Parting Shot

announced their support for a “non-lethal” wild horse management plan to be proposed to the BLM.

laying out a plan

The coalition’s plan supports a “robust” fertility control program, including use of PZP to vaccinate 90 percent of wild mares; conducting “strategic gathers” that would target herds in highly populated HMAs in order to protect them from forage and water shortages; and relocating gathered horses and those residing in short-term holding facilities to long-term humane pasture facilities.

The plan also calls for increased adoptions to reduce the total cost of the BLM’s wild horse management program, and redirecting funds to long-term strategies for the care and sustainability of horse and burro populations.

But not all wild horse advocates believe the proposed plan will fundamentally change the way wild herds are managed. Some argue that if implemented, the plan would result in more wild horse gathers and the total elimination of some herds.

aiming too high?

Others familiar with wild horse issues believe that the fertility control goals are too ambitious.

“If [the plan] can accomplish all this, it would be wonderful,” says Lenz. “But I’m skeptical.”

BLM spokesman Derrick Henry says that the agency is committed to working with the public to identify strategies for managing both wild herds and rangeland resources.

“The BLM welcomes the input of long-standing partners, such as the Public Lands Council, the ASPCA, and others who care about the health of wild horses, burros and the range they share with hundreds of native wildlife species,” says Henry.

“We look forward to thoroughly reviewing the proposed plan and reaching out to Congress to find consensus on how we can best preserve healthy wild horse and burro herds on healthy public rangelands for generations to come.”

— Patrice D. Bucciarelli