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BLM considering Mustang Euthanasia

The federal agency says it can’t afford to care for the number of wild horses in captivity.

July 1, 2008

Bureau of Land Management (BLM) officials announced on June 30 they are considering euthanizing wild horses to control herd populations.

According to BLM agency director Henri Bisson, the federal agency can’t afford to care for the number of Mustangs currently in holding facilities, and he said fewer people are adopting wild horses.

The announcement marks the first time the BLM has publicly discussed the possibility of euthanasia for horses in holding facilities, according to an Associated Press report.

The agency is also considering whether to stop roundups of wild horses to save money, and it was recently announced that a large roundup scheduled for this fall had been canceled. If the BLM does halt roundups, the action will most likely be criticized by sheep and cattle ranchers who see the wild horses as competition for feed on the open range.

"Our goal is supposed to be about healthy horses on healthy ranges. But we are at the point we need to have a conversation with people about pragmatically what can we do given the financial constraints of our program to meet the goals we have," Bisson told the Associated Press.

Last year’s BLM horse program budget was $39 million, and the upcoming budget is expected to come in at $37 million.
There are an estimated 33,000 wild horses on the range in 10 Western states; about half are in Nevada. The BLM’s target level of wild horses on the range is 27,000.

Approximately 30,000 wild horses are in holding facilities awaiting adoption or permanent housing solutions.
BLM authorities will consider their alternatives at a meeting scheduled in September.

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BLM considering Mustang Euthanasia
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Reader Comments
I thought that the point of the program was to same the mustangs. So Euthanasia so not make sense. If that happens then the program would have been a waste and I think the mustangs should stay.
neena, fairview, NC
Posted: 4/16/2009 7:42:54 PM
I used to buy mustangs for breaking and resale, they're a hardy and game breed which with a little attention blossoms into an animal anyone would be proud to own. The BLM has a long history of mismanagement on too many fronts to list. A decade ago they were scrutinized for selling excess mustangs to the Euro meat market, no doubt that money wasn't funneled back into the program. If they just want to put the animals down, let the ranchers start dealing with them again. As callous as it sounds, dead is dead, and the ranchers won't spend tax dollars to do it.
Luke, Maxwell, TX
Posted: 11/11/2008 6:04:50 PM
I now own an adopted mustang. I love her dearly. She is one of the most loving horses I've ever owned. While I hate to see the BLM consider euthanizing any of the wild herd population, I also know it is difficult and costs the taxpayers alot to care for more and more horses. I would rather see the "roundups stop completely and let "mother nature" take care of thinning the herds than have humans assume that role. We tend to make a mess of things when we assume we know better than mother nature. So... I say stop the roundups completely and turn the healthy ones back out to the wild.
Sue, Parker, CO
Posted: 11/8/2008 12:44:42 PM
Just more of the BLM's mismanagement of our public lands. In our NW New Mexico area, the BLM is allowing rampant oil and gas drilling which causes loss of habitat for many species of wild animals. We are losing our land, one well at a time.
Shirley, Aztec, NM
Posted: 10/20/2008 8:13:03 PM
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