Despite High Death Toll and Welfare Concerns, CA Wild Horse Roundup Continues

August 1, 2022

The death toll rises to 16 in just 8 days, including several foals

The ongoing wild horse roundup in California has become a focal point of controversy and concern. Since the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) began the roundup at the Twin Peaks Herd Management Area on July 23rd, at least 16 federally-protected wild horses have died. This includes several young foals found dead in makeshift holding corrals due to unknown causes, and horses suffering traumatic injuries from helicopter stampedes.

• Several horses, including young foals, have been found dead in the makeshift holding corrals due to unknown causes.
• Horses have died due to traumatic injuries, such as broken necks and legs, resulting from helicopter stampedes.
• A young foal died from being chased while suffering from pneumonia.
• One mare escaped the makeshift corrals only to be later found dead due to a pulmonary hemorrhage, which occurs when pulmonary blood vessels in the lungs rupture during exertion.

This roundup operation has been the subject of controversy since American Wild Horse Conservation (formerly American Wild Horse Campaign) released footage of stressed wild horses climbing on top of each other in a trap pen too small to safely hold the number of animals corralled within it.

Despite public outcry, the government contractors did not change the size of the pen, which led to the corral gates bursting open, resulting in the death of two wild horses. American Wild Horse Conservation (formerly American Wild Horse Campaign) sent a complaint to the agency alleging the contractors violated the BLM’s Comprehensive Animal Welfare guidelines during this incident. The BLM has yet to respond.

Additionally, American Wild Horse Conservation (formerly American Wild Horse Campaign) roundup observers noted the temperatures during the operation reached 99.5 degrees, exceeding the BLM’s temperature guidelines for conducting a roundup.

The captured wild horses are being transported to three short-term holding facilities in California, Idaho, and Nevada. Two of these facilities have been evaluated by a BLM Comprehensive Animal Welfare Program (CAWP) team. Both showed deficiencies in the facilities related to basic animal welfare, including access to food, facilities clean of excess manure, and basic facility maintenance, raising concerns for the wellbeing of captured wild horses once they reach these facilities.

The concern for the horse’s welfare doesn’t end once they reach short-term holding. A recently released investigative report shines a light on the deadly consequences of the BLM’s cash incentive adoption program. All captured adoptable wild horses and burros are eligible to be adopted through this program.

“The tragic roundup unfolding on California public lands has highlighted just how cruel, inhumane, and unsustainable the federal government’s current wild horse removal and stockpile system is,” said Suzanne Roy, executive director of AWHC. “These aren’t isolated incidents. They aren’t even rare. Every year, thousands of horses are chased violently by helicopters into captivity in already overcrowded corrals to await a fate that, even in 2022, could end in slaughter.”

Photos can be used with proper credit below.

Foals from the Twin Peaks roundup stampeded by helicopter. RJ Stein/American Wild Horse Campaign

Horses drenched in sweat during the helicopter stampede in the Twin Peaks HMA. Nenah Demunster/American Wild Horse Campaign

A captured wild horse looks out of the makeshift corrals in the Twin Peaks HMA. Nenah Demunster/American Wild Horse Campaign