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.
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?
World Animal Day is an annual international day of action to promote animal rights and welfare. While people around the world are standing up for animals of all kinds, we’re calling special attention to the plight of America’s wild horses and burros, who need our help now more than ever.
Wild horses and burros hold an iconic place in American history, but tragically, their future is uncertain. Year after year, federal agencies like the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) have removed tens of thousands of mustangs and burros from Western public lands by way of cruel and dangerous helicopter roundups.
Stripped of their freedom, they are then crammed into overcrowded government holding facilities where they often spend years confined away from all they hold dear; their family and their freedom. Worse, many are at risk of ending up in the slaughter pipeline through the BLM’s disastrous Adoption Incentive Program (AIP), which has funneled thousands of horses and burros into kill pens.
These roundups not only result in severe injuries and even deaths, but they also destroy family bands and disrupt the delicate ecosystems of the Western rangelands that wild horses and burros call home. It’s a crisis that we simply cannot ignore, Meredith.
That’s why, on this important day for animal welfare advocacy, we’re asking for your help to protect these beloved beings. American Wild Horse Conservation is fighting in the field, in the courtroom, and on Capitol Hill to end these inhumane roundups and ensure wild horses and burros can remain free on our public lands where they belong. But we can’t do it without you.
Yesterday, we told you about some of the great work we’ve been doing to educate Americans about the dangers facing wild horses and burros. Thanks to our Awareness Fund, we’re bringing the issue of wild horse conservation to the forefront – and we’re translating this awareness into direct action for our wild herds.
We mobilized our supporters to call for an end to the Adoption Incentive Program (AIP)’s disastrous cash incentives, which are funneling wild horses and burros to slaughter, leading to over 10,000 letter submissions;
We spearheaded a campaign resulting in over 50,000 total letter submissions calling on the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to install cameras on helicopters used for roundups;
We called on our advocates to help end the donkey skin trade in the US by asking their representatives to cosponsor the Ejiao Act, resulting in over 31,000 total letters in support of this important bill;
We led a Day of Action in honor of National Horse Protection Day that mobilized our grassroots community in support of Rep. Dina Titus’ Wild Horse and Burro Protection Act of 2023, which would BAN cruel and costly helicopter roundups. This day led to over 20,000 letter submissions.
This is how we make change.
Every action you take – whether it’s sending a letter, signing a petition, or sharing the story of our wild horses and burros with others – helps push us closer to the day when these magnificent animals are free from the threats of roundups, slaughter, and government mistreatment. And the more people we bring into our herd of advocates, the louder our voice will be.
That’s why it’s critical that we power our Awareness Fund to ensure that even more people learn about the plight of wild horses and burros and join us in the fight to protect them. We’ve seen the impact that awareness can have – and with over 11,000 wild horses and burros at risk of roundups next year, we need to keep pushing.
By supporting our Awareness Fund, you’re helping us reach millions of people with powerful campaigns, news stories, and actions that directly influence policy and public opinion. Every dollar fuels outreach efforts that create real change, and we simply cannot afford to slow down.
Together, we’re showing the world that America’s wild horses and burros deserve to remain free, wild, and protected on our public lands. Thank you for standing with us and for all you do to support this cause.
In recent years, the plight of wild horses and burros has become more prominent in the public’s eye. This is, in part, thanks to our recent awareness efforts. American Wild Horse Conservation (AWHC) is the nation’s leading organization in the fight to keep wild horses and burros wild, so it’s our job to educate the public and build the grassroots army necessary to rise up and advocate for these iconic animals.
If we’ve learned one thing as an organization, it’s that once people learn about the suffering of wild horses and burros, they are upset, frustrated, and ready to take action to protect them. That’s why over the past several years, we have greatly ramped up our awareness efforts to inform Americans about this important issue.
This year alone, we’ve placed over a dozen impactful stories in the media highlighting the dangers wild horses and burros face, including government mismanagement, the inhumane use of helicopters for roundups, the Adoption Incentive Program (AIP) slaughter pipeline—which is threatening the lives of hundreds of wild horses and burros—and more:
And last winter, we made one of our biggest media moves ever. We launched a billboard in Times Square from Thanksgiving to New Years Eve – New York’s peak tourism season with an average of five million visitors!
This work wouldn’t be possible without the generosity of folks like you. Your contributions enable us to continue shining a light on what’s happening to our wild herds, and with over 11,000 wild horses and burros in danger of roundups next year, it’s critical that we continue to push the issue of wild horse and burro conservation into the forefront. Can you make a contribution to power our Awareness Fund today and help us continue this important work?
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) recently released its proposed Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 roundup and removal schedule.
This proposed plan calls for the roundup of over 11,000 wild horses and burros, permanently removing over 10,000 from their homes and placing them in overburdened federal holding facilities.
Currently, there are already over 62,000 wild horses and burros held in federal holding, while the BLM estimates that there are approximately 73,520 horses and burros left on public lands in the West. That means the BLM’s FY25 proposed roundup schedule could potentially result in more wild horses and burros being kept in federal holding facilities than there are in the wild.
To make matters worse, the agency is planning to continue the use of helicopters for the majority of these roundups – operations that often cause severe injuries, and can even result in the deaths of these iconic animals. That’s why American Wild Horse Conservation (AWHC) is planning to send observers into the field to document every roundup possible to hold the BLM accountable for its actions and to educate the public on what’s happening to our wild horses and burros.
Our observation efforts are critical to shining a light on the true reality that wild horses and burros face at the hands of the BLM. The evidence they collect helps us establish an irrefutable pattern of cruelty to prove to members of Congress, the media, and the public that change is desperately needed.
Look, we know this news may be hard to hear, but we can’t let this discourage us. This issue is a marathon, not a sprint. It took two decades for Wild Horse Annie to ensure the passage of the Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act of 1971. The work we do every day is paving the way for the change these majestic animals desperately need.
Our wild herds are counting on us to continue the fight, which is why we mustn’t stop advocating for them. Together, we can and will achieve a future where wild horses and burros are safe from government mismanagement once and for all.
Last month, Representative Dina Titus, a strong champion of wild horse and burro conservation in Congress, wrote a powerful op-ed in the Las Vegas Sun:
In this piece, she highlighted the disturbing cruelty of the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) roundups and urged immediate action to end the use of helicopters in these operations.
Rep. Titus felt moved to speak out after a recent incident captured on video by one of our humane observers sparked public outrage. During a roundup in Nevada’s Blue Wing Complex, a contractor, hired by BLM, repeatedly kicked and punched a collapsed wild horse after an exhausting helicopter chase.
Sadly, this is not an isolated case. This summer, over 90 wild horses and burros tragically died during these brutal roundups. But the suffering doesn’t end when the helicopters are grounded — those who survive face a lifetime in crowded holding pens where disease and abuse are rampant.
This is why Rep. Titus introduced the Wild Horse and Burro Protection Act of 2023 — a critical piece of legislation that would ban the use of helicopters in federal wild horse roundups. Along with banning the use of helicopters, the BLM must shift resources toward humane, proven alternatives like fertility control. With dedicated volunteers, fertility control programs like the one we run in Rep.Titus’ home state, Nevada, are already demonstrating how effective and cost-efficient these conservation solutions can be.
But we need your help to ensure this vital legislation passes. Elected officials need to hear from their constituents. The more voices that speak up, the harder it is for them to ignore the urgent need for change.
Just this week, the BLM wrapped up a roundup in the Little Book Cliffs Herd Management Area in northwest Colorado, which aimed to reduce the herd size by 57%. This goal was based on an unscientific appropriate management level (AML) of 90-150 horses. Based on the data reported so far, here’s what we know about this operation:
A total of 140 animals were captured and removed, including 21 foals. This roundup also resulted in three unnecessary deaths.
Photo of Little Book Cliffs Roundup by WilsonAxpe PhotoAdvocacy
The Little Book Cliffs roundup is yet another stark reminder of the ongoing battle to protect our wild horses and burros. The BLM’s mismanagement continues to raise serious ethical concerns, and we cannot remain silent while these animals are subjected to such treatment.
The cruel and costly BLM roundup is expected to cost American taxpayers up to $154 million and this summer has targeted more than 10,000 wild horses on the public lands in Wyoming, Nevada, Utah, California, Oregon, Arizona and, now, Colorado.
It doesn’t have to be this way.
Our work at the American Wild Horse Conservation proves there are more humane, cost-effective ways to manage our wild horses — especially in Colorado where the state is poised to help support and expand existing fertility control programs.
Thank you for being an ally in our ongoing fight to protect America’s iconic wild herds from eradication. Together, we can stop inhumane helicopter roundups and fight for in-the-wild conservation for our cherished wild horses and burros.
September is World Animal Remembrance Month – a time dedicated to honoring the memory of animals who are no longer with us.
In that spirit, our team here at American Wild Horse Conservation (AWHC) would like to commemorate all of the wild horses and burros who have lost their lives or their freedom this year as a result of the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) cruel and inhumane helicopter roundups.
So far this year, thousands of wild horses and burros have been captured through BLM helicopter roundups, stripped of their freedom, and crammed into overcrowded holding pens where they’re in danger of abuse and deadly diseases. Hundreds have suffered severe injuries during these brutal operations, and over 90 have tragically lost their lives, including young foals.
As if that’s not bad enough, our investigation team has also uncovered that since 2020, more than 2,100 wild horses and burros have been found in kill pens, over 600 of whom 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 precious 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 every day towards that goal, but we need you in this fight with us, Meredith.
Last month, we asked you to speak up for the Montgomery Pass wild horses (also known as the Mono Lake horses). And thanks to your advocacy, we generated nearly 5,000 letters demanding that The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and the United States Forest Service (USFS) implement humane, scientifically led conservation solutions instead of cruelly rounding this historic herd.
This inhumane plan calls for multiple roundups in order to remove all horses who currently reside outside of the Territory, as well as to achieve the unscientific Appropriate Management Level (AML) of 138 to 230 animals. This AML was set in 1988 and has not been re-evaluated in the 36 years since.
When evaluating the final proposed action in this Environmental Assessment, the agencies failed to consider:
Relocating the horses: According to binding USFS regulations, the agency must consider relocating the removed wild horses. In this case, the USFS should relocate the Montgomery Pass horses inside the Territory and address the ecological conditions that are causing them to leave their designated habitat. If that is not possible, they should evaluate other USFS lands where the horses could be relocated.
Reevaluating the AML: The BLM and USFS should conduct a thorough reassessment of the AML using new and updated scientific data to ensure it reflects the current ecological reality.
Implementing Fertility Control: Utilize humane, scientifically studied, and reversible fertility control initiatives to humanely manage the population of the herd, without resorting to removals.
The impact of Livestock Grazing: Assess and acknowledge the detrimental impacts of livestock grazing on the Territory and incorporate this understanding into all management decisions.
Protecting predators: A 25-year study on mountain lion predation shows this herd has been managed successfully by predation. This study provides invaluable insights into natural population control mechanisms and should be considered for re-establishing natural predation to manage the herd’s population.
Every time the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) conducts a roundup, we get to work filing FOIA requests to shine a light on what’s really happening to wild horses and burros after they have been ripped from their habitats. The BLM often reports low death rates during these operations, but our investigations have uncovered a more grim reality.
For example, in 2022, the BLM rounded up 1,022 wild horses and burros from Nevada’s Blue Wing Complex. The government reported 14 deaths associated with that roundup. But, our investigation revealed an additional 63 animals perished in the months following the operation — including 31 burros who likely died of a condition typically brought on by extreme stress.
These heartbreaking deaths would have remained hidden if not for the records we obtained through our FOIA efforts. The worst part: This is not an isolated incident. We are on a mission to continue pursuing transparency and holding the BLM accountable. At any given time, our team is following up on dozens of active FOIA requests, many of which are subjected to a series of unnecessary delays. As a result, we have filed over 20 FOIA lawsuits just to access public information from our own federal government.
This work is vital to exposing the truth and pursuing meaningful change for American wild herds — especially with yet another federally funded roundup operation set to begin this month in the Twin Peaks Herd Management Area (HMA) straddling Lassen County, California, and Washoe County, Nevada. The Twin Peaks roundup will deploy helicopters intent on trapping and eradicating over 800 wild horses from their home on 758,128 acres of public land.
We can’t do this alone. Your support allows us to continue filing FOIA requests, taking legal action, and shining a light on the BLM’s failures to provide humane treatment to America’s wild herds.
Our multi-year investigation into the federal government’s Adoption Incentive Program (AIP) continues, and the most recent findings are deeply concerning. Since 2020, more than 2,100 Bureau of Land Management (BLM) horses and burros have been dumped in kill pens — a distressing outcome we cannot ignore.
The main driver behind this influx of horses and burros in slaughter auctions across the country is the AIP’s cash incentive: a $1,000 payment given to private individuals to adopt up to four unhandled, untrained wild horses or burros each year.
So far, our investigation has confirmed the following:
AWHC obtained identifying brand information for 855 of the 2,100 animals.
Of those, 603 horses and burros were originally adopted through the AIP.
ONLY 29 animals have been verified as not part of the AIP.
974 animals remain unidentifiable due to obstruction of their brands by the kill pens.
520 animals have pending Freedom of Information Act requests awaiting BLM response to confirm their AIP status.
It has been clear since the start that the AIP is nothing more than a pipeline to slaughter. Our investigative work continues to not only prove this but reveal how significant the problem really is.
More disturbing is the BLM’s lack of accountability in addressing the core issue, the cash incentives. The agency continues to wash its hands of any responsibility — all while failing to implement meaningful reforms to protect and manage American wild herds.
We cannot allow this disastrous cash incentive program to continue endangering the lives of hundreds — if not thousands — of these innocent animals.
Thank you for your support of our programs, like our investigations work. With your help, we’ve not only been able to prove the AIP has created a slaughter pipeline, but also save mustangs and burros from slaughter auctions across the country. Our investigative work hinges on the support of advocates like you.
Our wild herds are suffering. Contractors, hired by the federal government to conduct wild horse helicopter roundups, are violating the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) very own animal welfare standards. These violations endanger our iconic wild horses and burros and put them at risk of serious injury.
Since 2021, the BLM has sent Comprehensive Animal Welfare Program (CAWP) teams to assess five roundups conducted by Cattoor Livestock, one of the BLM’s longstanding roundup operators. These assessments revealed that in the five roundups assessed, Cattoor Livestock contractors violated the animal welfare standards 30 times. Over 20 of those were “major” violations, which means they impact the health or welfare of our wild equines.
One of the more concerning cases was the 2021 Antelope Complex roundup, where 11 wild horses died. Numerous violations were recorded including, separating foals from their mothers for at least six hours, and overcrowded holding pens. The BLM’s own publicly-available CAWP report from this roundup states:
“The contractor was observed to be disagreeable and argumentative at every opportunity for discussion with the COR, the contractor offered more excuses than demonstrated interest in complying with the CAWP standards.”
This is not an isolated incident. In 2022, at the Black Mountain roundup, an employee of Cattoor Livestock was documented using a paddle in an abusive manner by jabbing and striking burros in their most sensitive areas, all while visibly angry and frustrated.
And at the Piceance-East Douglas roundup in Colorado, the federal contractor company was cited for seven major violations, including failure to provide proper facilities to care for vulnerable horses, including foals, improper water trough placement, and neglecting to control dust levels that posed respiratory risks to the animals. These violations of basic animal welfare guidelines are unacceptable.
The Tassi-Gold Butte burros in Arizona’s Mojave Desert are in urgent need of your help. Right now, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and the National Park Service (NPS) are considering a proposed action that would remove every single burro from their home in the 100,000-acre Tassi-Gold Butte Herd Management Area (HMA). We can’t let this happen!
In 1998, the BLM and NPS set the Appropriate Management Level (AML) for burros in this area to zero – a decision based on unscientific information, which hasn’t been reevaluated in over 25 years. Now, they are using that decades-old AML to justify the complete removal of these historic animals from the land they call home.
The agencies claim the removal is necessary to protect the critically endangered Desert Tortoise, but research shows the real threats to the tortoise are human-caused: habitat loss, invasive grasses, and habitat fragmentation due to roads. These wild burros are being unfairly blamed, while the actual problems go unaddressed.
This week’s e-news contains an exciting announcement about American Wild Horse Conservation’s annual fundraiser, important information about the dangers of feeding wild horses, and recent media coverage about the plight of mustangs and burros, including an opinion piece by wild horse champion Representative Dina Titus (D-NV). Read on for more!
On September 19th, join AWHC and our passionate community of wild horse advocates, along with celebrity ambassadors and special guests, for an unforgettable evening celebrating the majesty of wild horses. This exciting event will feature our guest of honor, Jenni Kayne, who is our 2024 recipient of our annual Freedom Award. We’re also delighted to have special guest, DJ Brandi Cyrus and her remix of Wild Horses and WildFlowers be a part of our evening program. We’ll have an immersive art experience of documentary and fine art provided by Kimerlee Curyl, KT Merry, and Scott Wilson, with select fine art prints featured in our curated auction. All proceeds will benefit AWHC’s life saving conservation work. Don’t miss this opportunity to support our cause, and be part of a wildly fun night!
On August 25th, Representative Dina Titus (D-NV) published an opinion piece in the Las Vegas Sun. It shines a light on the cruelty faced by wild horses and burros due to Bureau of Land Management (BLM) roundups and highlights AWHC’s fertility control program in Nevada as a model for wild horse management across the West.
We are making headlines as we ramp up efforts to protect wild horses and burros across the West. Recently, AWHC’s Scott Wilson was interviewed for the Sopris Sun about the importance of fertility control in Colorado. And in Nevada, Amelia Perrin talked to KOLO TV about the wild horse abuse AWHC documented during the Blue Wing Complex roundup.
Thank you for reading this week’s edition of e-news,
Our Land Conservancy Project builds on our unmatched record of in-the-wild conservation 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. As you can see from the photo above, mustangs aren’t the only form of life flourishing on AWHC land!
When we announced our Land Conservancy Project in 2021, it was a groundbreaking new idea that we knew would be successful. Today, our main focus is ground healing.
We hope to see continued success demonstrated by thriving wild herds and flourishing wildlife of ALL kinds roaming free on the lands they call home.
Photo: John T. Humphrey
In addition to our Land Conservancy Project, 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.
Thank you for following our updates over the past few heart wrenching months of Bureau of Land Management (BLM) helicopter roundups. Your dedication to staying informed and engaged means the world to us and, more importantly, to the wild horses and burros we work every day to protect.
This year, BLM roundups have already taken a significant toll on our beloved herds. In just seven roundup operations, 89 animals have tragically lost their lives.
For the next few weeks, federal helicopter roundups have been paused. But the somber reality of what our magnificent horses and burros have lost so far weighs heavily on all of us at American Wild Horse Conservation.
Because, we know there’s a better way.
That said, your unwavering support gives us hope — hope that, together, we can continue to fight for a future where wild horses and burros roam free, unthreatened by this cruel, costly federal mismanagement.
To express our gratitude, we’ve created a special graphic that you can download and set as your mobile phone’s home screen. It’s a small but meaningful way to keep the spirit of these magnificent animals close to you — and a reminder of the impact you’re helping to make.
As we look ahead, please know that we remain committed to advocating for these animals, and we will continue to push for changes that ensure their safety and well-being. Your voice, your support, and your compassion are what make this work possible, and for that, we are profoundly grateful.
Thank you once again for standing with us. We will keep you updated in the fight that lies ahead and share ways you can remain a part of this critical mission.
With gratitude and hope,
Suzanne Roy
Executive Director
American Wild Horse Conservation
Meet Fergie, a beautiful mare who lives on Nevada’s Virginia Range. Here, the American Wild Horse Conservation (AWHC) oversees an innovative fertility control program designed to ensure her well-being and the preservation of her wild herd.
Fergie’s last foal was born in 2021. And thanks to our PZP fertility control treatments, she has been able to enjoy a well-deserved break from the demands of nursing and pregnancy. This respite has allowed her to maintain strong health and a steady weight, thriving in her stallion Will’s band of five.
The benefits of these treatments extend beyond Fergie. Her two offspring, both fillies, have also thrived without the strain of early pregnancy, giving them the time they need to grow strong and healthy. It’s stories like these that highlight the essential role of humane fertility control in ensuring a better future for our wild horse herds.
Since July 1, 2024, 6,629 wild horses and burros, many of whom are young foals, have been captured as a result of seven dangerous roundup operations conducted by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). So far, 89 deaths have been reported.
Most recently, roundups in the Sulphur, Marietta and South Steens Herd Management Areas (HMAs) have concluded. During these three roundups alone, 1,612 horses and burros were captured and 19 animals lost their lives. In the South Steens, where 9 horses died of traumatic injuries or were euthanized by the BLM, the agency actually increased its capture goal by 120 horses on the last day of the roundup.
Photo from the White Mountain roundup by Nenah Demunster
During the Blue Wing roundup 1,655 wild horses and burros were captured and a shocking 42 died. This helicopter operation was particularly gruesome as AWHC field observers documented shocking abuse during it, including capturing video footage of a collapsed horse being struck repeatedly in the head by BLM contractors. And in Wyoming’s North Lander roundup, a staggering 2,577 wild horses were captured, including 471 foals.
This has to stop. Over the course of the next month, over 1,000 more wild horses and burros are slated for removal. That means more horses and burros terrorized, more families broken apart, more life-threatening injuries, and more deaths
Not only is this cruel and unscientific system costing these animals their lives and their freedom, it’s also costing taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars each year. According to the BLM, the Wild Horse and Burro Program cost taxpayers $157.8 million in Fiscal Year 2023. For the Blue Wing Complex roundup alone, the contractor hired to conduct the brutal operation was paid $624,870.
We know there’s a better way. We’re proving just that through our successful and scientifically-backed PZP fertility control program, which only costs $30 per vaccine, and our groundbreaking Land Conservancy Project. These innovative AWHC programs show that there’s a more humane and cost-effect alternative to protect and conserve our nation’s wild horses and burros and the land they roam other than cruel and costly helicopter roundups.
We’re also fighting to hold the BLM accountable for abuses against wild horses and burros by deploying our humane observers to every single planned helicopter roundup of the summer so far to ensure the public knows what is happening to these iconic animals.
It’s up to us to continue fighting for the future of our wild herds, but we can’t do it alone. Your support is critical to powering this vital work. And by signing up for a recurring monthly gift, you can help us do even MORE to keep wild horses and burros free on the lands they call home year-round. Will you take your support to the next level and become an AWHC recurring donor today?
We are fiercely committed to safeguarding America’s iconic wild horses and burros. Many times, our promise to protect our wild herds requires activating the AWHC Rescue Fund at a moment’s notice. The Rescue Fund enables our team to provide vital support to on the ground rescues by funding hay and feed, transport to safety, and critical veterinary care. Before the end of this month, we hope to raise $10,000 to replenish our Rescue Fund so we can be prepared to step up at a moment’s notice. Will you chip in to help us reach our goal?
As we speak, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM)’s summer roundup campagin is continuing across Western states. These cruel and costly helicopter operations endanger the lives of wild horses, and lead to capture, confinement, and sometimes slaughter. Our Rescue Fund has been pivotal in rescuing hundreds of wild horses and burros in need of help.
Now we’re aiming to raise $10,000 to ensure our vital rescue operations can continue. These funds will support local rescue organizations that are saving mustangs and burros from imminent danger.
Thanks to the incredible generosity of supporters like you, the Rescue Fund has already saved hundreds of wild horses and burros, including victims of the BLM’s Adoption Incentive Program (AIP). This program has created a pipeline to slaughter by awarding $1,000 to adopters per horse or burro adopted. Then irresponsible adopters are pocket the cash and dump their adopted animlas in slaughter auctions across the country.
We’re fighting back against the BLM’s inhumane management practices, including the AIP, but we need to be ready to help mustangs and burros in need.
Many of you have been following our Land Conservancy Project, the bold initiative we pioneered last year. This program aims to perserve and enhance key habitats so our iconic wild herds can live wild and free in ecological balance in America’s western landscapes. Click here to support our Land Conservancy Project!!
Our Land Conservancy Project is focused on three critical areas: land acquisition, habitat restoration, and humane management.
For context, the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) own range data indicates that private livestock overgrazing, along with fire and drought, have depleted habitats for all wildlife, including protected species like wild horses and burros.
This preventable habitat deterioration is one reason we took a huge step forward last year by acquiring 3,300 acres of prime habitat within Nevada’s picturesque Carson Valley. The land supports a diverse array of wildlife including the federally protected Fish Springs wild horse herd. We aim to use this innovative project to help set a new conservation standard for wild horse and burro protection. Our dedicated land manager, along with a team of passionate experts, is working on the ground, actively tracking wild horse movements, studying the intricacies of the land, and undertaking vital habitat restoration projects.
Photo of a Fish Springs foal by John T. Humphrey
We’ve spent the past year compiling photo evidence and scientific insights into how wild horses and local wildlife peacefully coexist, sharing the resources this land provides.
Photo taken on AWHC land by John T. Humphrey
Photo taken on AWHC land by John T. Humphrey
AWHC has a strong track record of protecting not only wild horses, but also the land they roam. 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.
AWHC is proud to have embarked on this groundbreaking — or ground healing — project.
Stay tuned for future updates on the program’s progress and the advancements this program allows us to make. And as always, thank you for standing up for American wild herds!
