Wild mustang horses (BLM photo)
The proposed strategy announced today includes reducing the number of wild horses removed from the range for at least the next 2 years; reaffirming the central role that the National Academy of Sciences (NAS)’s on-going review of the program will have on science-based management decisions; increasing adoptions; significantly expanding the use of fertility control to maintain herd levels; and improving its care and handling procedures to enhance the humane treatment of the animals. The BLM will continue to oppose the killing or slaughter of wild horses or burros as a management practice.
“We’ve taken a top to bottom look at the wild horse and burro program and have come to a straightforward conclusion: we need to move ahead with reforms that build on what is working and move away from what is not,”
Director Abbey said. “To achieve our goal of improving the health of the herds and America’s public lands, we need to enlist the help of partners, improve transparency and responsiveness in the program, and reaffirm science as the foundation for management decisions. It will take time to implement these reforms, but as a first step we are aiming to increase adoptions and broaden the use of fertility control. And while we do this, we are reducing removals while NAS helps us ensure that our management is guided by the best available science.”
These reforms respond to the input of more than 9,000 members of the public who commented on last year’s Wild Horse and Burro Program Strategy Development Document through public meetings and written statements.
Specifically, the BLM proposes to:
NAS study—The BLM has commissioned the National Academy of Sciences to r eview previous wild horse management studies and make recommendations on how the BLM should proceed in light of the latest scientific research. The NAS review is expected to be completed in early 2013. Specifically the study will look at the methods for population modeling, the annual rates of population growth, fertility control methods, evaluation of carrying capacity of various lands to support wild horse herds, genetic diversity in wild horse herds, and predator impact on wild horse population growth.
Issue Procedures to Facilitate Long-term Care by Partners -- The BLM will release within the next 30 days specific procedures by which members of the public can apply to enter into partnerships with the federal government for long-term care of wild horses that are removed from the public rangeland.
Increase Science-Based Fertility Control. The BLM proposes to significantly increase the number of mares treated with fertility control – from 500 in 2009 to a target of 2,000 in each of the next 2 years during the NAS study, pending sufficient budget allocations. Director Abbey said the BLM’s ultimate goal is to make various fertility control measures the primary means to maintain healthy population levels. He said the BLM intends to work closely with the Humane Society of the United States to implement and monitor this expanded effort.
Reduce Removals – The BLM intends to reduce the annual number of wild horses removed for at least the next 2 years from 10,000 to 7,600 – a level that would essentially maintain the current number of wild horses and burros on the range. The NAS review would be completed in early 2013. Abbey said that while drought or other emergencies may require the removal of more than 7,600 animals, the BLM has decided to adopt this more conservative approach pending input from the NAS regarding the number of horses than can be safety and humanely left on the open range.
In addition, Director Abbey said the BLM will continue to strengthen areas on which it has already started. These include:
Enhance Humane Animal Care and Handling Practices. Director Abbey said the agency will conduct thorough reviews and add appropriate controls to the agency’s contracts and policies to strengthen humane animal care and handling practices. This will apply to both gathering contracts and short-and long-term holding facility contracts.
Promote Volunteerism in the Management of Wild Horses. The proposal calls for increased engagement of the public by enhancing public outreach, recruiting local volunteers to assist in monitoring the health of the rangelands where animals roam, and encourages partnerships to increase herd-related ecotourism.
Improve Transparency and Openness. Director Abbey also said it is important to reaffirm throughout the agency the BLM’s fundamental commitment to transparency in all facets of the wild horse and burro program. This includes increasing public viewing opportunities during gathers and at short-term corrals and long–term care facilities to the highest extent possible without compromising the safety of staff, members of the public, or the animals. The BLM is also committed to the accurate, prompt, and public release of information related to the program.
An analysis of the public’s comments and a detailed proposed implementation strategy will be posted at www.blm.gov February 28, 2011. The public is invited to review and provide comments to the BLM on this strategy through March 30, 2011, and should be submitted by email to wildhorse@blm.gov with “Comments on Strategy” in the subject line.
“This document reflects our commitment to work with all stakeholders to ensure that viable herds of wild horses and burros remain on our nation’s public lands for generations to come,” Abbey said. “We share a common goal to improve the wild horse and burro program and the health of the public lands we manage. Achieving this goal will require a determined focus on reform, new ideas, and opening a new chapter in the management of wild horses, burros, and our public lands.”
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I take major issue with the BLM planning to increasing PZP treatments to 2,000 horses a year. This is a drug that has left some mares permanently infertile after only 1 dose, and close observations from people who aren't on the BLM payroll show it lasting anywhere from 4-8 years at a minimum. Honestly, my biggest problem with PZP is we really don't know it's effect in horses. The conclusions from the field trials haven't been released yet. So they are suggesting we continue to blindly give these animals a drug before we know the full effects and consequences of that drug.
Let's assume there really are 35,000 horses left (which is highly doubtful given the discrepancies in the BLMs numbers). Let's also assume that thanks to the very popular sex ratio adjustments of those 35,000 horses about 16,500 are mares. Again, that's a high estimate. There are at least 2,000 mares out there who have already given the drug. So the BLM is proposing a course of action in which 7 years from now every single mare will be darted with a drug that may or may not be permanent for a high number of them? Yeah, that is what they're proposing. Gee guys, who would disagree with that? After all, they're ONLY going
to remove 7,600 a year now...
Look I'd love to believe they are going to finally start taking a serious look at reform. At the same time, given this agencies propensity for lying and considering this comes immediately after they don't get the money they want (leading them to immediately ask for even more), I see no reason to trust them.
I believe that many of BLM's problems stem from faulty math and that wild horse experts need to be utilized and heeded in obtaining something close to an accurate count. There are many such persons-not fanatical animal rights people but sensible, sane and dedicated individuals. Mr. Abbey needs to use their expertise.
I would love to see improvements in the adoption program-currently, someone who wants to adopt must jump through multiple hoops while people who take horses through direct sale (only offerred in an unverifiable and undemocratic manner) can do what they please with them, including sell them for profit or slaughter, since there is no real control on this program.
If Mr. Abbey wants to improve transparency, that is simplest of all. He needs to instruct his employees in the field to instruct the contractors at gathers, short term holding and long term holding that publicly owned horses are to be available for public viewing pretty much all the time on public lands and during generous and sensible hours at private facilities. He could accomplish this with an email. Until he does so, and while he holds reporters and other observers at distances of more than a mile (while contractors' toddlers play next to the pens), his assurances are hard to believe.
I would like to believe him. I hope he is sincere and I have offered and will continue to volunteer my services in obtaining these goals.