Bureau of Land Management Overlooks Wild Horse Abuse in New Welfare Assessment

BLM gives contractor an “excellent” rating despite video evidence of contract employee repeatedly punching, kicking collapsed wild horse in the head.

(RENO, Nev., August 15, 2024). On July 20th, 2024, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) released its Comprehensive Animal Welfare Assessment of the Blue Wing Complex wild horse and burro helicopter roundup. Despite severe documented welfare violations—including an incident where an employee of CD Warner Livestock LLC, the company contracted to conduct the roundup, was seen brutally kicking and punching a collapsed wild horse—the BLM scored the operation as 'excellent.'

The assessment, conducted by the Bureau of Land Management’s internal Comprehensive Animal Welfare Program team, occurred on July 18th and 19th, 2024, approximately a week before the abuse incident took place. Once the BLM was made aware of the abuse, the agency did not amend its CAWP assessment or deploy a second CAWP team to assess the ongoing conditions and contractor actions.

“By sweeping the documented abuse under the rug and rewarding the contractor with an 'excellent' rating, the BLM is not only failing wild horses but is also endorsing cruelty,” said Suzanne Roy, executive director of American Wild Horse Conservation (formerly American Wild Horse Campaign). “The BLM’s failure to impose real consequences for this egregious behavior means incidents like this will continue to occur.”

The BLM acknowledged the abuse in an August 2nd, Facebook comment, stating the employee had been reassigned from the operation. However, AWHC maintains the level of cruelty documented raises to the level of criminal conduct and must be investigated as such.

The Blue Wing roundup is the deadliest roundup this year, with a shocking 42 deaths. AWHC on-the-ground observers raised concerns about other animal welfare issues such as:

• Rounding up wild horses and burros during two extreme heat waves
• Wild horses left without immediate or close access to water after the chase into the traps (July 19, 2024)
• Horses and burros were found deceased on the trailer upon arrival at the temporary holding (July 9, July 12, and July 21, 2024)
• Several foals (baby horses) fell behind during the roundup and were roped.
• Horses were seen to be visibly exhausted, raising concerns about the intensity and length of the chase
• Throughout the operation, the trap had no overhead padding, a clear violation of the animal welfare program requirements. Several horses broke their necks and died in this trap.

The incident prompted Representatives Dina Titus (D-NV), Steve Cohen (D-TN), and David Schweikert (R-AZ) to call for increased transparency, scrutiny, and adherence to animal welfare standards during the helicopter roundups.

During the last two weeks, AWHC has reached out to the BLM requesting a photo of the abused animal but so far the agency has failed to provide any.

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