11 Wild Horses Including a Four-Month-Old Foal Die During Bureau of Land Management Roundup in Nevada

EATTHINK

Jul 13

353 wild horses also lost their freedom as part of the BLM’s relentless efforts to remove at least 22,000 federally-protected wild horses and burros this year from public lands to make way for animal agriculture.

11 horses have perished as a result of the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) latest roundup of wild horses in Nevada. Two of the animals died after breaking their necks during the chase, while others were euthanized for multiple injuries, including fractures and blindness. One mare was found dead in a pen due to a rattlesnake bite, according to American Wild Horse Campaign (AWHC) while a 4-month-old foal died of "unknown causes."

The roundup also saw 353 wild horses removed from their natural habitat to be shipped to a holding facility, Indian Lakes Off-Range Corrals, located in Fallon, Nevada. Although it is not clear what the final fate of the animals will be, the vast majority are either sent to slaughter or kept in barren holding facilities for the rest of their lives. There are currently more than 55,000 wild horses living in long-term holding sites around the country.

The operation is part of the BLM’s campaign to remove at least 22,000 federally-protected wild horses and burros this year from public lands to make way for private interests, especially commercial livestock companies.

To capture the animals, they used helicopters operated by Sampson Livestock to chase them into traps. Members of AWHC who were onsite at the operation to hold the BLM accountable witnessed horses drenched with sweat, and young foals falling behind, exhausting themselves to try to keep up with their herd.

One of the foals who was left behind was roped by the neck by a BLM contractor, forcefully thrown onto the ground twice by wranglers, hogtied, and hoisted into an ATV. Video footage of the incident documented by observers has led a coalition of wild horse advocacy groups to join in condemning the BLM for this abuse, arguing that the event constitutes an obvious violation of the agency’s own Comprehensive Animal Welfare Program (CAWP).

Public observers have documented multiple violations of the CAWP by BLM personnel and contractors during its roundups. One well-publicized incident occurred earlier this year during a wild horse gathering operation on the Pancake Complex in Nevada during which a foal broke its front leg while being chased by a BLM helicopter contractor. The foal was ultimately euthanized by the BLM, but the incident played a key role in the introduction of a federal bill by Rep. Dina Titus (D-NV) to end the use of helicopters in BLM wild horse and burro management.

In addition to injuries and deaths during the roundups, this spring nearly 150 wild horses died from equine influenza at the holding facility in Canon City, Colorado, and dozens more died from an outbreak of strangles at the facility in Wheatland, Wyoming.

“As clearly shown in the video, BLM and its contractors engage in deliberate abuse of these animals they are supposed to be protecting,” said Scott Beckstead, director of campaigns for Animal Wellness Action and the Center for a Humane Economy.“If ordinary citizens treated animals this way, they would be arrested and jailed. This rogue agency will continue with its cruelty and callousness and its arrogant disregard of public will until Congress gets involved and exercises some oversight.”

Take action

Move to a plant-based food system: Choosing plant-based food instead of animal-based products is one of the most powerful things you can do to help protect the lands where wild horses should be roaming free. To help you get started, Species Unite has released a What We Think, Wear and Eat Matters Starter Kit. You can download your free kit here.

Speak out: Please join us in urging Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland to stop these roundups and work with the American Wild Horse Campaign to find sustainable solutions to save these treasured and legally protected animals. You can sign the petition here. Polis has also urged Coloradans to contact the BLM personally. You can find their details here.

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