Concerns Over Wild Horse Sterilization Research

The US Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is facing criticism from the Colorado-based Cloud Foundation over its management strategies for wild horses. The foundation is concerned about the BLM's plans to spend significant funds on helicopter roundups and sterilization research.

The Cloud Foundation highlighted budget details showing the BLM's intention to allocate $6 million for helicopter roundups and $1.5 million for studies on contraceptive and sterilization methods in 2014.

Breaking Promises

Ginger Kathrens, executive director of the foundation, stated, “The BLM is breaking their promise to Congress and to the American public. The case can be made that this is their solution to rid the range of our wild horses. They have made a mockery of the Wild Horse and Burro Act, an act designed to preserve, not destroy wild horse families.”

The foundation advocates for economical and sustainable management methods for wild horses and burros, as recommended in the June 2013 National Academy of Science report titled Using Science to Improve the BLM Wild Horse and Burro Program: A Way Forward.

Concerns Over Population Management

The report criticized current BLM practices, such as helicopter roundups and horse removals, for contributing to high population growth rates. Kathrens expressed concern that the BLM plans to continue these practices even when holding facilities are over capacity.

The foundation fears that the BLM might resort to castrating stallions and spaying mares, potentially leading to what they describe as 'dead-end herds' that could eventually die out.

Kathrens emphasized, “It is a fact that there are few mustangs left in the wild. The majority of our wild herds are not large enough to be considered genetically viable. The charge of overpopulation is a joke aimed at hoodwinking the media and the public.”

Alternative Solutions

Kathrens suggested that instead of spending $1.5 million on further studies, the BLM should utilize existing tools. “Effective use of the proven and reversible fertility vaccine PZP will curtail population growth in an economical, sustainable way with no need for helicopter roundups.”

She noted that on-the-range management is already practiced in areas like the Pryor Mountains of Montana, McCullough Peaks of Wyoming, and Little Book Cliffs of Colorado, and is being considered for the Onaqui wild horse herd in Utah.

“PZP has successfully controlled population in the Assateague National Seashore where wild horses have been darted with the drug for decades. Instead, the BLM treated only 332 mares of the 4702 wild horses rounded up in 2013.”

It is understood that the BLM received 14 study proposals seeking funding from the $1.5 million pool, aimed at developing or refining techniques for contraceptive use, spaying mares, or gelding stallions in the wild. Final funding decisions are expected by March 1.

Originally Posted By HorsetalkNZ