Federal Contraceptive Program Advances to Control US Wild Horse Population

Federal lawmakers are making strides towards funding a humane fertility control program for wild horses, a move that could transform the management of these iconic animals. The US Senate Appropriations Committee has included directives in the Interior appropriations bill for the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to administer reversible fertility control vaccines to wild horses.

In July, House appropriators also allocated significant funding to expand the use of fertility control vaccines. This marks the first time Congress has dedicated funding for the BLM to develop such a program.

The Animal Welfare Institute and the American Wild Horse Conservation (formerly American Wild Horse Campaign) praised the Senate Appropriations Committee for this initiative. The committee has provided $11 million for the BLM to use vaccines like the Porcine Zona Pellucida (PZP) immunocontraceptive, which is 90% effective at preventing pregnancy in horses.

Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) led the effort to include this funding, supported by lawmakers from western states and key Appropriations Committee members. The committee noted that these vaccines are immediately available to curb population growth.

The BLM must report back within 45 days with its vaccination strategy. Currently, the agency spends less than 1% of its Wild Horse and Burro Program budget on fertility control, focusing instead on costly helicopter roundups.

Captured horses are moved to off-range holding facilities for life. The Senate's language recognizes that removals can increase foaling rates, a phenomenon known as compensatory reproduction, as highlighted by the National Academy of Sciences.

The Senate bill also calls for an inter-agency council to address wild horse and burro management, despite supporting a prior report advocating for accelerated removals. The Animal Welfare Institute and the American Wild Horse Conservation criticized this stance, citing potential costs of nearly $1 billion in five years.

Joanna Grossman, equine program manager at the Animal Welfare Institute, emphasized the importance of Congress's funding for a humane fertility control program to break the cycle of roundups. Holly Gann Bice, director of government relations for the American Wild Horse Conservation, applauded the Senate's historic step towards reforming the Wild Horse and Burro Program.

“We’re deeply grateful to Senator Booker, subcommittee Chair Jeff Merkley, and others for their leadership in placing the BLM on a better track for humane management,” she said.

Originally posted by Horse Talk NZ