Oregon Judge Halts BLM's Plan to Sterilize Wild Horses

November 3, 2018

PORTLAND, ORE.

A federal judge has halted the U.S. Bureau of Land Management's plans to remove the ovaries of wild horses to stop them from propagating in Oregon. This decision comes as a result of a court case brought by animal rights groups.

The Oregonian/OregonLive reports that the horses from the Warm Springs Herd Management Area cannot be sterilized with the procedure until the court case is resolved.

U.S. District Court Judge Michael W. Mosman stated that the groups' claims for federal oversight during the surgeries are likely valid. Animal welfare organizations, including the American Wild Horse Conservation (formerly American Wild Horse Campaign), argue that an outside veterinarian should be allowed to monitor the sterilizations and that non-intrusive cameras should be placed where the horses are held.

The federal government has long struggled with managing the number of wild horses roaming eastern Oregon, including offering them up for adoption.

Originally posted by The News & Observer