Lawsuits Challenge BLM's Wild Horse Sterilization Plan
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is under scrutiny as it faces multiple federal lawsuits over its proposal to sterilize wild horses at its Hines corral. This initiative aims to control the growing wild horse population but has sparked significant controversy and legal challenges.
Legal Actions Against BLM
The Bureau of Land Management is facing two additional federal lawsuits regarding its plan to sterilize wild horses. This effort is part of a broader strategy to manage the population effectively.
The American Wild Horse Conservation (formerly American Wild Horse Preservation) and The Cloud Foundation have jointly filed a lawsuit against the BLM in the U.S. District Court in Oregon. They argue that the agency violated their First Amendment rights by denying their requests to observe and record the sterilization procedures if they proceed.
BLM's Sterilization Proposal
The BLM is reviewing the latest lawsuits. The agency has proposed using three methods to sterilize approximately 200 mares, some of which are pregnant. One method, ovariectomy via colpotomy, involves partially sedating the mare before a veterinarian removes the ovaries through the vagina. The other two methods are less invasive.
The bureau claims its proposal is a research initiative to gather data on the safety, efficacy, and potential complications of these procedures. The BLM has expressed concerns about the increasing wild horse population, both on the range and among those awaiting adoption.
Opposition and Additional Lawsuits
Friends of Animals also filed a lawsuit against the BLM earlier this month in the U.S. District Court in Washington, D.C. The nonprofit contends that the agency's proposal violates federal laws and relies on "appalling" procedures that could harm or kill some horses. In addition to the recent lawsuits, the proposal has previously faced a federal lawsuit and three appeals to a U.S. Department of Interior appeals board.