Tragedy Strikes Again at Federal Wild Horse Roundup: Stallion Killed After Breaking Leg
Eureka, NV (October 28, 2023) - A tragic incident has occurred at a federal wild horse roundup in Nevada, where a wild stallion suffered a fatal injury. This marks the second such incident in recent months, raising concerns about the methods used in these roundups.
Three months after the widely publicized death of a wild stallion during a federal wild horse roundup in Nevada, a second wild stallion met a similar tragic end yesterday. The 20+-year-old stallion suffered a compound fracture of his right hind leg as he was escaping from a trap at the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) helicopter roundup in Roberts Mountain Herd Management Area near Eureka. He managed to run about 40 yards with the grievous injury before being roped by a wrangler on horseback and had to be euthanized by gunshot.
In the previous incident at the BLM Antelope Complex roundup in July, a wild stallion broke his rear leg while escaping a trap pen, snapping it in half. In that instance, the stallion endured 40 agonizing minutes running with his rear leg dangling helplessly before being captured and euthanized.
Both deceased stallions were beautiful palominos, striking golden-colored horses with white or cream-colored manes and tails. Both had been living freely on federal lands until they and their fellow herd members were captured in BLM helicopter drives.
The American Wild Horse Conservation (formerly American Wild Horse Campaign) is releasing video of the latest incident to raise public awareness about the plight of America's wild horses and the pressing need for reform in federal management of these protected animals. AWHC advocates for the use of humane fertility control vaccine, administered remotely by dart gun, as an alternative to the traumatic and costly helicopter roundups and removals that are currently in practice.
"The loss of this stallion, much like the countless other wild horses and burros that have tragically perished this year due to helicopter roundups, is a needless and indefensible tragedy. How many more lives must be lost before we say enough is enough?” said Suzanne Roy, executive director of AWHC. "The time has come for concerned citizens across the nation to unite and demand that our government treat these federally-protected animals with the respect and compassion they deserve."
AWHC supports the Wild Horse and Burro Protection Act of 2023, introduced by U.S. Rep. Dina Titus (D-NV) and co-sponsored by U.S. Reps. David Schweikert (R-AZ) and Steve Cohen (D-TN) to end "costly, ineffective, inhumane and costly" helicopter roundups.
AWHC deploys observers to document most BLM roundups. The agency is targeting nearly 7,000 wild horses and burros for capture this fall, with nearly 6,000 scheduled to be permanently removed from the range. Follow AWHC's roundup coverage here.
About the American Wild Horse Conservation
The American Wild Horse Conservation (AWHC) is the nation's leading wild horse conservation organization, with more than 700,000 supporters and followers nationwide. AWHC is dedicated to preserving the American wild horse and burros in viable, free-roaming herds for generations to come, as part of our national heritage. In addition to advocating for the protection and preservation of America's wild herds, AWHC implements the largest wild horse fertility control program in the world through a partnership with the State of Nevada for wild horses that live in the Virginia Range near Reno.
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