Utah Wild Horse Slaying Renews NGO’s Call for Government Task Force to Address Violence Against Wild Horses and Burros

Utah Wild Horse Slaying Renews NGO’s Call for Government Task Force to Address Violence Against Wild Horses and Burros 

Tooele, Utah (November 14, 2024) – Today, in wake of the brutal slaying of a beloved Onaqui wild stallion, American Wild Horse Conservation (AWHC) has renewed calls for a governmental taskforce to investigate an alarming uptick in wild horse and burro shootings. 

The most recent killing involves a popular Onaqui stallion, known as Pyrite (aka Goldie, Glory), who was found deceased approximately three miles southwest of Sampson Springs in Tooele County, south of the Dugway Proving Ground. 

Evidence suggests that Pyrite was shot during the week of November 3rd and was left on the range and succumbed to his injuries on November 10th, 2024

Since 2022 at least 60 wild horses and burros have been violently killed on public lands. While the Bureau of Land Management and the United States Forest Service continue to investigate these crimes, this recent shooting indicates the violence is continuing.

In total, AWHC has pledged over $35,000 in reward funds to encourage individuals with information to come forward to bring justice to these cases, including $6,000 towards this month’s brutal shooting of the popular stallion from the Onaqui Herd Management Area (HMA). 

“AWHC is committed to pursuing justice for the wild horses and burros who have lost their lives to senseless violence,” said Suzanne Roy, executive director of AWHC. “Shooting or killing a wild horse is a serious federal crime We are urging the government to form a task force to investigate the alarming rise in shootings on public lands, and we remain committed to supporting the BLM and other agencies to ensure those responsible are held accountable to the fullest extent of the law.”

The BLM, Red Birds Trust, Wild Beauty Foundation and the Onaqui Catalogue Foundation also pledged funds, bringing the current total to $20,000. 

The reward seeks information leading to the arrest and conviction of the individual(s) responsible for shooting the stallion. BLM law enforcement has opened an investigation into the incident. 

Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the BLM Law Enforcement Tip-Line

Phone: (800) 722-3998

Email: [email protected]

###