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Crisis For the American Mustang

Cinch Magazine, J.L. Orchard

Slaughter may have been halted within the U.S. borders but not the BLM's (Bureau of Land Management) so called "euthanasia" of the wild mustang. The proclamation came earlier this year in an announcement from the Animal Welfare Institute that stated that the federal agency charged with the protection and management of the wild horses (BLM) has made plans to euthanize 30,000 horses presently secured in holding facilities. The reason for this mass "mercy killing", to solve the heaped financial crunch of the BLM. 

 AWI's deputy director of government and legal affairs accused the BLM of having "reckless management", and stated this supposed action to take place to be, "killing pure and simple."

In 1971 the Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act was passed to halt the mass execution of wild horses. But in December 2004 an amendment followed, authorizing BLM to sell, "without limitation" wild horses and burros ten years of age or older, or horses and burros that have been offered for adoption three times but never sold.     

The BLM presently holds 30,000 mustangs and burros in long term (pasture) and short term (corral) holding facilities, which in 2008 has cost them over $27 million U.S. A rise in fuel and transportation costs has set them back another $4 million. To make it all the worse, adoption rates have dropped from 5,701 horses/burros adopted in 2005 to 4,772 in 2007. The BLM deducts that approximately 27,300 horses/burros can be supported free-roaming on rangeland controlled by BLM. At the end of February 2008 there were approximately 33,000 horses and burros on this land and almost equal number of horses and burros at BLM holding facilities.

It is claimed that wild horses and burros can double their herd size within a four year period with virtually no natural predators on the rangeland where they live. The BLM states that their efforts to adopt out horses, provide land that is not overpopulated or overgrazed which will eventually lead to malnutrition and starvation of wildlife, and to maintain the native vegetation and wildlife habitats can not continue at their current budget. 

Though the BLM says the land cannot afford the growing population of horses, another site, Care2.com claims that the land presently supporting these wild horses is also supporting a further 3 million grazing cattle.

None the less the BLM is in a financial crisis which will initially affect their ability to find suitable adoption homes for these animals and their ability to manage the land where the wild horses live. Though some sites have already decided the BLM's decision for them, the BLM site says they are reviewing all options in which to manage the situation. They also went on to say, 'we have not made any decisions about which option to pursue, but we are in discussions with humane groups to find an appropriate legal solution'.

None the less Care2.com wants you to petition at www.thepetitionsite.com against the BLM's actions as proposed by AWI. The BLM site also welcomes your input on ways to ensure the welfare of the wild horses, while staying within their budget. You can contact the BLM by calling their 1-800 number 710-7597, or visiting their website at www.blm.gov. To read the report as given by the Animal Welfare Institute go to their site at www.awionline.org.

Please Note: We plan to continue to update this story in the coming issues of Cinch Magazine.