Proposed Bill Could Transfer Wild Horse Management to States

A Utah congressman is planning to reintroduce legislation that would place wild horses under the jurisdiction of states and Native American tribes, rather than the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). This proposal has sparked significant debate over its potential impact on wild horse populations and rangeland ecology.

Background on Wild Horse Management

The Free-Roaming Wild Horse and Burro Act of 1971 federally protects wild horse and burro herds on Western rangelands, placing them under BLM jurisdiction. Recently, some ranchers and state governments have filed lawsuits, claiming that BLM-managed wild herds have caused ecological damage to rangelands also used for grazing domestic livestock.

The Proposed Legislation

Last July, Representative Chris Stewart (R-Utah) introduced the Wild Horse Management Act of 2014. While preserving protections under the 1971 act, the bill would have allowed states to implement management plans tailored to their specific needs. However, the legislation did not pass in the 113th Congress.

On February 22, Stewart announced in the Southern Utah Independent newspaper his intention to reintroduce the bill during the 114th Congress. Stewart, a member of the U.S. House Interior Appropriations Subcommittee, argues that states and tribes can manage wild horse populations in a “safe, practical, and cost-effective” manner, fostering partnerships between ranchers and other stakeholders.

“A local approach would also allow for more partnerships between landowners, ranchers, and humanitarian groups to provide better oversight and create a localized approach to each population and rangeland,” Stewart's column stated.

Reactions and Concerns

Stewart also aims to depoliticize the federal management of wild horses and burros, seeking a humane, economic, and ecologically sound solution. However, Tom Gorey, a BLM spokesman, declined to comment on the 2014 proposal.

Wild horse advocate Suzanne Roy of the American Wild Horse Conservation (formerly American Wild Horse Preservation Campaign) expressed concerns that Stewart's bill could harm wild horses. Roy criticized the bill as an attempt to undermine federal protections for these animals.

“This bill is an attempt to hijack the federal law intended to protect these horses,” Roy said. “Representative Stewart is pushing the agenda of a small but vocal extremist minority at the expense of the American people and our cherished wild horses and burros.”

On February 23, Stewart's spokeswoman Allison Barker confirmed plans to introduce a 2015 version of the bill, similar to the 2014 proposal.

Originally Posted By The Horse