Wild Horse and Burro 2023

Wild Horse and Burro articles for 2023

September 9 2023

Remembering Bubba

Kyle Davidson Wild Horse and Burro 2023 American Wild Horse Campaign, AWHC, BLM, roundups, wild burros, wild horses 0

The following is from the American Wild Horse Campaign:

As you may recall, September is World Animal Remembrance Month. This time is dedicated to remembering all the animals who have touched our lives, but are no longer with us.

In that spirit, we want to take a moment to honor Bubba, Wyoming’s famed curly stallion who recently passed away.

We find solace in knowing that he died on the range, wild and free.

Bubba was one of the lead stallions of the Salt Wells Creek herd in the Red Desert of Wyoming. He was known as a ‘curly’, carrying in his genes some of the most unique DNA in the world that produces a crimped mane and curly coat.

In 2021, a large portion of Bubba’s family was torn apart when the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) conducted a large-scale helicopter roundup in the habitat he and thousands of other mustangs called home. Bubba survived the roundup and remained free, but unfortunately sustained an injury to his knee.

Bubba’s memory lives on, and his death strengthens our resolve to protect the family he has left behind.

Attorneys on behalf of the American Wild Horse Campaign (AWHC) have filed suit against the BLM for its plan to eradicate the public lands that 43 percent of Wyoming’s wild horses inhabit. In fact, the BLM is planning on removing every single wild horse from the Salt Wells Creek herd, Bubba’s former home. We will not back down from this fight.

The AWHC has been involved in critical litigation for more than a decade against the BLM to protect these herds – and now we face the final showdown. We must do what we can to save these wild horses.

But we cannot do this critical work alone. In loving memory of Bubba and his legacy, will you please chip in to help support our litigation to keep horses like Bubba free? Your donation will go straight to work helping us save more wild horses and burros.

DONATE →

With the sadness of this beloved stallion’s passing, we press on.

The American Wild Horse Campaign

September 7 2023

This Week’s eNews: Read Our Latest Roundup Reports From California and Colorado

Kyle Davidson Wild Horse and Burro 2023 American Wild Horse Campaign, AWHC, BLM, roundups, wild horses 0

The following is from the American Wild Horse Campaign:

We’ve got a lot to share with you in this week’s edition of eNews, including an action you can take to protect wild horses and burros on Capitol Hill, an insightful new op-ed from our Executive Director, Suzanne Roy, and the latest roundup reports from California and Colorado.

Read on to learn more!

Tell Congress: Protect Wild Horses and Burros in the FY24 Spending Bill!

As we witness wild horses being rounded up and removed from public lands this summer, it’s important to remember that we have a key opportunity to advocate for humane reforms to the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) Wild Horse and Burro Program in Congress’ Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 appropriations bill. Please take one moment to call on your members of Congress to support the language in this bill, which includes funding for humane, in-the-wild management strategies on behalf of our beloved wild horses and burros!

TAKE ACTION

Op-Ed: The best way to protect wild horses is through fertility control

Photo by Laurie Ford

Helicopter roundups are hugely expensive and inhumane, and because they don’t stabilize the population, they have to be done again and again. The best and proven way to protect wild horses is through fertility control. The best way to keep wild horses free on public lands is through fertility control. Wild horses deserve far better than cruel captures by helicopters, to then be placed in cramped government holding facilities. Read the latest from AWHC’s Executive Director, Suzanne Roy.

On September 4, while many Americans were taking a day of rest and relaxation, the Devil’s Garden wild horses were being forcefully removed from their habitat on more than 278,000-acres of public land in California. AWHC was on site to bring you the latest.

Photo by WilsonAxpe PhotoAdvocacy

The West Douglas Herd Area (HA) is situated in the northwest region of Colorado, just like the Piceance-East Douglas Herd Management Area (HMA). However, there is a difference between the two. While the Piceance HMA permits a maximum of 235 horses to reside there, the BLM has set the allowed population level of the West Douglas HA to 0. The BLM attributes this decision to the challenging terrain and limited summer range in the area. Interestingly, the agency still allows hundreds to thousands of cows to graze in the habitat area. Read our roundup report here.

READ MORE

Thanks for reading. And thank you for continuing to stand up for our cherished wild horses and burros!

— AWHC Team

September 5 2023

Yesterday was National Wildlife Day.

Kyle Davidson Wild Horse and Burro 2023 American Wild Horse Campaign, AWHC, BLM, roundups, wild horses 0

The following is from the American Wild Horse Campaign:

Yesterday, Americans across the country closed out the summer by spending time with their families and friends in celebration of Labor Day. But, did you know that yesterday was also National Wildlife Day?

National Wildlife Day is a holiday to honor the wildlife living among us. That’s why we’re celebrating America’s wild horses and burros. Can you chip in to help fuel our work to keep these majestic animals free and in the wild where they belong? >>

Photo by Tandin Chapman

With the freedom of wild horses and burros under near constant threat, it’s our mission to be the voice speaking up for these majestic animals. Our dedicated team is showing up every single day in the field, in the courts, and on Capitol Hill, continuing our fight to uphold the promise to protect America’s wild horses and burros for generations to come.

But we can’t do this important work without your help. If you’re with us in the fight to protect America’s wild horses and burros, will you make a donation of any amount to fuel our work today?

CHIP IN →

Thank you for your support, and Happy Belated National Wildlife Day!

— AWHC Team

September 1 2023

Join us in commemorating World Animal Remembrance Month >>

Kyle Davidson Wild Horse and Burro 2023 American Wild Horse Campaign, Horses, wild burros, wild horses, World Animal Remembrance Month 0

The following is from the American Wild Horse Campaign:

September is World Animal Remembrance Month – a time dedicated to honoring the memory of animals who are no longer with us.

In that spirit, we here at the American Wild Horse Campaign (AWHC) would like to commemorate all of the wild horses and burros who have lost their lives or their freedom this year in the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) inhumane helicopter roundups.

To honor those mustangs and burros who are no longer with us, will you sign our pledge to continue the fight for the freedom of our nation’s wild herds?

SIGN ON

So far this year, thousands of wild horses and burros have been captured in BLM helicopter roundups and removed from their homes on the range, stripping them of their freedom, and cramming them into overcrowded holding facilities where they endure the biting cold and the searing heat with no shelter from the elements. Just this year, hundreds of mustangs have suffered severe injuries during these brutal operations, and so far 41 have tragically lost their lives, including more than a dozen young foals.

As if that’s not bad enough, our investigation team has also unveiled that since 2020, we have documented more than 1,700 wild horses and burros in kill pens, confirming hundreds were adopted through the BLM’s disastrous Adoption Incentive Program (AIP). While the AIP, which pays adopters $1,000 per adopted BLM horse or burro, is meant to give these animals a permanent home, the sad reality is that the program is being abused by individuals scheming to defraud taxpayers at the expense of these magnificent animals.

Wild horses and burros don’t deserve to endure the mistreatment and abuse they suffer thanks to the BLM’s cruel mismanagement. That’s why our mission at AWHC is to keep them in the wild where they can live safely and freely – where they belong. We fight everyday towards that goal, but we need you in this fight with us.

So in honor of World Animal Remembrance Month, can you sign on to our pledge to use your voice on behalf of all the wild horses and burros out there who can’t speak up for themselves?

SIGN ON

Thank you,

AWHC Team

August 31 2023

Expanding fertility control throughout the West

Kyle Davidson Wild Horse and Burro 2023 American Wild Horse Campaign, BLM, Cedar Mountain wild horses, wild burros, wild horses 0

The following is from the American Wild Horse Campaign:

For over a decade, the American Wild Horse Campaign (AWHC) has been a leader in the fight to uphold America’s promise to wild horses and burros by ensuring their lifelong freedom and welfare on our public lands.

Earlier this week, we told you about our groundbreaking Land Conservancy Project, an innovative new program to acquire and restore key habitat so that America’s wild herds can live free in ecological balance with other wildlife. Now, we’ve got another exciting update to share with you.

This month, we received a federal grant from the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to support the humane fertility control program that we are implementing on wild horses in Utah’s Cedar Mountain Herd Management Area (HMA)!

SHARE THE NEWS ON FACEBOOK >>

SHARE THE NEWS ON TWITTER >>

The project brings together diverse stakeholders – including the Utah BLM, the ranching permittee in the HMA, and AWHC – with the shared goals of humanely managing the Cedar Mountain horses, stewarding their habitat, and eventually eliminating helicopter roundups and removals in this area. We thank the BLM for its support of this program, which is a model for collaboration in the wild horse conservation space.

Over the last 12 years, AWHC has worked with and supported community groups conducting fertility control on local wild horse herds, and implemented the world’s largest humane management program for wild horses on Nevada’s Virginia Range. We’ve also led successful initiatives on Capitol Hill to secure dedicated funding for fertility control measures, sending a clear message from Congress to the BLM about the need for a fundamental shift in management priorities.

The Cedar Mountain program is the latest expansion of this critical work.

The Cedar Mountain wild horses are truly majestic and magical, living free according to their own rules in this ruggedly beautiful corner of Utah. The herd is brimming with color: pintos, buckskins, and roans abound. But Meredith, these mustangs have been subjected to routine helicopter roundups to keep their numbers in check. This approach has cost taxpayers tens of millions of dollars and cost thousands of the Cedar Mountain horses their families, their freedom, and, for some, their lives.

We know there is a better way to manage our cherished wild horses, and it is our hope that with the implementation of this collaborative program, the Cedar Mountain mustangs will never have to face the helicopters again.

Please help us spread the good news about this latest development! Share these posts on social media so we can raise awareness about this exciting progress in the fight to protect our cherished wild horses and burros.

SHARE THE NEWS ON FACEBOOK >>

SHARE THE NEWS ON TWITTER >>

Thank you,

AWHC Team

August 29 2023

How our Land Conservancy Project is protecting wild herds’ habitats.

Kyle Davidson Wild Horse and Burro 2023 Horses, wild burros, wild horses 0

The following is from the American Wild Horse Campaign:

The American Wild Horse Campaign (AWHC) is dedicated to preserving lifelong freedom for America’s wild horses and burros in their natural habitats. This mission drives our work every day as we advocate for their protection, lobby for better laws and policies, and take legal action when necessary to achieve change. We are fully committed to upholding our promise to these magnificent animals, ensuring they remain where they belong – in the wild.

That’s why we launched the Land Conservancy Project, an innovative new program to preserve and enhance key habitat so that America’s wild herds can live sustainably in ecological balance with other wildlife. The project is focused on three critical areas: land acquisition, habitat restoration, and humane management.

FUEL THE LAND CONSERVANCY PROJECT

Land Acquisition

Much of the public lands where wild horses and burros roam are surrounded by privately owned lands. In fact, private lands often run through the federally-managed areas that wild horses call home, creating what is called checkerboard lands. This can sometimes give rise to conflicts between landowners and wildlife, including wild horses and burros. That’s why land acquisition is a vital component of AWHC’s Land Conservancy Project.

Photo taken on new AWHC land by John T. Humphrey

We believe the acquisition of key private lands in these areas presents a major opportunity to not only secure and improve habitat, but also reduce conflicts between horses and humans. By doing so, we aim to establish AWHC as a trusted partner in the stewardship of wild herds and their habitats.

To this end, AWHC recently acquired 3,300+ acres of prime habitat in Nevada’s beautiful Carson Valley to serve as a pilot program for our Land Conservancy Project! Through this pilot, we aim to set the conservation standard for wild horse and burro protection by preserving and restoring habitat and developing partnerships with the federal government and local governments to further land and wildlife conservation goals.

FUEL THE LAND CONSERVANCY PROJECT

Habitat Restoration

According to the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) own range data, much of the land it manages is in degraded condition due to extractive uses, such as historic overgrazing of livestock. These activities, along with fire and drought, have depleted habitats for all wildlife, including protected species like wild horses and burros.

AWHC has a strong track record of addressing habitat challenges. In the Greater Reno Area, for example, we are currently working with local governments, developers, and businesses to improve habitat, preserve wildlife corridors, build water sources, and manage traffic safety hazards.

Our Land Conservancy Project aims to build on this strong record by working to restore meadows, protect creeks and springheads to provide life-sustaining access to water, and reseed areas with native grasses to ensure that wild horses and other wildlife have the resources they need to thrive.

FUEL THE LAND CONSERVANCY PROJECT

Humane Management

For over a decade, AWHC has been a leader in the fight to reform federal management of wild horses and burros by advocating for a shift away from cruel helicopter removals towards humane fertility control like PZP vaccine programs. Through our PZP program on Nevada’s Virginia Range, the largest program of its kind anywhere in the world, we’ve proven that there IS a better way to manage our wild herds.

The acquisition of private land in and around critical federal wild horse and burro habitat will enable AWHC to support the expansion of fertility control programs – thus reducing the need for the inhumane roundup, removal, and warehousing of these majestic animals for life in dangerous, overcrowded off-range holding facilities – or worse.

FUEL THE LAND CONSERVANCY PROJECT

AWHC is proud to have embarked on this exciting project. If you’d like to help us support this program and expand it to other areas of the West, please consider making a donation today. Your generosity will help ensure we have the resources we need to make this innovative initiative a success.

As always, thank you for standing with our wild herds.

AWHC Team

August 26 2023

FWD: The two mares we rescued in Oklahoma made it home!

Kyle Davidson Wild Horse and Burro 2023 American Wild Horse Campaign, equine welfare, Equine Welfare News, Horses, wild burros, wild horses 0

The following is from the American Wild Horse Campaign:

We are thrilled to share an exciting update with you about the two mares we rescued from an Oklahoma kill pen and who recently arrived at For The Love of Aria sanctuary in Colorado. They’ve been named! The beautiful bay mare is now called Meli and the stunning buckskin is named Catori.

Photo by WilsonAxpe

However, we also have some unfortunate news to share. Due to our tireless efforts in funding numerous rescues of wild horses and burros, our Rescue Fund is almost completely depleted for the year. To make matters worse, we didn’t hit our $25,000 fundraising goal that we previously shared with you. Can you chip in right away to help us close the financial gap? >>

This is an incredibly crucial time for us. As Bureau of Land Management (BLM) helicopters descend upon more herds across the western states, more wild horses are at risk of entering the slaughter pipeline thanks to the BLM’s Adoption Incentive Program (AIP). We urgently need your assistance in replenishing our Rescue Fund to ensure that we can help save as many wild horses and burros as possible.

If you are able, can you chip in to help support our on-going efforts rescuing wild horses and burros from kill pens?

REBUILD OUR RESCUE FUND →

Your generosity, alongside other passionate wild horse advocates, has already made an immense impact. We are grateful to everyone who has supported our critical work.

We would like to share just a few of the incredible accomplishments we have achieved, thanks to your support.

We saved a young, pregnant mare named Amelia from a notorious Midwest kill pen, and she has since given birth to a healthy baby girl in the sanctuary!

Photo by WilsonAxpe

Additionally, we helped rescue an elderly blind burro from a California auction, provided essential medical care, and helped fund his transport to a burro sanctuary, where he found a safe forever home.

And, of course, we funded and supported the rescue of Meli and Catori, the two beautiful mares who now reside at For the Love of Aria.

These are just a few examples of the hundreds of wild horses and burros we’ve been able to help over the years, thanks to individuals like you, Meredith. None of this would have been possible without your support. With our Rescue Fund nearly depleted, we are relying on you to help us continue this critical work of saving wild horses and burros.

So please, can you chip in to help us continue our rescue work to save wild horses and burros from slaughter? With roundups scheduled in several states, your support is more important now than ever before.

REBUILD OUR RESCUE FUND →

Thank you for stepping up and being part of our mission.

– AWHC Team

August 25 2023

This Week’s eNews: Read Our Latest Update On the Deadly Roundups in Nevada >>

Kyle Davidson Wild Horse and Burro 2023 American Wild Horse Campaign, BLM, Oregon’s Herd Management Areas, wild burros, wild horses 0

The following is from the American Wild Horse Campaign:

We’ve got a lot to share with you in this week’s edition of eNews, including an action you can take to protect wild horses and burros on Capitol Hill, and our latest updates from the concluded roundups in Nevada and Oregon.

Read on to learn more!

Pass the SAFE Act, Stop Horse Slaughter

Each year, tens of thousands of American horses — both wild and domestic — are brutally slaughtered in Canada and Mexico for human consumption in foreign countries. These horses suffer long journeys without adequate food, water, or rest to slaughter plants where they are sent to meet a horrific and terrifying end.

Please take one moment to urge your members of Congress to cosponsor the Save America’s Forgotten Equines (SAFE) Act (H.R. 3475/S. 2307) to permanently ban the slaughter of equines for human consumption and to ban the export of equines to foreign countries for slaughter.

TAKE ACTION

Deadly Wild Horse Roundups in Nevada End

This week, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) announced the conclusion of two controversial large-scale capture operations in eastern Nevada, which sadly resulted in the tragic deaths of 39 federally-protected wild horses and the removal of more than 3,000. Read our press release here.

READ MORE

Oregon Roundups Conclude

The roundps of the wild horses from three of Oregon’s Herd Management Areas (HMA) have officially concluded. More than 190 mustangs in Palomino Butte lost their freedom, 63 were removed from their habitat from Stinkingwater, and 38 mustangs were captured from Hog Creek. AWHC’s observer was on the ground to bring you the latest. Read our summary report here.

READ MORE

Thanks for reading. And thank you for continuing to stand up for our cherished wild horses and burros!

— AWHC Team

August 24 2023

How this brave band of wild horses defied the odds and outsmarted the helicopters

Kyle Davidson Wild Horse and Burro 2023 American Wild Horse Campaign, BLM, Horses, wild burros, wild horses 0

The following is from the American Wild Horse Campaign:

We understand hearing about the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) helicopter roundups and seeing photos of the mistreatment our wild herds face can be emotionally taxing. So today, we’d like to tell you a story of resilience, bravery, and determination displayed by a courageous band of wild horses who defied the odds and outsmarted the helicopters.

Photo by Nenah Demunster for AWHC

Last week, AWHC deployed humane observers to document the BLM’s roundup in Oregon’s Palomino Butte Herd Management Area (HMA). The agency had planned to capture 225 wild horses and permanently remove 200 of these majestic animals from their homes. By the conclusion of the operation, the BLM rounded up 192 wild horses, and none were returned to the range. But during the roundup, one of our observers witnessed a captivating scene.

Amidst the chaos of the roundup, she spotted a band of six horses who were running in the opposite direction of the BLM helicopter that was chasing them. As the pilot engaged and attempted to push them towards the trap site, the horses abruptly turned around. It was not a matter of fatigue or unwillingness to move, but rather a display of an uncanny understanding of the danger they were in and a wilful determination to stay wild. In fact, they boldly challenged the helicopter, even attempting to push through it on several occasions!

Rather than sprinting, the horses employed an artful strategy to conserve their energy during the sweltering summer heat. They would intermittently halt, execute sharp turns, and break away in any direction except towards the trap. This intense standoff persisted for a grueling 30 minutes, but for the time being, the pilot would not give up.

The helicopter began maneuvering the horses closer to the trape site by flying low, urging them forward. For at least five minutes, the pilot hovered closely above them, creating a whirlwind of dust that obscured our observer’s view.

Photo by Nenah Demunster for AWHC

For a moment, it appeared that the pilot was on the verge of victory. But in a final move of clever defiance, the horses swiftly turned around away from the trap site. The pilot finally withdrew and began to search for horses elsewhere in the HMA, conceding defeat to this brave band of wild horses, while the victorious mustangs took to the hills in triumph.

Meredith, stories like these are a reminder of the strength, intellect, and perseverance of these incredible wild beings. But perhaps more importantly, they are a reminder of the deep rooted desire for freedom and family present in every wild horse. That is why we’re fighting every day to end cruel helicopter roundups and keep our wild herds in the wild – where they belong.

From deploying observers to the remote corners of the West where these roundups take place, to expanding our digital and TV ad campaigns to raise awareness about the plight of wild horses, your support is vital to ensuring we can keep up this fight. If you can, will you make a contribution today and help us continue this critical work to preserve the freedom and wellbeing of America’s wild horses?

DONATE NOW →

Thank you.

American Wild Horse Campaign

August 18 2023

Have you thought about your legacy?

Kyle Davidson Wild Horse and Burro 2023 American Wild Horse Campaign, Horses, wild burros, wild horses 0

The following is from the American Wild Horse Campaign:

Allow me to introduce myself – I am Melissa, Deputy Director of the American Wild Horse Campaign. You might recognize my journey with AWHC through the story of my rescued Onaqui mustangs, Stargazer and Nora. As you may know, August is National Make-A-Will Month, a reminder of the enduring influence we can leave for the causes we care about through estate planning.

Planned gifts like Wills and Trusts are some of the best ways to help the charities you support long after your lifetime. By including a Legacy Gift to AWHC, you can become a lasting part of our work to realize transformative change and lifelong freedom for America’s wild horses and burros.

Your support can power our strategic efforts in conservation, legislation, litigation, and advocacy, that are so critical to securing the future for these cherished animals on our western public lands.

Please learn more about making a Legacy Gift here:

MAKE A LEGACY GIFT

As you contemplate your future planning, I encourage you to consider weaving the noble cause of protecting wild horses and burros into the fabric of your legacy. By doing so, you can ensure that your impact continues through time, creating a lasting benefit for these majestic animals for generations to come.

With heartfelt appreciation,

– Melissa

P.S. Interested in other ways to give? Check out all the ways you can help wild horses!

August 15 2023

The two mares we rescued in Oklahoma made it home!

Kyle Davidson Wild Horse and Burro 2023 American Wild Horse Campaign, wild burros, wild horses 0

The following is from the American Wild Horse Campaign:

It’s been an incredibly busy summer for rescues, and we want to share an update on one of our most recent successes!

A few months ago, we received word of two mares in a notorious Oklahoma kill pen who were days away from being shipped across the border to slaughter. We knew we couldn’t turn our backs on these innocent girls, so we leapt into action and contacted RJF Equine, who rushed to the kill pen and picked them up for quarantine.

Unsurprisingly, these two mares were victims of the Bureau of Land Management’s Adoption Incentive Program (AIP) and were sent into the slaughter pipeline once their adopters had received the federal incentive payout.

They were traumatized and needed some time to decompress and heal before moving to their new home, but we’re happy to announce that, this month, they’ve arrived safely at For the Love of Aria, a beautiful equine sanctuary in Colorado! Photographer Scott Wilson was on site to document their homecoming, take a look!

Photos: Scott Wilson, WilsonAxpe Photography

From outbidding the kill-buyers at the slaughter auction to paying for the mares’ transport, medical expenses, and more — every action our rescue team took to save these two beauties was made possible by the folks who helped build up our Rescue Fund this spring. But our efforts this summer have drained the Rescue Fund’s balance to zero, and there are so many more wild horses and burros who are in danger of being shipped to slaughter. Can you pitch in to help us rebuild the Rescue Fund? Donated funds will be made available to our team immediately!

REBUILD OUR RESCUE FUND →

These direct rescues are one of the most important aspects of our mission to protect wild horses and burros. Not only are we able to save the lives of these forgotten equines, but our rescue work is critical to our investigation into the devastating consequences of the AIP. That’s why we’re aiming to raise $25K by the end of today to fully replenish the Rescue Fund so we can continue this vital work. Whether you have $5, $50 or $500 to pitch in — every single dollar donated today will help us save another wild horse or burro from being sold for slaughter this summer.

REBUILD OUR RESCUE FUND →

Friend, it’s impossible to look away when you see the preventable suffering that we witness at these kill pens. We’re so grateful to you, our supporters, for empowering us to take action.

From the bottom of our hearts, thank you.

— AWHC Team

August 11 2023

Time’s running out: Speak up for the McCullough Peaks wild horses!

Kyle Davidson Wild Horse and Burro 2023 American Wild Horse Campaign, BLM, wild horses, Wyoming’s McCullough Peaks Herd Management Area 0

The following is from the American Wild Horse Campaign:

We wanted to make sure you didn’t miss our last email asking for you to take action on behalf of the wild horses who call Wyoming’s McCullough Peaks Herd Management Area (HMA) home.

Friday is the last day to submit public comments to the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). It is essential that every advocate voices their opposition to the BLM’s proposal, which would drastically reduce the population of this historic herd to unsustainable levels.

We need everyone to speak out against this disastrous plan before the deadline. If you haven’t already, please submit a public comment to the BLM against this proposal and help us protect the McCullough Peaks wild horses!

TAKE ACTION

August 10 2023

America’s wild herds are in crisis

Kyle Davidson Wild Horse and Burro 2023 American Wild Horse Campaign, BLM, Horses, wild burros, wild herds, wild horses 0

The following is from the American Wild Horse Campaign:

August 6 2023

Latest eNews: Proposed ban on helicopter roundups, a wild horse photography workshop & more

Kyle Davidson Wild Horse and Burro 2023 American Wild Horse Campaign, BLM, Equine Welfare News, Horses, wild burros, wild horses 0

The following is from the American Wild Horse Campaign:

We’ve got a lot to share with you in this week’s edition of eNews, including an action you can take to protect our wild horses and burros on Capitol Hill, an invitation to join an exciting wild horse photography workshop, and a special highlight of our Utah Conservation Manager, Tandin Chapman!

Read on to learn more!

Stop the Helicopters: Contact Your Representative Now

The roundups only began a month ago and yet, they have already resulted in thousands of mustangs being removed from public lands and dozens of deaths. But we have the power to change this. Congress Members Dina Titus (D-NV), David Schweikert (R-AZ) and Steve Cohen have introduced the Wild Horses and Burros Protect Act (H.R. 3656) to ban the use of helicopters in wild horse management! Please contact your member of Congress right now and urge them to support this critical piece of legislation.

ACT NOW

A Dream Come True: Wild Horse Photography Workshop, October 2023

Immerse yourself in the beauty of nature as you capture stunning photographs of over 200 wild mustangs and burros running free on a picturesque landscape of long valleys, rolling hills, and gray pines at Montgomery Creek Ranch (MCR) in Elk Creek, California. Guided by MCR Founder, Ellie Phipps Price, and led by renowned photographer, Tara Arrowood, this three-day workshop promises to be an unforgettable experience. Space is limited, reserve your spot TODAY!

LEARN MORE

Spotlight: Tandin and the Cedar Mountain Herd

Photo by Tandin Chapman

Tandin Chapman was working as a civil engineer in Salt Lake City when he got the bug. It was October 2020, and he had just seen wild horses for the very first time: a band of mustangs from the Onaqui Mountain Herd in the west desert of Utah. Now, Tandin is AWHC’s Utah Conservation Manager, documenting and darting herds, progressing conservation efforts across the state, and working with the BLM, other field specialists, ranchers and private landowners in wild horse areas. Learn more about his work, and the incredible experience of tracking one of the West’s most elusive wild horse herds.

READ MORE

Thanks for reading. And thank you for continuing to stand up for our cherished wild horses and burros!

— AWHC Team

August 4 2023

Our North Dakota billboards are BACK! Help us keep up the pressure!

Kyle Davidson Wild Horse and Burro 2023 American Wild Horse Campaign, Equine Welfare News, Horses, wild horses 0

The following is from the American Wild Horse Campaign:

The fate of the only wild horse herd left in North Dakota is in jeopardy. The Theodore Roosevelt National Park is home to a historic herd of 180 wild horses who are believed to be descendants of Sitting Bull’s horses and are related to the rare Nokota breed – but the National Park Service (NPS) has made clear that they want to eliminate the entire herd.

This plan is unacceptable, Meredith. These horses are integral to the scenery, native wildlife, and wilderness qualities of the park – the landscape that inspired President Theodore Roosevelt himself.

That’s why we recently launched new billboards to raise awareness about the herd and to pressure park officials to abandon this disastrous plan before it’s finalized. The NPS is feeling the heat, but we can’t let up. We need to ensure these billboards stay up as long as possible. Can you help keep our billboards live by rushing a contribution today?

KEEP OUR BILLBOARDS LIVE →

We know this herd already has the support of North Dakotans, including Senator Hoeven, Governor Burgum, the state legislature, and local media. And thankfully, national attention has been brought to this critical issue, with bipartisan support in the US Senate Committee on Appropriations urging the NPS to preserve this historic herd.

Your support enabled us to get these billboards up and running. Now, we need your help to ensure we keep them live so that we can keep the pressure up as long as possible. Please rush a donation of whatever you can afford today and help us to continue fighting to save the Teddy Roosevelt wild horses!

KEEP OUR BILLBOARDS LIVE →

Thank you,

AWHC Team

July 31 2023

Our deadline is just hours away – and we’re falling short

Kyle Davidson Wild Horse and Burro 2023 American Wild Horse Campaign, BLM, equines, Horses, wild burros, wild horses 0

The following is from the American Wild Horse Campaign:

Our deadline to hit our $50,000 Observation Fund goal is TONIGHT at MIDNIGHT. And right now, we’re falling short. Please make a contribution of whatever you can afford now to help us reach our goal. >>

RUSH A DONATION →

Documenting the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) helicopter roundups is critical to not only shining a light on the true consequences of these operations, but also to holding the BLM accountable for the mistreatment of our beloved wild horses and burros. To that end, we’ve assembled and trained a team of photographers and videographers to cover nearly every helicopter capture operation conducted by the federal government this year.

In the past few weeks alone, the dual roundups in Nevada’s Antelope Complex have led to the traumatic deaths of over 26 wild horses, including nearly a dozen young foals. By documenting these tragedies, we’re able to show Congress, the press, and the public exactly what happens during these inhumane helicopter roundups and why we need to change the way the BLM manages our wild herds.

This is essential work. Without the photos and videos from our observers, the public would be in the dark about the dangers that wild horses and burros face during helicopter roundups. In fact, AWHC representatives are oftentimes the ONLY ones on site to document the animal welfare violations taking place.

We’re only about half of the way to our $50,000 Observation Fund goal right now, so we’ve got a lot of ground to cover if we’re going to make it before the deadline. Please, if you can, make a donation and power our observation efforts this roundup season – every dollar helps us continue this vital work.

POWER OUR WORK →

The evidence of cruelty we’re publicizing is changing hearts and minds, including in Congress. Both the U.S. House and Senate Committees on Appropriations just included bipartisan language in this year’s budget bills directing millions of dollars towards humane fertility control efforts for wild horses and, for the first time ever, the House Committee urged BLM to consider alternatives to helicopters. Our roundup observation program has never been more important.

But the truth is, it’s grueling work. Our observers go out in the field in all kinds of weather, and watching these beautiful wild animals lose their freedom and families, and sometimes their lives, day in and day out is emotionally draining. It’s also expensive to get our observers out to these remote areas, keep them equipped and in the field with 4-wheel drive vehicles, and provide them with places to stay after long days.

Roundups are set to commence in several more states in the coming weeks. Please help us hit our $50,000 Observation Fund goal by midnight tonight to ensure we can continue this vital work to hold the BLM accountable as we get into the thick of the 2023 roundup season. >>

DONATE NOW →

Thank you. Your passion for helping save America’s wild horses and burros is helping us make a difference.

The AWHC Team

July 30 2023

URGENT: Helicopter roundups are set to begin in several more states over the next two months

Kyle Davidson Wild Horse and Burro 2023 American Wild Horse Campaign, BLM, wild burros, wild horses 0

The following is from the American Wild Horse Campaign:

Over the past month, Bureau of Land Management (BLM) helicopters have descended on Nevada’s mustangs as the agency captures 3,000 of the Antelope Complex wild horses in its largest planned roundup of the year. So far, this operation has claimed the lives of 21 wild horses, including young foals.

As the summer months continue on, so do the roundups. The BLM is gearing up to begin its removal operations in several other states over the next two months – putting thousands more of these innocent animals in grave danger.

The BLM is preparing to round up nearly 400 wild horses from Oregon’s Palomino Butte, Stinkingwater, and Hog Creek Herd Management Areas (HMAs) starting in August. And in September, the agency will begin removing over a thousand wild horses and burros in Idaho, Colorado, and California.

Documenting the cruelty wild horses and burros suffer during these operations is an essential part of our work to hold the BLM accountable. That’s why we’ve set a $50,000 goal to refuel our Observation Fund and ensure we can deploy our humane observers to every roundup possible. Will you make a contribution to help us reach our goal before the deadline tomorrow night so we can continue documenting the mistreatment of wild horses and burros this roundup season?

DONATE NOW

Getting our observers out to these remote areas where roundups are conducted (and keeping them there) isn’t easy. The average cost to cover their food, lodgings, and to equip them with four-wheel-drive vehicles is approximately $2,500 for just one week at a roundup.

This work requires a lot of time, effort, and resources, but it’s vital to ensuring the public knows exactly what is happening to these iconic wild horses and burros during brutal helicopter roundups. For example, tragic footage captured by one of our observers of the wild stallion who broke his leg trying to escape a BLM trap site helped bring national news coverage to the horrific incident.

Make no mistake, our roundup documentation is making a difference. As heartbreaking as they are, images like this help bolster our argument on Capitol Hill that more humane methods must be implemented to manage wild horses and burros. Just recently, in part thanks to evidence collected by our observers, members of Congress have included language in the U.S. House Committee on Appropriations Interior budget bill urging the BLM to consider alternatives to helicopter roundups for the first time ever!

Your support is what makes this critical work possible. So please, chip in whatever you can afford to help us reach our $50k Observation Fund goal and help us continue to hold the BLM accountable by documenting the often tragic reality of wild horse and burro roundups.

DONATE NOW

Thank you,

American Wild Horse Campaign

July 27 2023

On this week’s eNews: Read the latest updates about the ongoing Antelope Complex roundups

Kyle Davidson Wild Horse and Burro 2023 equine welfare, Equine Welfare News, Horses, wild burros, wild horses 0

The following is from the American Wild Horse Campaign:

We’ve got a lot to share with you in this week’s edition of eNews, including the latest updates about the roundups in Nevada’s Antelope Complex, some good news for our wild horses and burros on Capitol Hill, and an invitation to join an exciting webinar on wild horse care hosted by a specialist from Freedom Reigns Equine Sanctuary.

Read on to learn more!

U.S. House Committee Takes Steps to Improve Federal Management of Wild Horses

Last weekend, the U.S. House Committee on Appropriations advanced bipartisan language in its Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies funding bill and its accompanying report. This language continues to call for protecting wild horses and burros from slaughter, and includes key reforms to the Bureau of Land Management (BLM)’s Wild Horse and Burro Program. These reforms include scaling up humane and proven safe fertility control and – for the first time ever – urging the agency to consider alternatives to helicopters and manned fixed-wing aircraft. Click here to learn more!

READ MORE

Stay Up-to-Date on Roundups

AWHC has humane observers in the field at the on-going roundup operations in Nevada that are targeting 3,000 wild horses for removal. While the roundup in the south portion of the complex has concluded, the operation is still ongoing in the north. Stay up to date on the latest by checking out our daily reports.

READ ABOUT ANTELOPE SOUTH

Webinar: Wild Horse Care for the Horse Professional

The American Wild Horse Campaign is proud to be a co-sponsor of the Homes for Horses coalition, dedicated to increasing collaboration, professionalism, and growth in the equine rescue and protection community. Carrie Echezarreta, Equine Manager at Freedom Reigns Equine Sanctuary will discuss how she cares for such a large herd and what makes mustangs so different! If you are interested in mustang care or equine sanctuaries, don’t miss this free webinar tomorrow, July 28th at 2 PM ET.

REGISTER NOW

July 25 2023

Uncovering the AIP’s horrifying slaughter pipeline

Kyle Davidson Wild Horse and Burro 2023 American Wild Horse Campaign, AWHC, mustangs, roundups, slaughter, wild burros, wild horses 0

The following is from the American Wild Horse Campaign:

Two years ago, our groundbreaking investigation into the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) Adoption Incentive Program (AIP) and the slaughter pipeline it created inspired an explosive exposé on the front page of the New York Times.

The report revealed that this federal cash incentive program was sending “truckloads” of federally protected wild horses and burros into the slaughter pipeline. The piece sparked massive public outrage and encouraged dozens of members of Congress to speak out calling for the suspension of the disastrous program.

Had it not been for the tireless efforts of our Investigations Team, it’s possible that the reality of this failed program would have never been brought to light. If you’re able, please consider making a contribution to continue powering our Investigation Team’s critical work.

DONATE NOW

In response, the BLM “reformed” the AIP, but the changes it implemented failed to address the key problem: paying people $1,000 to adopt a wild, unhandled horse or burro. As a result, untamed horses and burros have continued to flood slaughter auctions across the country, overwhelming the rescue groups trying to save them.

Our updated findings reveal that nearly 1,600 wild horses and burros have been found in kill pens since the start of the program – 63% of which AWHC has been able to identify by BLM brand number. Of these identified animals, we’ve confirmed that more than 50% were adopted through the AIP. (That percentage will continue to climb as we receive additional BLM records under the Freedom of Information Act).

Most troubling: groups of related individuals have been conspiring to defraud taxpayers of thousands of dollars by adopting multiple rounds of AIP animals and then sending them to kill pens once the cash incentives clear their bank accounts. In some cases, these nefarious adopters go back just days after being awarded a title to adopt their next round of animals.

Using our investigative findings, we are working through litigation and lobbying to bring an end to this program that has placed so many innocent wild horses and burros at risk of brutal slaughter for human consumption overseas.

Enough is enough. The AIP slaughter pipeline MUST end. The lives of thousands of wild horses and burros are at stake. Please make a donation today and power the work of our Investigations Team to help us end the AIP’s cash incentives and put a stop to this disastrous program once and for all.

DONATE NOW

Thank you,

Amelia Perrin
Investigations Manager
American Wild Horse Campaign

July 25 2023