BLM Seeks Proposals to Control Wild Horse and Burro Populations

Editor's Note:

By seeking nearly $3 million for research into future methods of fertility control, the BLM is once again delaying reform of its wild horse and burro management program. It is misrepresenting the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) report, which concluded that the BLM already has tools available to implement alternatives to its unsustainable roundup and removal approach. The primary tool available now is PZP fertility control, proven safe and effective over the last two decades. The NAS recommended against spaying and neutering wild horses, yet the BLM is ignoring these recommendations and seeking to spend tax dollars on research into measures that could harm our free-roaming herds. This agency must be reined in by Congress or the Administration.

BLM's Call for Research Proposals

As part of its efforts to improve the national Wild Horse and Burro Program, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is seeking research proposals to develop new or improve existing methods of controlling the population growth of wild horses and burros on public lands in the West.

"We remain committed to making substantial improvements to the national Wild Horse and Burro Program, and we know that some of the best ideas for effective contraception techniques will come from veterinarians, scientists, universities, pharmaceutical companies, and other researchers outside of the BLM," said Joan Guilfoyle, Division Chief of the program. "The development and use of more effective methods to reduce population growth rates will lessen the need to remove animals from the range, improve the health of public rangelands, conserve wildlife habitat, and save taxpayers money."

The BLM has issued a Request for Applications (RFA) to alert veterinarians, scientists, universities, pharmaceutical companies, and other researchers of the need to develop new, innovative techniques and protocols for implementing population growth-suppression methods. Specifically, the BLM is interested in finding experts to develop new or refine current techniques and protocols for either contraception or the spaying/neutering of on-range male and female wild horses and burros. The methods may be surgical, chemical, pharmaceutical, or mechanical (such as intrauterine devices). The submission deadline for applications is May 7, 2014.

The President's proposed budget for Fiscal Year 2015 includes $80.2 million for the BLM's Wild Horse and Burro Program, a $2.8 million increase over the FY 2014 level. The additional funds will focus on research of population-control methods.

The BLM estimates that 40,605 wild horses and burros (about 33,780 horses and 6,825 burros) are roaming BLM-managed rangelands in 10 Western states, based on the latest data available, compiled as of February 28, 2013. Wild horses and burros have virtually no natural predators, and their herd sizes can double about every four years, as confirmed by the recent NAS study that urged the BLM to make wider use of fertility control and found that, on average, the BLM undercounts the Westwide population of wild horses and burros by 20 to 30 percent.

Originally Posted By KTVN