Feds Accused of Blocking Public View in Massive Wild Horse Roundup

October 25, 2021 - The American Wild Horse Conservation (formerly American Wild Horse Campaign) has raised concerns over the U.S. Bureau of Land Management's (BLM) handling of public observation during a historic wild horse roundup in Wyoming. The organization claims that the BLM has imposed unlawful restrictions that hinder the public's ability to witness the event, potentially violating First Amendment rights.

The AWHC alleges that BLM Wyoming has positioned public observation areas over a mile away from the capture site, obstructing views with terrain. Brieanah Schwartz, AWHC Litigation and Policy Counsel, stated, “BLM Wyoming is blocking meaningful observation of the massive Wyoming wild horse roundup by placing the public over a mile away from the capture site and in positions where viewing is blocked by terrain. Such unnecessary restrictions violate our First Amendment rights to meaningfully observe this government operation and the BLM’s treatment of these federally protected wild mustangs.”

In response, AWHC is urging the BLM to mandate that helicopter roundup contractors equip their aircraft with cameras to ensure transparency and independent oversight, as 90% of the capture occurs out of public view. The organization has field representatives documenting the roundups in the West, expressing concerns that the restrictions in Wyoming may be linked to controversies surrounding helicopter contractors' conduct in Nevada and Colorado, where foals were reportedly left alone after their mothers were captured.

The ongoing Wyoming roundup is taking place in the Great Divide Basin Herd Management Area, covering public and private lands northwest of Rock Springs. This operation aims to capture over 4,000 federally-protected wild horses from the 3.4 million-acre Wyoming Checkerboard and is expected to continue into February.

For more details, visit the original article on ABC 4.