550+ wild horses removed from public lands in Wyoming [contains photos from the scene]
The following is from the American Wild Horse Campaign:
As we speak, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is forcibly reducing the population of wild horses in Wyoming’s Fifteenmile Herd Management Area (HMA) by 86% through a helicopter stampede.
So far, they’ve removed 558 wild horses from the area — With the goal of capturing nearly 700 wild horses before the end of the month.
Those wild horses don’t have a voice, so we have to use ours — we have to take action to defend them. Every donation helps us keep the public informed about these cruel roundups and allows us to advocate for the tens of thousands of wild horses and burros across the West.
This week, our observer was in Wyoming’s Fifteenmile HMA, where the BLM is currently rounding up the entirety of the wild horse population there from our public lands. At least 8 horses have died in the week since the roundup began, including:
- One horse succumbed to a neck injury during the helicopter stampede while two others were euthanized;
- Another died as a result of a strike to the head by another wild horse on the way to the trap;
- One mare had a major cut and was taken to Rock Springs for treatment;
- Despite BLM reports that wild horses are “starving” to justify these roundups, the wild horses being removed are in good body condition and sound health.
After the BLM breaks apart their families, only 100 wild horses will be returned to the area, threatening the long term survival of the herd itself.
This is not an isolated incident, either. If Congress authorizes the new BLM ten-year plan, we will witness roundups of this scale all throughout the West — Putting wild horses and burros squarely on the path to extinction.
Thank you for your continued support — We’ll keep you updated.
Sincerely,
The AWHC Team