Federal Appeals Court Dismisses Wyoming's Wild Horse Roundup Lawsuit

A federal appeals court in Denver has dismissed a lawsuit filed by the state of Wyoming, which sought the removal of wild horses from public lands. This decision supports the Bureau of Land Management's (BLM) discretion in managing wild horse populations, marking a significant victory for wild horse advocates.

On October 11, 2016, the court rejected Wyoming's effort to remove wild horses from public lands across the state. The lawsuit was filed in U.S. District Court against the Department of the Interior and the BLM, which oversees the government's free-roaming wild horse program.

Wyoming claimed that the BLM failed to maintain the horse population within seven herd management areas, which they argued was necessary to prevent rangeland damage. In December 2014, the state filed suit, asserting that the BLM had not managed wild horses according to their mandatory obligations under the Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act.

The Interior Department and the BLM countered that they were not obligated to remove wild horses from these areas. The district court dismissed the case, leading to Wyoming's appeal to the 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.

According to the appeals court's opinion, "The state's arguments, however, are contrary to the plain language" of the law. The act requires the BLM to maintain an inventory of wild horses and burros to determine if overpopulation exists and if action is needed to remove excess animals. The court noted that the BLM had not determined that such action was necessary.

Wyoming Governor Matt Mead expressed disappointment, stating, "The BLM is not managing wild horse populations as required under the Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act. Mismanagement adversely affects all species and the rangelands necessary for their health and survival."

Bill Eubanks, representing the American Wild Horse Conservation (formerly American Wild Horse Preservation) and other advocates, hailed the decision as a major victory with significant implications for federal wild horse policy. The decision affirms the agency's discretion to implement management approaches, including fertility control and reducing livestock grazing.

For more details, see the original article by Denver Post.