Colorado Leaders Advocate for Little Book Cliffs Wild Horses

Colorado Governor Jared Polis and bipartisan state legislators are taking a stand for the Little Book Cliffs wild horses. They have urged the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to reconsider the planned helicopter roundup scheduled for September, advocating for a more humane approach to population management.

Governor Polis's Appeal

In a letter to BLM State Director Doug Vilsack, Governor Polis expressed concerns about the proposed removal of over 100 horses to reach the low Appropriate Management Level (AML). He stated, “If BLM removes more than 100 horses to reach the low AML, this will be the largest roundup ever in Little Book Cliffs. This is an escalation of roundups for this area rather than my strongly preferred approach of more measured population management, which prioritizes the well-being of these animals. I am therefore writing you and asking you to delay this roundup pending further analysis and discussion.”

Governor Polis also highlighted his administration's readiness to deploy state funds through the Colorado Department of Agriculture to contract USDA Wildlife Services for fertility control in the Little Book Cliffs and other areas as needed.

Legislators' Support

In a separate letter, House Majority Leader Monica Duran, Senator Joann Ginal, Senator Perry Will, and Representative Mike Lynch echoed similar sentiments. They argued that the proposal to use helicopters to halve the population misses an opportunity to manage populations in the wild and contradicts the intentions of SB23-275.

If you have the opportunity, please pass on your thanks to these committed Colorado state leaders for their support of wild horses.

Read the letters here