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American Wild Horse Campaign

Help us set the stage for our biggest moment of the year

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The following is from the American Wild Horse Campaign:

Our most important fundraising day of the year is just three weeks away.

This year, Giving Tuesday is December 3.

We’ve challenged our team to raise $50,000 by November 21 to kick off a successful season of giving and inspire generous, essential donor matches that will help us achieve our advocacy goals for 2025. Can you chip in today to help us set the stage for Giving Tuesday and power our work to protect wild horses and burros?

GIVE NOW

There’s a lot at stake. As we look ahead at a new fiscal year with a new administration and Congress directing federal agencies, our efforts are more important than ever. The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) wild horse and burro roundup and stockpile system is near its breaking point with over 66,000 animals currently languishing in federal holding facilities.

In fact, as we write this, two devastating federal helicopter roundups are underway in Nevada and California targeting nearly 3,000 wild horses. Chased by helicopters over rugged terrain, these horses will endure high-stress conditions, risking injury, exhaustion, and separation from their families. Ten horses have already died. 

Yet these disturbing realities do not change the BLM’s plans to round up thousands more horses and burros in Fiscal Year (FY) 2025. 

Every day, our team continues to expose federal cruelties and hold the BLM accountable. Will you help power our fight to keep wild horses and burros wild?

GIVE NOW

Thank you,

American Wild Horse Conservation

Public Comments Needed for Nevada Wild Horses!

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The following is from the American Wild Horse Campaign:

Over 7,500 wild horses from Nevada’s Antelope and Triple B Complexes need your help! Right now, the Bureau of Land Management is accepting public comments on a Herd Management Area Plan (HMAP) for these two complexes and the wild horses who call this area home.

As part of this, the BLM wants to reduce the number of horses to the unscientific Appropriate Management Level (AML) of 899-1,678 animals across the complexes. But at the same time, the BLM allows significant livestock grazing year-round on the public lands in these complexes.

TAKE ACTION

These horses are an important part of Nevada’s desert landscape, especially the Antelope wild horses who possess unique genetic traits. It’s essential to conserve these iconic animals on our public lands. Speak up now for Nevada’s wild horses!

When evaluating this HMAP the BLM Must:

  • Reevaluate the land conditions, including the impact of livestock on the range, before any removal decision is made.
  • Include new conservation methods that transparently address primary degradation factors, and promote balanced ecosystems and sustainable land use across public rangelands.
  • Prioritize fertility control over roundups, aligning with legal directives, science-based strategies, and fiscal responsibility for effective wild horse management.
  • Abandon the use of gelding as a population management strategy.
  • Prioritize bait trap removals over cruel, costly helicopter roundups if roundups are necessary.
  • Undergo updated genetic testing to ensure genetic viability for all herds who call these complexes home.
TAKE ACTION

Submitting public comments is one of our more influential ways to shape policy, ensure government transparency, prevent decisions that favor private industry interests, and show public support for humane conservation for our beloved wild horses and burros. Take action now to speak up for these beloved wild horse herds!

Thank you for your advocacy for our wild ones,

Team AWHC

Fulfilling America’s promise to our wild herds

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The following is from the American Wild Horse Campaign:

Fifty-two years ago, with the passage of the historic Wild and Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act of 1971, Congress made a promise to the wild horses and burros who roam the West: the right to live free on the lands they call home, protected from capture, branding, harassment, and death.

Sadly, five decades later, it is abundantly clear that the federal government has failed to live up to this promise.

Right now, the federal agency tasked with managing wild horses and burros, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), spends millions of your hard-earned tax dollars to brutally round up thousands of mustangs and burros using helicopters. These roundups are inhumane and often cause injuries such as broken legs or necks, and in the worst cases, deaths. Those who survive are pushed into overburdened holding facilities where over 66,000 of these iconic animals are currently languishing in captivity.

We know it doesn’t have to be this way. That’s why American Wild Horse Conservation, the nation’s leading wild horse and burro conservation organization, exists. Our mission is to uphold the promise we made to our wild herds in 1971, and thanks to the support of a growing herd of advocates, we’ve made vital strides toward our goal.

POWER OUR WORK

In the field, we’re setting the standard for wild horse and burro conservation. In 2023, we acquired over 3,300 acres of prime habitat in Nevada’s beautiful Carson Valley to launch our Land Conservancy Project. This pilot program is dedicated to preserving critical habitat for mustangs and burros while advancing land conservation initiatives for wild horse areas. This year, we’ve built on these efforts by securing vital water and grazing rights, enhancing water sources, and helping to restore fire-impacted areas. 

This year also marked the five year anniversary of our historic humane fertility control program on Nevada’s Virginia Range. This scientifically proven conservation approach is key to our efforts in keeping wild horses free on the range while responsibly managing herd numbers. That’s why we were proud to see reversible fertility control programs succeeding in other herds this year, such as the locally managed Pine Nut Mountains program in Northern Nevada, as well as Utah’s Cedar Mountains where AWHC administered fertility control to wild mares in a remote population who were previously considered untreatable.

SUPPORT OUR CONSERVATION EFFORTS

In addition to our work in the field, this year AWHC has been at the forefront of advancing legislation at the federal and state levels to reform wild horse and burro management while also pursuing litigation to enforce protection laws.

Seventy-eight members of the U.S. House of Representatives and 15 Senators supported our request for appropriations legislation to reform the BLM’s Wild Horse and Burro Program. As a result of this work, the House included dedicated funding for fertility control programs, and both chambers reaffirmed protections against slaughter. On the state level, we’re continuing to build coalitions in key states where wild horses and burros reside, such as in Colorado, where AWHC supported the formation of the Wild Horse Working Group, which aims to develop collaborative solutions for humane wild horse management.

In the courts, we’re continuing to stand up for our wild herds on multiple fronts. In Wyoming, after a 12-year court battle against the BLM, we filed a lawsuit to stop the agency from eliminating 2 million acres of habitat that would result in the eradication of two iconic wild horse herds in the state. We’re now continuing that court case through the appellate process. And in Arizona, we partnered with local allies to protect the horses who roam the Tonto National Forest.

POWER OUR WORK

Your support is making a difference for wild horses and burros. We can’t do this vital work without you. Please chip in whatever you can afford today to help us continue our mission to fulfill America’s promise to our precious wild herds.

Thank you,

American Wild Horse Conservation

It’s time to unite and fight for our nation’s wild horses and burros

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The following is from the American Wild Horse Campaign:

Many Americans gathered on Tuesday evening to watch as election results rolled in. While not all results are final, it’s clear that America’s landscape has shifted, presenting both opportunities and challenges for the wild horses and burros we’re committed to protecting.

Every new administration and Congress brings fresh opportunities for change, but it can also bring new risks, such as reopening the door to the slaughter of these cherished animals. 

The reality is that no administration since President Richard Nixon signed the Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act in 1971 has truly championed wild horses and burros. Yet, public support for their protection remains one of the few causes that unites Americans across the political spectrum. Time and again, polls show that the vast majority of people—Democrats and Republicans alike—want to preserve these animals as part of our Western heritage and natural landscape.

Despite the political shifts over the years, we are encouraged by the enduring support for humane solutions to protect wild horses. Now it’s up to us to ensure this bipartisan support is reflected in Congress with champions on both sides of the aisle.

We knew no matter who won, the fight ahead would require renewed focus, resilience, and unity. At American Wild Horse Conservation, we stand ready and committed to do just that. Our mission is to rally new allies around science-backed, humane, and fiscally responsible management solutions that reflect the treatment Americans expect for federally protected animals.

Grassroots supporters—people like you—are the foundation of AWHC. Together, we’ve built the largest grassroots base in the history of this issue. Now, we must grow even stronger to ensure our voices are heard in Washington, D.C. We’re the last line of defense between wild horses and the threat of mass destruction or slaughter, and we are a force for change that cannot be ignored.

Thank you for standing with us. With your commitment, we’re ready to roll up our sleeves and defend the wild spirit of the West. This is our moment to unite, mobilize, and continue the fight for the protections that wild horses and burros so rightly deserve

Stay Wild,

 

Suzanne Roy 

Executive Director

American Wild Horse Conservation

This week’s eNews: A Daring Nighttime Rescue

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The following is from the American Wild Horse Campaign:

Our team has been hard at work advocating for wild horses in the field, on the Hill, and everywhere in between. Keep reading to discover the highlights from the last few weeks and learn how you can take action!

Wild Horse Conference at Tahoe Reno Industrial Center Aims to Educate Workforce About Wild Horse Safety

We recently held a conference at the Tahoe-Reno Industrial Center to raise awareness about wild horse management and educate the local businesses. The event aimed to inform employees about local wild horse populations, addressing the need for humane treatment and peaceful coexistence as industrial development expands. The conference is part of a broader initiative to foster understanding and responsible stewardship of Nevada’s iconic wild horses. Read more about the conference!

READ MORE

Western Watersheds Project Calls Foul on New Study Scapegoating Wild Horses

A recent University of Wyoming study on sage grouse scapegoated wild horses, while completely ignoring the impacts of cattle on this protected bird’s habitat. Erik Molvar, executive director of Western Watersheds Project, recently raised concerns about the “extreme level of scientific bias” exposed by this study in a recent opinion piece. Read on to learn more!

READ MORE

A Daring Nighttime Rescue

At 6:30 Wednesday evening, a call came into the Wild Horse Hotline that a horse was stuck in a cattle guard near the Flanagan Herd Area (HA), which is just south of the Twin Peaks Herd Management Area (HMA). AWHC’s Deana and Tracy Wilson, both assistant supervisors for LRTC’s Technical Large Animal Rescue, responded with the team. Though the Large Animal Rescue complete team was two hours out, Bureau of Land Management (BLM) personnel were a minimum of three hours out. The team worked for well over an hour, with the assistance of the Pyramid Lake Fire Rescue/EMS and their Hurst Tool power spreader, to free this stallion. He was exhausted and suffered some lacerations, but after giving him time to rest on solid ground he was able to get to his feet. He is undoubtedly one very sore, but a very lucky horse! Watch the rescue here.

WATCH THE RESCUE

Wild horses endangered in Nevada and California

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The following is from the American Wild Horse Campaign:

November is here, but unfortunately the sun has not set on the threat to America’s wild horses and burros across the west. Right now, two devastating federal helicopter roundups are underway. The first is unfolding in Nevada’s Triple B Complex and the other on California’s Devil’s Garden Plateau. Hundreds of horses have already lost their freedom, and more are at risk each day. Your urgent support is needed to stand against these operations and protect the freedom of these iconic animals.

CHIP IN TO END HELICOPTER ROUNDUPS

Triple B Complex Roundup in Nevada
Over the weekend, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) launched a sweeping roundup in Nevada’s Triple B Complex, targeting 2,255 horses. Chased by helicopters over rugged terrain, these horses will endure high-stress conditions, risking injury, exhaustion, and separation from their families. One horse has already died in the first two days of the roundup. 

Devil’s Garden Roundup in California
On October 28, the USDA Forest Service began its own roundup on the 258,000-acre Devil’s Garden Plateau Wild Horse Territory in California. This operation is driven by an outdated and unscientific population limit, which was set more than 10 years and does not reflect the current ecological conditions of the Territory. American Wild Horse Conservation, alongside the Environmental Protection Information Center, has filed a legal objection over this flawed management plan that endangers the future of this cherished herd. As of October 30, helicopters had already rounded up 49 horses and foals in an ongoing campaign to capture 500 animals, stripping Devil’s Garden of its natural diversity and wild spirit.

CHIP IN TO END HELICOPTER ROUNDUPS


Photos of Devil’s Garden Plateau Roundup by Steve Paige

This situation is urgent.

Every horse captured and forced from the range into holding corrals is another life stolen from the wild. We need your help to amplify our voice on Capitol Hill, challenge unscientific policies, and fight for a sustainable future where wild horses can live as nature intended. Please join us in donating now to help end cruel, costly helicopter roundups funded by our taxes.

CHIP IN TO END HELICOPTER ROUNDUPS

Together, we can push back against these destructive practices. With your support, we can continue to fight for humane, science-based conservation policies that protect wild herds and preserve their rightful place on public lands.

Our wild horses are counting on us. Let’s make sure we don’t let them down.

With determination and gratitude,

American Wild Horse Conservation

Magic, Mystery, Majesty ✨

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The following is from the American Wild Horse Campaign:

Halloween is here. Out in the wild, the night is alive with mystery under the light of the moon.


Photo: JT Humphrey

As we celebrate the spookiest day of the year, we remember our wild horses and burros — their silhouettes drifting across the range. They are some of America’s oldest legends.

They roam through the desert hills like shadows — a reminder that, like any true ghost story, they are a piece of our shared heritage: mysterious, powerful, and deserving of their freedom.

It’s no wonder they’ve earned a reputation as some of the most spirited creatures out there!


Photo: Ghost pinto on the range by an AWHC volunteer documenter

So, on this Halloween night, let us honor the wild, untamed, and enduring spirits of America’s wild herds. Here’s to the magic, mystery, and majesty they bring to our lives in the daytime and by the light of the moon.


Photo: Kimerlee Curyl Photography

Happy Halloween from all of us at American Wild Horse Conservation!

Forever wild,

Team AWHC

Three Things to Know About PZP

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The following is from the American Wild Horse Campaign:

We’ve almost made it to the end of October!

Let’s talk about PZP, scientifically known as the Porcine Zona Pellucida vaccine, a proven-safe and effective fertility control tool for managing wild herds. PZP is the humane, in-the-wild conservation alternative to cruel, costly federal helicopter roundups. Even better? One dose of PZP costs only about $30.

Will you help us celebrate the 30th of October with a gift of $30 to cover the cost to keep one wild mare and her family in the wild where they belong?

DONATE $30 NOW

As an advocate for our wild herds, here are three important facts you should know about this game-changing conservation method:

  1. PZP is safe. The PZP vaccine has a 90-95% efficacy rate without disrupting mares’ natural hormonal cycles — keeping them wild and free on the range, where they belong. Plus, the PZP vaccine can be administered through darts, eliminating the justification for brutal roundup operations.
  2. PZP is cost-effective. A lifetime of fertility control using PZP for a mare costs about $1,350 — compared to the staggering $48,000 it costs to keep one horse in government holding for life.
  3. We’re proving it every day. Since 2019, our program in Nevada’s Virginia Range has seen a 72% decline in foal births, stabilizing this population in areas where development is encroaching on the mustang’s habitat. It’s the largest fertility control program in the world for wild horses, supported by a community-based effort involving local and state partners.

Together, we can keep wild horses and burros wild. 

By donating $30 today, you can help cover the cost of one PZP dose, directly contributing to the long-term solution for keeping wild horses safe, free, and wild. This October 30, make a difference for America’s wild horses by supporting a humane, lasting solution.

Thank you for standing with us in defense of these iconic animals.

DONATE $30 NOW

-Team AWHC

The fiscal cost of freedom lost

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The following is from the American Wild Horse Campaign:

I first spoke at a Bureau of Land Management (BLM) meeting in 2009. In the 14 years since, I’ve continued to advocate for our wild horses and burros. And I’ve seen it year after year, the BLM spends hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars on costly and cruel helicopter roundups.

Here at AWHC, we know we can protect our wild horses and burros in the wild where they belong without the use of helicopters. Not only that, but we’re proving that it can be done through our boots-on-the-ground programs. By giving today, you’re advancing our efforts to reform the BLM’s program and to promote science-backed humane conservation solutions.

DONATE NOW

The moral cost goes without saying. But the financial numbers for Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 are truly staggering. Here are some figures you should know:

$154.8 Million

That’s how much taxpayers paid in FY2024 for the BLM’s Wild Horse and Burro Program. This represents an increase of nearly $7 million from last year. If our government were putting that budget toward in-the-wild conservation and upholding federal protections for wild horses and burros, this may not be cause for concern. However…

$6,000,000+

That is the amount paid out to roundup contractors this fiscal year. This includes contractors caught on camera violating the BLM’s own animal welfare standards.

70% of the budget spent on off-range holding

This year, more than two-thirds of the program’s budget was spent on covering the cost of off-range holding facilities, where currently over 66,000 wild horses and burros languish and are at risk of entering the slaughter pipeline thanks to the BLM’s disastrous Adoption Incentive Program (AIP).

DONATE NOW

These rising costs only increase as the program continues to prioritize holding animals in captivity, rather than supporting humane, effective in-the-wild conservation initiatives.

But that’s not all. Now, the BLM’s 2025 budget request has ballooned to $170.9 million — including an additional request for $15 million to fund a permanent sterilization program.

The reality is that these expenditures come at a high cost to taxpayers and wild horses alike. Imagine what a $170 million budget would accomplish if it were directed toward scientific, sustainable conservation approaches that keep wild herds in the wild, where they belong.

We need your support to advocate for a humane, fiscally responsible approach to wild horse conservation. Together, we can make a difference.

Standing up for horses and American taxpayers,

Amelia Perrin
American Wild Horse Conservation

Fighting to Protect California’s Devil’s Garden Wild Horses

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The following is from the American Wild Horse Campaign:

On Friday, we shared an update on our decades-long court battle to save the wild horses roaming Wyoming’s Checkerboard. But our fight to preserve the freedom of America’s wild herds stretches far beyond Wyoming—it’s also unfolding in California’s Devil’s Garden Wild Horse Territory (DGPWHT), where our legal team recently filed an objection to a flawed management plan that endangers the future of this cherished herd.

The protest challenges the USDA Forest Service’s Wild Horse Territory Plan, which continues outdated population limits for Devil’s Garden that are placing unnecessary constraints on this wild horse herd. Thanks to previous litigation filed by AWHC, the territory has expanded, yet the Forest Service has failed to adjust population limits to account for the increase in land, forage, and water resources. That’s why we’ve taken action, alongside the Environmental Protection Information Center (EPIC), to demand fair treatment for these majestic animals. If you can, please chip in to help us power this critical effort.

POWER OUR LEGAL FUND

The Forest Service continues to rely on an outdated 2013 population limit – or Appropriate Management Level (AML) – that restricts the number of horses allowed in the territory. This AML hasn’t been updated to reflect the expanded habitat size. Additionally, the Forest Service plans to restrict access to this new land to “incidental” use by just 40 horses, and only during the months when privately-owned cattle aren’t grazing on this public land.

More space, water, and forage should allow more horses to live wild and free without harm to the ecosystem!  Wild horses deserve access to all the public lands within the Wild Horse Territory, which is legally designated as their habitat. 

We believe that the Forest Service’s failure to raise the AML is both illogical and unlawful. We’re fighting to ensure these plans accurately reflect the expanded habitat we worked hard to secure. This means recalculating the AML to align with the territory’s increased resources and improving the alternatives analysis to consider sustainable population increases for the wild herds.

Failing to make these adjustments is not just irresponsible—it violates the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and the Administrative Procedure Act (APA). Without our legal action, these outdated policies will restrict the horses’ population and continue to expose them to dangerous helicopter roundups and a life in confinement.

Your support is critical to helping us keep the Devil’s Garden wild horses free on the lands they have a right to call home. We will carefully evaluate the Forest Service’s answer to our protest and pursue all viable legal paths as needed.

With you by our side, we can continue to fight for the Devil’s Garden wild horses and work to protect these animals for generations to come. Will you chip in today to help us power this fight?

POWER OUR LEGAL FUND

Thank you for being part of this crucial effort. Together, we can ensure that California’s wild horses remain free and protected, where they belong.

With gratitude,

American Wild Horse Conservation

How we’re taking action for Wyoming’s wild herds in the courtroom

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The following is from the American Wild Horse Campaign:

Our wild herds are safest in the wild, where they can roam freely in their natural habitats with their families. But the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) inhumane policies are slashing wild horse and burro populations to dangerously low levels, depriving these iconic animals of their right to live freely on western public lands.

That’s why we’re working every day to end brutal helicopter roundups and keep wild horses and burros out of overburdened holding facilities. Today, we’d like to share an update on the critical legal work we’re undertaking in Wyoming to protect our wild herds. But first – if you’re able, please chip in to help us power our Legal Fund — and read on to learn about our efforts to defend wild horses  in Wyoming. >>

POWER OUR LEGAL FUND

For over a decade, we’ve been fighting in federal court to prevent the BLM from eliminating 2.1 million acres of federally designated habitat for wild horses in the state and slashing the state’s wild horse population by one third, including entirely eradicating the Salt Wells Creek and Great Divide Basin populations.

At issue is the BLM’s decision to eliminate wild horses from the 2-million acre Wyoming Checkerboard area at the demand of the Rock Springs Grazing Association. This decision sets a terrible precedent, essentially handing over our public lands to private interests and allowing private landowners to dictate the presence of wild horses on public lands.

In July, our 12-year legal battle culminated when our lawyers traveled to Wyoming to argue against this dangerous plan in court. Unfortunately, the lower court issued a decision in August that approved the BLM’s plan.

Given the political landscape in Wyoming, we anticipated that this case would likely be resolved by the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals. With so much at stake for Wyoming’s wild horses and herds across the West, we moved swiftly to appeal. Just days after the lower court decision, our coalition of wild horse advocates, and animal welfare and conservation groups filed our notice of appeal. And just last week, we submitted our opening brief. 

This opening brief is a crucial step in the appeals process, laying out our arguments as to why the BLM’s actions clearly violate the Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act and why the lower court’s decision is flawed. Our attorney, Bill Eubanks of Eubanks and Associates, has crafted a powerful case, and since we have previously succeeded on similar issues before this appellate court, we believe we have a strong chance of winning.

But this fight won’t be easy or quick. Because this case is so critical to the future of wild horses in the West, we’re asking for your support through a donation to our Legal Fund. Will you help today? We can’t do this vital work without your support.

POWER OUR LEGAL FUND

Thank you,

American Wild Horse Conservation

Empowering our partners on the ground to save lives

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The following is from the American Wild Horse Campaign:

When wild horses and burros are in need, every moment is vital. Here at American Wild Horse Conservation (AWHC), we created the Rescue Fund to empower local rescue organizations with the tools and support they need to save lives. But we can’t do this work without you.

POWER OUR RESCUE FUND

Our Rescue Fund goes beyond funding emergency rescues. It provides capacity-building grants to give rescue partners the resources they need to care for wild horses and burros over the long term. These grants have funded everything from medical equipment to daily necessities – making it possible for rescue organizations to grow, respond faster, and provide better care.

With your help, we’ve supported the purchase of:

  • A squeeze chute for safe veterinary care, essential for treating wild horses and burros.
  • A flatbed truck to deliver hay and supplies to animals in remote sanctuaries.
  • An ATV to help manage large paddocks where the animals roam.
  • A 4×4 vehicle for critical rescue operations.


Flatbed truck purchased thanks to an AWHC rescue grant 
Photo by WilsonAxpe PhotoAdvocacy

These grants provide more than just equipment – they pave the way for brighter futures. With more resources and support, our rescue partners can provide life-saving care, offer sanctuary, and help these magnificent animals heal and thrive.

But we can’t continue this important work without your support. Your donation today will directly support the AWHC Rescue Fund, allowing us to provide more support to the rescue organizations working tirelessly on the frontlines to save wild horses and burros in need. Will you chip in whatever you can afford to help power our Rescue Fund today?

POWER OUR RESCUE FUND

Thank you,

Team AWHC

The federal government’s wild horse and burro holding system is at the brink >>

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The following is from the American Wild Horse Campaign:

Right now, over 66,000 wild horses and burros are held in captivity by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) – and the agency recently announced it plans to round up 11,000 more next year. Rush a donation now and help us fight back to keep these innocent animals in the wild where they belong!

This is the heartbreaking reality for over 66,000 of our nation’s formerly free-roaming wild horses and burros.

Tens of thousands of innocent animals are crammed into corrals, oftentimes with no shade or room to run, vulnerable to deadly disease outbreaks, and in danger of being funneled into the slaughter pipeline via the BLM’s disastrous Adoption Incentive Program (AIP) – all on the taxpayers’ dime every year.

We know it doesn’t have to be like this. Through our fertility control program on Nevada’s Virginia Range, we’ve been proving for over five years that there IS a better way to manage our nation’s wild horses and burros — one that keeps them out of these overburdened facilities and in the wild where they’re meant to be.

But, over 16,000 mustangs and burros were captured in Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 alone. Now, with our wild horse and burro holding system already at the brink, the agency is planning to round up another 11,000 in FY 2025 – placing the lives of so many of these innocent animals in jeopardy. 

Whether it’s in the field, in the courts, or on Capitol Hill, we’re committed to continuing the fight for the freedom of our wild herds. Will you make a contribution today to support our efforts to keep wild horses and burros in the wild where they belong?

DONATE

Thank you,

American Wild Horse Conservation

Humane fertility control is the way forward for our wild herds

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The following is from the American Wild Horse Campaign:

American Wild Horse Conservation (AWHC) is fighting to build a better future for our nation’s wild horses and burros – one where they can roam free on the public lands they call home, protected from cruelty and inhumane treatment.

A central piece of this mission is proving that there is a better way to manage wild horse and burro populations than through brutal federal helicopter roundups that break apart families and put these iconic animals in danger of suffering gruesome, oftentimes fatal, injuries.

That better way is through humane Porcine Zona Pellucida (PZP) fertility control programs, like our model program in Nevada.

POWER OUR PZP PROGRAM! >>

PZP is a scientifically-proven fertility control vaccine given to female horses on the range via remote darting. It’s administered in a two shot process — the first is a primer, which is then followed by a booster after two weeks. The vaccine prevents fertilization and pregnancy via an immune response that does not affect the horse’s hormonal system.

AWHC is proud to run the world’s largest humane fertility control program for wild horses on Nevada’s Virginia Range. In fact, the Virginia Range program has been so successful that it was the basis for a peer-reviewed scientific paper, published in the journal Vaccines, which affirmed the feasibility of fertility control programs in large wild horse populations who live on expansive habitats!

These successes are only possible because of the continued support of people like you. Will you make a donation today to help us continue our PZP program and power further research to protect wild horses and burros?

POWER OUR PZP PROGRAM! >>

The Virginia Range mustangs lack federal protection and their habitat is being encroached on by development in the greater Reno area, so protecting them in the wild is essential for their survival.

With the success of our PZP program, which has led to a 60% reduction in the herd’s foaling rate, we’re proving that PZP works and that it is safer and more cost-effective than deadly helicopter stampedes and capture operations.

Your support will help us continue to provide the cold, hard, scientific evidence that lends legitimacy to our calls for more humane management of our wild horses and burros. Please chip in today to continue powering this lifesaving program!

POWER OUR PZP PROGRAM! >>

Thank you,

American Wild Horse Conservation

Help us demand government accountability

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The following is from the American Wild Horse Campaign:

Just this past week, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) wrapped up another brutal helicopter roundup targeting the wild horses, including many young foals, who call the Twin Peaks Herd Management Area along the California-Nevada border home. More than 900 animals were captured and removed, and four tragically died.

As with nearly every federal roundup, American Wild Horse Conservation (AWHC) observers were on the ground with the goal of documenting the cruel reality these equines face in real time, but here’s the unbelievable truth: The public observation is often abysmal.

The trap site, where wild horses and burros are driven at the end of a helicopter chase, is the most dangerous part of a roundup. It’s here where severe injury and even death are most likely to occur.

Despite public observation of a government operation being guaranteed under the First Amendment, AWHC observers are frequently positioned up to two miles away from those trap sites — so far they can’t see them at all. Even with the most powerful camera lenses, observers can see and document only a small fraction of the dangerous moments unfolding during a roundup.

Is that what transparency looks like?

These pictures were taken by roundup observer Darlene Smith when she was deployed to the Sulphur roundup in Utah.



Photos by Darlene Smith at the Sulphur roundup in summer 2024.

Our observation teams are doing their best to document what’s happening to these iconic animals, but there’s only one way to guarantee no BLM atrocity goes unrecorded: Cameras on helicopters.

Will you join us in calling on the BLM to mandate cameras on all helicopters used for government roundups?

BLM roundups already take place in some of the most remote regions of the West — outside the public eye. Limitations on observation only further shroud the BLM’s irresponsible, unscientific management practices from the American people.

BLM roundups targeted more than 16,000 wild horses and burros last fiscal year— and more than 200 have died. These numbers include thousands of foals born mere months or weeks before being senselessly chased down and locked up, often separate from their mothers. AWHC is fighting every day to end costly, inhumane helicopter roundups. But until we can stop them for good, we need to ensure that we hold the BLM accountable for the cruelty wild horses and burros face during these tax-funded operations.

We are calling on the BLM to require camera installations on all helicopters used for federally sanctioned roundup operations. Will you join us and help ensure the BLM is held accountable for violations committed during dangerous helicopter roundups?

Thank you for your continued support of American wild horses and burros.

Onward,

American Wild Horse Conservation

Turning conversations into action for our wild herds

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The following is from the American Wild Horse Campaign:

Yesterday, we told you about the productive meetings our team had with lawmakers in Washington D.C. to make sure the voices of wild horse and burro advocates were heard loud and clear. The response was encouraging, but we all know this is just one step in the journey to create real change.

Now, we’re ready to turn those conversations into action by advocating for key pieces of legislation that could transform the future of these incredible animals. And we need your help to keep the momentum going strong! Here’s a quick look at some of the bills we’re supporting. But first, will you chip in to support our government relations work?

POWER OUR GOVERNMENT RELATIONS WORK

1. Wild Horse and Burro Protection Act of 2023-2024
This bill aims to end the inhumane use of helicopters in wild horse roundups – a practice that causes tremendous stress and injury to these innocent animals. Thanks to our grassroots supporters, over 20,000 letters have already been sent to Congress urging them to back this essential legislation. We need to keep the pressure on to ensure this bill becomes law!

2. Save America’s Forgotten Equines (SAFE) Act
Each year, tens of thousands of American horses are brutally slaughtered for human consumption in Canada and Mexico, and the meat is then exported to foreign countries. That’s why we’re advocating for the SAFE Act, which would permanently ban horse slaughter plants from operating in the U.S and prevent the shipment of these innocent animals to slaughter plants across the border.

3. Ejiao Act
This bill focuses on protecting the global donkey population from the brutal practice of slaughter for the production of ejiao, a gelatin used in traditional Eastern medicine, by outlawing the sale or transportation of ejiao in the U.S.  The United States is the third-largest importer of ejiao, with $12,000,000 in annual imports each year. That means passing this legislation would have a huge impact on the fight to end the international donkey skin trade.

Our progress in Washington is only possible because of dedicated supporters like you. But to see these bills passed, we have to keep our foot on the gas pedal. Can you chip in to help power our government relations work so we can pass lifesaving reform for our wild herds?

POWER OUR GOVERNMENT RELATIONS WORK

Thank you,

Team AWHC

This week’s eNews: a recap of our annual Stay Wild event, an update from our nation’s capital, and more!

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The following is from the American Wild Horse Campaign:

What a month it’s been for American Wild Horse Conservation (AWHC)! From our unforgettable annual Stay Wild event in sunny Los Angeles to participating in the Homes for Horses Coalition Conference, our team has been hard at work fighting for wild horses. Keep reading to discover the highlights from these inspiring events and learn how you can take action against the cruel and costly practice of helicopter roundups!

An Unforgettable Evening In LA


Photo by Jessica Mangia

Our annual Stay Wild event took place in sunny Los Angeles this year, bringing together wild horse lovers for a truly unforgettable celebration. The event featured music, inspirational speeches, and beautiful art, all in honor of our shared love for wild horses and the community that stands united in their protection. Be sure to check out the photos and learn more about our 2024 Freedom Award recipient, Jenni Kayne.

Read More

AWHC Attends the Homes for Horses Conference

Last month, AWHC team members Amelia Perrin and Fernando Guerra spoke at the Homes for Horses Coalition Conference in Washington, D.C. They also met with members of Congress to discuss humane conservation solutions for wild horses. A highlight was meeting with Rep. Juan Ciscomani, who showed up wearing his Stay Wild hat! A strong advocate, he has pushed for reforms to the BLM’s Wild Horse and Burro Program. Click here to watch AWHC’s presentations!

WATCH

Speak Up Against the Use of Helicopters

Tomorrow, the United States Forest Service will host a virtual public hearing on the use of helicopters in wild horse roundups in the Modoc and Inyo National Forests. This is a crucial opportunity to speak up against the harmful practice of helicopter roundups. Take action and make your voice heard here!

TAKE ACTION

Thank you for reading and taking action, Meredith.

Team AWHC

The devastation doesn’t end once the helicopters are grounded

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The following is from the American Wild Horse Campaign:

Across the West, our nation’s iconic wild horses and burros are rounded up at an alarming rate. These helicopter chases cause deep trauma – and the impacts on survivors left behind on the range can be devastating.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) claims that roundups are necessary to maintain healthy wild horse and burro populations, but the facts don’t support this. Beyond the immediate suffering that mustangs and burros face during helicopter roundups, these operations actually threaten the long-term viability of America’s wild horse and burro herds.


Photo by Tandin Chapman

Family bands – critical social structures for wild horses – are torn apart by roundups as new generations are stripped from the wild, separating them from their families and weakening essential bonds for survival. Older, experienced horses are often removed, and with them, the wisdom needed to thrive in the wild is lost. Additionally, the BLM often sets the Appropriate Management Level (AML) of wild horse and burro herds below the standards recommended by equine geneticists to maintain herd genetic viability in the long term.

The fact of the matter is that roundups are not an effective way to maintain healthy populations of wild horses and burros. Here at American Wild Horse Conservation (AWHC), we’re fighting for more humane and effective alternatives to roundups, such as PZP fertility control, which keeps horses and burros safe and in the wild where they belong.

Our wild horses and burros deserve better, Meredith. Will you help us continue fighting for a better way forward for America’s wild herds, such as through humane fertility control, by chipping in today?

DONATE

Thank you,

American Wild Horse Conservation

USFS virtual public hearing on the use of helicopters in roundups

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The following is from the American Wild Horse Campaign:

On October 10th, 2024, from 3:30-4:30 PM PST, the United States Forest Service (USFS) is holding a virtual public hearing on the use of helicopters in wild horse roundups in the Modoc and Inyo National Forests. This is a crucial opportunity to speak up for a more humane way of managing our wild horses and burros.

Take Action

On October 10th, 2024, from 3:30-4:30 PM PST, the United States Forest Service (USFS) is holding a virtual public hearing on the use of helicopters in wild horse roundups in the Modoc and Inyo National Forests. This is a crucial opportunity to speak up for a more humane way of managing our wild horses and burros. If you agree, can you attend this meeting and give public comment?

Read the Talking Points

If you can’t attend, you can still make your voice heard by sending a letter to the USFS urging them to adopt more humane management practices.

Thank you for your advocacy,

Team AWHC

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