Lifting the Veil: AWHC FOIA Program

November 14, 2022

AWHC Contributor

By Amelia Perrin, Investigations Manager

The American Wild Horse Conservation (formerly American Wild Horse Campaign) is dedicated to the humane protection of wild horses and burros on public lands. A crucial part of our mission involves our investigations program, which leverages the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) to access government records. This federal law empowers citizens and organizations to request public information, promoting transparency and accountability in government activities.

FOIA is an essential tool that enables us to uncover significant information about the management of wild horses and burros, including instances of abuse and mistreatment during roundups, in holding facilities, or under private care. Currently, we have over 80 active FOIA requests, with more being filed regularly.

Our FOIA efforts, much like our field observers documenting violations at roundups, illuminate serious animal welfare issues that are often hidden from the public eye. In the past two years, FOIA has helped us uncover:

The horrific slaughter pipeline resulting from the BLM’s Adoption Incentive Program (AIP), which has led to at least 1,100 wild horses and burros ending up in kill pens within two years;
The deaths of 16 horses at the USFS’s Double Devil Wild Horse Corrals and the BLM’s Bruneau Wild Horse Off-Range Corrals;
The BLM’s use of IUDs in wild mares, despite a lack of scientific research on their efficacy and safety in wild populations;
And much more.

These alarming situations would remain hidden without the information gathered through our FOIA requests. However, obtaining these records is often challenging, as agencies like the BLM or Forest Service frequently fail to respond within the legally mandated timeframe, forcing us to pursue legal action to obtain the requested records.

Currently, we have 20 FOIA lawsuits pending against the BLM, with more expected to follow. This vital work is made possible by the support of wild horse and burro advocates like you. Your donations to our Legal Fund empower us to take action and reveal the truth about the treatment of these iconic animals in the wild, during roundups, in holding pens, and through adoption and sale programs. We are deeply grateful for your commitment to standing with us in this fight.

Thank you for your unwavering support!