase its use of fertility drugs to control herd growth, which can double in size every four years without natural predators.
Originally Posted By Greenwire