BLM Plants to Reduce Wild Horse Roundups to Help Control Holding Costs

Source: OregonLive

3 May 2011

An estimated 38,365 wild mustangs and burros roam land owned by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), OregonLive reports. An astonishing number, until one sees that 40,000 more are in BLM holding pens. BLM spokesman Tom Gorey says because of these numbers, the BLM plans to reduce the amount of roundups conducted. The cost to manage wild horses and burrows this year is $75.6 million, and will jump almost $4 million next year.

Gorey notes that the program has serious challenges that need to be met. The BLM has implemented the use of Porcine Zona Pellucida (PZP) as a birth control for mares, and is working on managing stallion populations as well as herd dynamics to reduce birth rates. Even with all the management and planning, birth rates may take years to drop effectively. In the mean time, the BLM has considered "humane euthanasia" of animals not adopted out to control numbers and cost. It's not an option the BLM likes to use, but it can't be ruled out. 

Adoption numbers have dropped by more than 2,000 animals since 2005. Because of this, the BLM seeks to offer fully trained horses and burrows, in hopes of attracting more buyers.

"Without a consensus on the larger issues, the BLM has several other strategies in the works to reduce wild horse numbers," OregonLive reports.

To read more about the BLM's plans to reduce wild horse and burrow numbers, read the full article here.