Experts Speak Out Against BLM Wild Horse Sterilization Experiments

The Bureau of Land Management's (BLM) plan to conduct sterilization experiments on wild mares in collaboration with Oregon State University (OSU) has sparked significant opposition. Experts from scientific, political, and veterinary fields have voiced their concerns about the ethical and humane implications of these experiments.

National Academy of Sciences

Recommendation to the BLM:

“The possibility that ovariectomy may be followed by prolonged bleeding or peritoneal infection makes it inadvisable for field application.” (2013 report)

Political Opposition

U.S. Congressman Rep. Jared Polis (R-CO):

“The surgical sterilization of wild horses and burros is simply cruel and it has been coming at the expense of taxpayers’ dollars for too long. There are far more humane and less costly methods already available to limit population growth.” (July 14, 2016 House of Representatives Floor Statement)

Veterinary Concerns

Equine Veterinarian Dr. Robin Kelly:

“The mare sterilization research plan proposed by the BLM poses significant risk to the survivability of the mares… It is inappropriate and inhumane.” (Statement on BLM Mare Sterilization Research Proposal)

BLM National Wild Horse and Burro Advisory Board Human Advocate, Ginger Kathrens:

“What OSU and BLM are preparing to do to these wild mares and foals is unthinkably cruel and completely unnecessary given the availability of the proven fertility control vaccine, which provides a humane wild horse management alternative.”

Equine Veterinarian Dr. Pam Corey:

“The BLM proposal to ‘spay’ wild female horses by a method which is called inferior by the American College of Veterinary Surgeons makes it unconscionable and doomed to failure. I strongly oppose the proposal to use this technique on wild horses.” (Statement on BLM Mare Sterilization Research Proposal)

Equine Veterinarian Dr. Lisa Jacobson:

“As an equine veterinarian I'm in shock that the BLM, veterinarians, and OSU are even considering the mare sterilization techniques being proposed. These techniques are abusive & incredibly negligent.”

Equine Veterinarian Dr. Don Moore:

“Mass experimental surgeries performed under these conditions outlined in the proposal, amounts to negligence and abuse. I believe experiments such as this proposal are unethical, inhumane and unwarranted. Any veterinarian(s) who would perform these experiments is in violation of the oath taken as a graduating veterinarian, 'above all else, do no harm.'”

More information on the experiments here.