Congress Members Condemn Federal Brutality Against Wild Horses

(WASHINGTON D.C., August 8, 2024) – Following the release of footage showing Bureau of Land Management (BLM) contractors kicking and abusing a wild horse during a federal helicopter roundup, Representatives Dina Titus (D-NV), Steve Cohen (D-TN), and David Schweikert (R-AZ) called for increased transparency, scrutiny, and adherence to animal welfare standards during the helicopter roundups.

The incident, which occurred on July 26th, 2024, showed a wild horse contractor brutally and repeatedly kicking a wild horse after it was chased with a helicopter, roped, and eventually collapsed. The footage sparked outrage, and the Members of Congress are joining a chorus of organizations and individuals calling for an investigation into the incident, including re-evaluating the relationship with the contractor involved.

“This disgusting act of abuse during the Blue Wing Complex roundup is both cruel and unacceptable, and in every way violates BLM’s mandate to ‘humanely’ capture wild horses and burros. Forty-two horses have now perished during this massive gather operation under extreme heat, and more likely will follow under the agency’s dangerous roundup plan,” said Rep. Titus. “BLM must seriously consider terminating the individuals involved in this incident and evaluate whether their chosen contractors have engaged in other harmful acts towards wild horses.”

“For years, I have been asking the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to hold its contractors accountable for any mistreatment of our federally protected wild horses. The incident recorded this week in the Blue Wing Horse Management Area is unconscionable,” said Rep. Cohen. “Unfortunately, it may exemplify the type of treatment the wild horses experience when cameras are not present, which may have contributed to the 42 wild horse deaths there in the last month. I implore BLM to investigate the incident, the conditions at Blue Wing, and to seriously reconsider its relationship with any contractors involved in these travesties.”

“I continue to be disheartened by the reckless mistreatment of our nation’s beautiful wild horses. The Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) mission clearly prioritizes ‘protecting the welfare of wild horses and burros,’” said Rep. Schweikert. “Unfortunately, the behavior of the BLM and its contractors stands in sharp contrast, most recently evident in the Blue Wing roundup in Nevada that resulted in 42 unnecessary horse deaths and violation of their standards. It is the duty of the BLM to follow through with their commitment to prioritize animal safety to prevent such catastrophic events.

“I look forward to continuing the bipartisan work with my colleagues to protect our wild horses,” he concluded.

The BLM acknowledged the incident and the abuse by the contractor, stating in an August 2nd Facebook comment that the agency “is taking any and all corrective action necessary to ensure animal welfare in the future.” And that “the contractor re-assigned the contract employee and is requiring re-training in animal welfare.”

AWHC welcomes the acknowledgement of wrongdoing by the BLM, but maintains that the conduct shown by the contractor rises to the level of criminal misconduct and must be investigated as such.

AWHC is currently pursuing action through the office of the Inspector General and is filing an official complaint regarding the abuse incident.

“Reassigning the contractor is merely putting a bandaid on a gaping wound. As long as the BLM permits such actions to continue without strong consequences, we will see an increase in abuse cases during roundups,” said Suzanne Roy, executive director of AWHC. “This is a dark mark on the agency. The line must be drawn and decisive action must be taken to protect our nation’s wild herds.”

The Blue Wing Complex roundup concluded on August 1st as the deadliest roundup this year so far, with 42 deaths, many of them from traumatic causes. The roundup accounts for a mere 12% of the horses captured thus far in FY24, but represents a shocking 24% of the deaths.

About American Wild Horse Conservation:

American Wild Horse Conservation (AWHC) is the nation’s leading nonprofit wild horse conservation organization, with more than 700,000 supporters and followers nationwide. AWHC is dedicated to preserving the American wild horse and burros in viable, free-roaming herds for generations to come, as part of our national heritage. In addition to advocating for the protection and preservation of America’s wild herds, AWHC implements the largest wild horse fertility control program in the world through a partnership with the State of Nevada for wild horses that live in the Virginia Range near Reno.

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