American Wild Horse Conservation has expressed support for Representatives Vern Buchanan, David Schweikert, Juan Ciscomani, and Brian Fitzpatrick for their initiative to encourage U.S. Department of the Interior Secretary Doug Burgum to implement humane and cost-effective reforms in the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) Wild Horse and Burro Program.
The letter from these Republican lawmakers highlights the need for fiscal responsibility and advocates for the use of proven fertility control methods as an alternative to the expensive and inhumane helicopter roundups. They emphasize the importance of prioritizing BLM funding toward non-lethal, science-based strategies, which align with public sentiment favoring the protection of wild horses and burros in their natural habitats.
The BLM’s Wild Horse and Burro Program has seen expenditures exceeding $150 million in Fiscal Year 2024, with a significant portion allocated to holding costs for more than 65,000 wild horses and burros in government facilities. Currently, less than four percent of the program’s budget is directed toward humane fertility control methods, despite the potential to save taxpayers approximately $249 million if just ten percent of eligible horses were treated.
Suzanne Roy, executive director of American Wild Horse Conservation, noted the bipartisan support for a shift in management practices, stating that reliance on roundups is both cruel and fiscally irresponsible. The organization advocates for increased use of fertility control and a commitment to non-lethal management strategies, which have previously received backing from the BLM’s advisory board.
As the leading nonprofit dedicated to wild horse conservation, American Wild Horse Conservation urges Secretary Burgum to act on these recommendations and collaborate with Congress to create a sustainable and compassionate future for America’s wild herds.
