FWD: Did you see the email about the rescue fund?
The following is from the American Wild Horse Campaign:
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American Wild Horse Campaign
Meli and Catori
The following is from the American Wild Horse Campaign:
Our Rescue Fund powers a variety of critically important work, from providing lifesaving medical care to foals on the Virginia Range, to outbidding kill buyers at slaughter auctions to protect victims of the Bureau of Land Management’s failed Adoption Incentive Program. Today, we’d like to share the heartwarming stories of two mares we helped rescue earlier this year thanks to the support of folks like you.
| POWER OUR RESCUE FUND >> |
Meet Meli and Catori:
Photo by WilsonAxpe
Earlier this year, we received word of two mares in a notorious Oklahoma kill pen who were days away from being shipped across the border to slaughter. We knew we couldn’t turn our backs on these innocent mustangs, so we leapt into action and contacted RJF Equine, who rushed to the kill pen and picked them up for quarantine.
Unsurprisingly, these two mares were victims of the Adoption Incentive Program (AIP), which pays adopters $1,000 to adopt Bureau of Land Management (BLM) horses and burros. As AWHC’s investigation revealed, far too many individuals are sending their adopted mustangs to slaughter once they receive their federal payout, and Meli and Catori were no exception.
The poor mares were traumatized and needed time to decompress and heal before moving to their new home. But after taking some time to recover, they arrived safely at For the Love of Aria, a beautiful equine sanctuary in Colorado!
Photo by WilsonAxpe
From paying the “bail” at the slaughter auctions to to funding the mares’ transport, medical expenses, and more — every action our rescue team took to save these two beautiful beings was made possible by the folks who helped build up our Rescue Fund.
| SUPPORT THE RESCUE FUND |
We’ve spent every dollar you’ve helped us raise for the Rescue Fund and now we need your help to sustain our efforts in the new year. Now that the BLM has increased the number of wild horses and burros set to be rounded up in 2024 to over 20,000, there are so many more of these innocent animals who may be funneled into the slaughter pipeline through the BLM’s Adoption Incentive Program.
| POWER OUR RESCUE FUND >> |
Thank you!
Team AWHC
Can you give $30 to fuel our humane fertility control program?
The following is from the American Wild Horse Campaign:
My name is Tracy Wilson, and I am AWHC’s Nevada State Director. As part of my job, I oversee one of the most important conservation initiatives that we implement, our PZP fertility control vaccine program on the Virginia Range in Nevada. This world-leading program proves there is an alternative to inhumane helicopter roundups, which keeps wild horses in the wild where they belong.
| DONATE $30 |
Far too many wild horses and burros are in danger because the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is continuing an unsustainable, inhumane path, conducting mass roundups and removals, all while overlooking the consequences of this unsuccessful cycle.
On the Virginia Range, our groundbreaking PZP program has seen a 66% reduction in foal births in 2023 compared to 2020. This program ensures that the Virginia Range horses, whose habitat is shrinking due to rapid development in the area, stay wild and free.
This hard-hitting data has helped us demonstrate to the BLM, Congress, and the public that there is a humane way to manage our wild herds. It’s scientifically sound and keeps these innocent animals in the wild, where they belong. No helicopter roundups, and no holding pens.
We’re incredibly proud of this program, and its resounding effects for wild horse conservation. That’s why today we’re asking: Can you chip in $30 to help us fund the PZP program that has kept so many wild horses wild?
| DONATE $30 |
With the BLM planning even more mass roundups in Fiscal Year 2024, we’re proposing alternative solutions that are proven to work. We know that this is an important cause, and we couldn’t do it without your help.
| DONATE $30 |
| DONATE MORE |
Thank you for your support,
Tracy Wilson
Nevada State Director
Standing up for our wild herds in the courtroom
The following is from the American Wild Horse Campaign:
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That day was the last time I saw my family
The following is from the American Wild Horse Campaign:
Hi there — my name is Nellie, I’m the tiny foal being chased by a big helicopter in the photo below.
I haven’t seen my family since the day this photo was taken last year, and I’m so scared and lonely without them. Here’s what happened:
My herd was grazing peacefully on our home range (Twin Peaks, in California) when these loud machines descended from the sky. The whole thing was a panicked blur. Throughout the entire chase, all I could hear was the deafening whirr of the terrifying helicopter. I struggled to keep up with my mom and the rest of my family, as we were running for a very long time in the high summer heat and across rocky terrain. After what felt like forever, I was chased into a metal trap, with walls much taller than me.
I barely made it out alive that day, and I’m lucky I did — my friends at the American Wild Horse Campaign (AWHC) told me that the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), the federal government agency that rounded us up, reported that there were 31 deaths: All were members of my herd. But AWHC’s work didn’t end once the helicopters landed. Their investigations team dug in and uncovered that 69 additional members of my herd lost their lives in the days and months after the “roundup” and at least 14 of them were babies just like me, with their wild lives cut tragically short.
Now, I’ve heard that what happened to me is going to happen to my herd again next summer, and to more than 20,000 other horses and burros in 2024.
| DONATE TO PROTECT MY HERD |
Friend, even for foals like me who survived the initial roundup, many of us suffered greatly or succumbed to our injuries in the days following. AWHC uncovered these vet records from the aftermath of my herd’s roundup:
“This foal arrived at the Litchfield Corrals so tired and so sore it could barely move. Suspect this foals death was from the stress of being run long distances in rough terrain and in high temperatures”
“Dr. (REDACTED), DVM, stated that these foals are foundering due to being run too far during the gather”
“3‐4 month old foal found dead in mare/foal pen. Necropsy showed no obvious cause of death, possible stress from gather”
If AWHC wasn’t there to document the day the “helicopters” chased my herd and my family, nobody would know about what’s happening to wild horses and burros like me. And if they hadn’t done their investigative work through the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), nobody would know about our suffering in the aftermath.
| MAKE A DONATION NOW |
Thank you for listening to my story, and for standing up for those who don’t have a voice.
Nellie the Foal
Fighting for our cherished wild burros
The following is from the American Wild Horse Campaign:
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Can you help us cover the cost of an emergency roadside kit?
The following is from the American Wild Horse Campaign:
My name is Steve. I am a fertility control darter for Nevada’s Virginia Range program, and a roundup observer for the American Wild Horse Campaign. As AWHC told you this morning, thousands of Nevada’s wild horses will be chased by government helicopters and rounded up in the coming days.
I often trek out to the far corners of the West to bear witness to the intense scenes unfolding as the sound of the helicopter cuts through normally serene desert landscapes. Hundreds to thousands of wild horses are relentlessly driven from freedom to confinement in a heartbreaking display of cruelty.
My boots-on-the-ground role as a roundup observer is rooted in the core of our mission and is fueled by AWHC’s Observation Fund, which is powered by supporters like you. By having me and our team of field representatives on the ground observing the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) cruel helicopter roundups, we can ensure any inhumane treatment does not go undocumented and unaddressed
Your support of AWHC’s Observation Fund helps send observers, like me, into the field to hold the BLM accountable and build a case for substantial reform in Congress. Here’s an example of how your support has an impact on our work to document roundups.
➡ $75 covers the cost of an emergency roadside kit. We carry these in case we run into an emergency – which has happened before in these remote areas without cell phone service.
➡ $100 covers daily fuel costs to drive to these highly remote public lands where the BLM conducts its roundups.
➡ $200 covers two nights in a motel for us as sometimes we stay days to weeks in the field as the roundups continue.
➡ $1,000 covers the cost of vehicle repairs and off-road tire replacements that are necessary to reach the remote BLM observation points.
Oftentimes, we AWHC representatives are the ONLY members of the public on site to document these federal operations and hold the BLM accountable. We are your eyes and ears, and the photographs and videos we capture are the public’s window into the reality faced by our wild horses and burros in these remote regions of the West.
| $75 → Emergency Roadside Kits |
| $100 → Fill Our Fuel Tanks |
| $200 → Motel Rooms |
| $1,000 → Vehicle Repairs |
Thank you,
Steve Paige
Field Representative
Helicopters will begin descending on Nevada’s wild horses THIS WEEK
The following is from the American Wild Horse Campaign:
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Why this is so important.
The following is from the American Wild Horse Campaign:
it’s Suzanne Roy, Executive Director of the American Wild Horse Campaign.
I wanted to connect with you about our $200,000 end-of-year fundraising goal and tell you a little bit more about why reaching this goal is so important. Before I do, I have to ask: As you’re thinking about your end-of-year giving, can you consider the American Wild Horse Campaign? You can click here to have your donation DOUBLED.
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) just announced it has nearly tripled the number of horses and burros that it plans to round up and remove from their homes on the range. The agency added 22 additional roundups and increased the number targeted for removal from 8,000 to over 20,000.
Over the last several years, we’ve made huge strides in the effort to reform the BLM’s cruel and costly Wild Horse and Burro Program. Public awareness about the cruelty of BLM helicopter roundups has never been higher. We’ve demonstrated the feasibility of fertility control as a humane alternative. We’ve built the largest grassroots advocacy base ever for this cause. We’ve secured the support of a record numbers of Congressmembers who are speaking up to demand change.
But we’re not done yet. So here’s what we’re going to do in 2024:
- Refuse to allow this inhumane treatment of wild horses and burros to take place behind closed doors. We’ll continue to document roundups, raising public awareness to even greater levels.
• Drive policy reform on Capitol Hill through our lobbying work.
• Prove that there is a better way to protect wild horses and burros by continuing our humane fertility control and habitat conservation programs in the West.
• Hold the BLM accountable through litigation and investigations programs.
• Save wild horses from slaughter through our Rescue Fund with direct and capacity-building grants to rescue organizations.
Two things are for certain: this work MUST continue, and we cannot do it without your help.
| DONATE NOW → |
Your support is so important to our shared mission, and I am grateful that you are part of our herd. Thank you.
AWHC 2023 Impact Report: A Year of Transformation
The following is from the American Wild Horse Campaign:
Hello there,
As we reflect on 2023, our hearts are filled with overwhelming gratitude for your steadfast support and dedication to our mission of protecting America’s wild horses and burros. Your generous contributions have played a pivotal role in transforming our efforts and establishing the largest grassroots advocacy network ever seen in this cause.
We invite you to explore the highlights of our work in the Impact Report for 2023, a testament to the results of your unwavering support.
Together, we’ve achieved remarkable milestones, pioneering the world’s most extensive humane fertility control program and providing an alternative to cruel helicopter roundups. Our journey has led us to groundbreaking habitat conservation initiatives, the establishment of crucial legal precedents, and the championing of legislative victories at both the state and federal levels.
As we look toward 2024, we are thrilled about the opportunities and initiatives that lie ahead, but our fight must continue! Please know that your continued support is instrumental in making a lasting impact as we work tirelessly to conserve America’s wild horses and burros, along with the land they call home.
I welcome the opportunity to connect with you, learn more about the aspects of our work that resonate with you the most, and explore how we can provide additional information or opportunities for further engagement. Please don’t hesitate to reach out.
Thank you for choosing to be part of our herd, and we look forward to a strong start to 2024!
Stay Wild,
Melissa
Meredith, happy holidays!✨
The following is from the American Wild Horse Campaign:
On behalf of everyone at the American Wild Horse Campaign (AWHC), we wish you and your family a very happy and joyous holiday season!
Over the past decade, your unwavering support has transformed AWHC’s work to protect America’s wild horses and burros.
Together, we’ve established the largest grassroots advocacy network ever for this cause. We’ve pioneered the world’s largest humane fertility control program, proving there’s a better way to protect these majestic animals. We’ve launched groundbreaking habitat conservation initiatives, established crucial legal precedents and championed legislative victories in California, Colorado and at the federal level. And we’re just getting started.
Your support and dedication mean so much to the cause of humane conservation, and we never take for granted the trust you have put in AWHC to be a leader in the fight to protect our magnificent wild horses and burros.
So from our herd to yours, we hope you have a happy holiday season, and a healthy, joyous New Year!
With gratitude,
Suzanne + the AWHC Team
FWD: We’re almost there!
The following is from the American Wild Horse Campaign:
We wanted to share a big update on our end-of-year fundraising campaign. Our team crunched the numbers this morning, and we’re only $7,812 away from reaching our $50,000 goal to unlock our 2X matching offer!
unlocking this match is an opportunity we cannot let pass us by. Over 20,000 wild horses and burros are set to be rounded up by the federal government next year, and we need all the support we can get to ensure we’re able to step up for these animals – whether that’s in the fields, in the courts, or on CapitolHill.
– Team AWHC
Help us unlock a 2X match!
Can you help us unlock a 2X matching gift to help us continue our critical work saving wild horses and burros in 2024? We need to raise $50,000 before Friday at midnight to unlock this match.
Over the last few days, we’ve reflected on some incredible victories we’ve secured this year for our wild herds. But at the heart of all of these success stories is one key ingredient: you.
Folks like you are the driving force behind our work to fight for our wild herds. When we raise awareness about what’s happening to wild horses and burros and mobilize the many thousands of people who want these incredible animals protected, we are able to move mountains.
For example, our campaign to raise awareness about the pointless and cruel nature of the McCullough Peaks wild horse removal generated over 200,000 emails to key officials and touched more than 2 million members of the public. This public outcry put pressure on the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and contributed to the agency’s decision to reduce the number of horses it plans to remove.
In North Dakota, our billboard and ad campaign to save the historic wild horse population who inhabit the popular Theodore Roosevelt National Park generated intense public opposition to a federal plan to eliminate the horses. This public outcry fueled opposition from the state’s political leadership and has created intense pressure to preserve these historic horses.
And across the country, AWHC’s advertising and media campaigns raised public awareness of the cruelty of helicopter roundups. From our billboards in New York City’s Times Square to the compelling images and videos that our field observers have collected, our efforts have brought national attention to the issue of wild horse conservation.
We know that when people hear about what’s happening to wild horses and burros, they are outraged. It’s our job to continue building public awareness and the grassroots army necessary to rise up and advocate for the protection of America’s mustangs and burros – but 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 we’re incredibly grateful to count you as one of our supporters. As we gear up to continue this important work in 2024, will you chip in to our end-of-year goal to fuel our awareness efforts next year? We still have one day left to raise $50,000 so we can unlock a massive 2X matching offer from one of our generous donors, and we need the help of everyone reading this to reach it! >>
Thank you,
Team AWHC
What we’ve achieved for wild horse conservation this year
The following is from the American Wild Horse Campaign:
Help us unlock a 2X match!
Can you help us unlock a 2X matching gift to help us continue our critical work saving wild horses and burros in 2024? We need to raise $50,000 before Friday at midnight to unlock this match.
In addition to our legislative advocacy work, our growing field programs are a critical part of our mission to advance wild horse and burro conservation.
Today, we’re going to tell you about the great strides we’ve taken this year in this area – but first, please take a moment to chip in towards our end-of-year goal! We need to raise $50,000 by this Friday to unlock a generous 2X match offer from our gracious donors, and we’re over halfway there! >>
In 2023, we achieved several great victories for our on-range programs. First, we celebrated four years of our flagship PZP fertility control program on Nevada’s Virginia Range. This program has been a remarkable success, achieving the goal of vaccinating 80% of the mare population in less than four years, and reducing the foaling rate by 66% by the end of peak foaling season 2023 as compared to 2022.
Through the successful implementation of PZP vaccine programs, we’re taking a significant step toward reshaping the future of wild horse conservation and proving that there is a better, more humane, and less costly way to manage wild horse populations. That’s why we’ve expanded our support of conservation efforts and of the implementation of fertility control programs to other wild horse herds. Can you please make a contribution to AWHC to help power these fertility control programs?
SUPPORT OUR FERTILITY CONTROL PROGRAMS →
Earlier this year, we secured a federal grant from the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to support the humane fertility control program that we are implementing on wild horses in Utah’s Cedar Mountain Herd Management Area (HMA)! This collaborative effort involves the Utah BLM, the HMA ranching permittee, and AWHC working together to humanely manage the Cedar Mountain wild horses, conserve their habitat, and eliminate helicopter roundups.
Additionally, we are providing logistical, financial, and darting support for the fertility control program in Nevada’s Pine Nut Mountains. With our assistance, the program has darted over 40% of the mare population with at least one PZP vaccination. This success in darting these wild horses, who are not habituated to human presence, is further proving the feasibility of this approach to keeping wild horses wild and in balance with their environment.
2023 was clearly a big year for our fertility control programs, but perhaps our most exciting achievement this year was the launch of our Land Conservancy Project – an innovative new initiative that will preserve and enhance key habitats for America’s wild herds.
As part of this effort, AWHC acquired 3,300+ acres of prime habitat in Nevada’s beautiful Carson Valley to serve as a pilot program for the project! Through this pilot, we’re working to set the conservation standard for wild horse and burro protection by preserving and restoring habitat and developing collaborative partnerships with federal and local governments to further land and wildlife conservation goals.
Thank you,
Team AWHC
A look back on our 2023 legislative wins
The following is from the American Wild Horse Campaign:
Help us unlock a 2X match!
Can you help us unlock a 2X matching gift to help us continue our critical work saving wild horses and burros in 2024? We need to raise $50,000 before Friday at midnight to unlock this match.
Throughout 2023, we’ve secured some pretty incredible wins, furthering the wild horse and burro conservation cause. So with 2024 less than two weeks away, we’re going to take the next few days to look back on all the success we achieved together this year.
Today, we’re going to focus on the impact we’ve been able to make together both in Washington D.C. and in state legislatures across the country to protect our wild herds.
In Colorado, we achieved a major breakthrough with the passage of SB 23-275, The Wild Horse Project. This legislation established a dedicated working group in the state, tasked with enhancing on-range and off-range solutions for wild horse conservation. Additionally, the legislation allocated $1.5 million in state funding to support these efforts.
On Capitol Hill, we worked with our partners in Congress to introduce several critical bills that would advance humane reforms to the federal management of our nation’s wild herds, including:
- The Wild Horse and Burro Protection Act of 2023 (H.R. 3656), which would finally ban costly and inhumane helicopter roundups of wild horses and burros;
• The Supporting America’s Forgotten Equines Act (H.R. 3475), which would ban equine slaughter for human consumption in the U.S. and the export of horses for slaughter abroad;
• And the Ejiao Act (H.R. 6021), which would ban the U.S. import of products containing Ejiao, a gelatin made from donkey hides.
And finally, AWHC secured the support of 77 Members of Congress to include protective language for wild horses and burros in the House and Senate Fiscal Year 2024 appropriations bills. The House passed its bill, which includes protection from slaughter and dedicated funding for fertility control. Further, it also directs the BLM to explore alternatives to helicopter roundups — marking the first time in history that Congress has addressed this issue! The Senate has not yet passed its final version of the funding bill.
AWHC’s legislative advocacy work is critical to securing a safe future for our wild herds, so they can live freely as they deserve. When we create partnerships with allies on the Hill and in state governments throughout the West, we create progress. This year’s wins for wild horses and burros are an example of just that.
Thank you!
American Wild Horse Campaign
Celebrating the 52nd Anniversary of the Wild and Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act
The following is from the American Wild Horse Campaign:
Today we are celebrating the 52nd anniversary of the passage of the Wild and Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act.
Before delving into the remarkable story of “Wild Horse Annie,” the pioneer wild horse advocate, and her relentless efforts to pass this crucial law, that awarded federal protections to these beloved equines, we have an important ask of you. We’re approaching our end-of-year deadline to raise $200,000 and empower us to make 2024 a remarkable year. Can you chip in a donation of any amount today so we can continue our conservation work in the field, on the Hill, and in the courts in 2024?
Velma B. Johnston, or Wild Horse Annie, was a tireless advocate for wild horses and burros, and her legacy lives on through the work AWHC does and through the Wild and Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act of 1971.
Wild Horse Annie saw the ruthless and indiscriminate manner in which wild horses were being rounded up from public lands during the 1950s in Nevada. At that time, America’s wild horse population was in rapid decline, and many of these incredible animals were captured by “mustangers” for slaughter.
Not being one to sit on the sidelines, Wild Horse Annie took matters into her own hands. She organized a massive grassroots movement to bring attention to this issue. She brought Americans from across the country together to push for groundbreaking legislation. In fact, she mobilized so many people that wild horse protection was the second most popular issue that constituents wrote to Congress about in 1971.
Because of the work of Wild Horse Annie, Congress unanimously passed the Wild and Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act of 1971. This is the most important legislation for wild horses in the United States, and we continue to see its impact today.
Today, 52 years later, the Act has been significantly weakened thanks to the lobbying efforts of special interest groups. That’s where AWHC comes in, our mission is to fulfill the promise made 52 years ago, but we can’t do it alone. With over 20,000 wild horses and burros targeted for roundups this year, our work has never been more important. Can you make a donation to help support our mission to continue the legacy Wild Horse Annie? >>
Our team has been working in the field to document the mistreatment of wild horses and burros, fighting to bring their stories to light, and litigating in the courts to protect these innocent animals. The thing is, we can’t do it alone.
Thank you,
The American Wild Horse Campaign
FWD: A major update on the BLM’s 2024 roundup plans
The following is from the American Wild Horse Campaign:
We have a major update to share with you.
Last week, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) released its updated roundup and removal schedule for Fiscal Year (FY) 2024. The agency is now planning an additional 22 roundups for FY 2024, raising the total number of wild horses and burros that will be targeted from 8,000 to over 20,000.
That’s over double the number of animals that were initially slated for capture. In fact, these updated figures would now match the number of wild horses and burros rounded up in FY 2020, which was a record year for roundups.
We stand ready to document this escalation and we’re going to continue to raise awareness, educate Congress, take legal action when we can, and set the standard for humane wild horse conservation. Your support will now be more important than ever as we prepare for what’s to come.
This is huge. This match means you have a chance to double the impact your contribution can make on our efforts to fight for wild horses and burros next year. And with over 20,000 wild horses and burros now targeted by the BLM in 2024, we can’t afford to waste this opportunity.
The thing is, this matching opportunity will only be unlocked after we’ve raised an initial $50,000 to prove we’ve got the support to reach our goal. So, we need you to step up. Will you help us reach our $200,000 end-of-year goal with a 2X matched donation today? It won’t be easy, but we know with your continued support, there’s nothing we can’t achieve for our wild herds.
— Team AWHC
Happy National Day of the Horse!
The following is from the American Wild Horse Campaign:
Today is a very special day…
It’s National Day of the Horse!
In 2004, Congress designated December 13th as a day to commemorate the contributions that horses have made to the economy, history, and character of the United States. And here at the American Wild Horse Campaign (AWHC), we’re celebrating the best way we know how: by continuing our fight in the field, in the courts, and on the Hill to uphold America’s promise of lifelong freedom and safety for our iconic wild horses and burros.
| HELP US REACH OUR GOAL >> |
Your support couldn’t come at a more critical time. We set this $200,000 goal because it’s what we need to raise in order to ensure we have the resources we need to power our work. Hitting this goal will set our 2024 wild horse protection agenda.
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is planning to round up thousands more wild horses and burros in Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 than it did this year. In fact, the largest roundup of FY2024 is already set to begin in just a few weeks, with over 2,800 wild horses slated to be removed from their homes in Nevada’s East Pershing Complex.
This means thousands more horses are in danger of being separated from their families, suffering severe – sometimes fatal – injuries, and potentially being funneled into the BLM’s disastrous Adoption Incentive Program (AIP) slaughter pipeline.
From our roundup documentation work to our litigation efforts to our advocacy work in Congress, we’re fighting around the clock to end these cruel roundups and to hold the BLM accountable for its mismanagement of America’s wild herds. By making a contribution towards our end-of-year goal, you can help ensure AWHC has the resources we need to stand up to the federal government and be a voice for these voiceless animals. In honor of National Day of the Horse, can you chip in today and help us get a head start on our end-of-year goal?
| HELP US REACH OUR GOAL >> |
Thank you!
Team AWHC
Fighting for America’s wild herds
The following is from the American Wild Horse Campaign:
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SIGN ON: Demand transparency and accountability at government roundups!
The following is from the American Wild Horse Campaign:
In less than three weeks, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is set to begin its largest roundup of Fiscal Year (FY) 2024.
The BLM is planning to round up and remove over 2,800 wild horses from their homes in Nevada’s East Pershing Complex – putting the safety and even the lives of these innocent animals in danger.
During roundups like this, AWHC deploys our humane observation teams to document the BLM’s treatment of wild horses and burros, hold it accountable, and inform the public about what’s happening to our federally protected wild herds. The thing is, the BLM imposes a number of restrictions on public observation at these roundups, often placing observers up to a mile away from the trap site.
| TAKE ACTION |
AWHC had our observers on the ground at last month’s Clan Alpine roundup during which 1,605 horses were captured and 1,415 were permanently removed. There, our observers saw troubling signs, including visibly exhausted and very sweaty horses, as well as many horses who came into the trap site visibly in pain and limping.
But since the BLM isn’t required to install cameras on its helicopters, we don’t know how long the horses were run, how hard they were pushed, or if the BLM violated any Comprehensive Animal Welfare guidelines during the chase.
| TAKE ACTION |
Thank you!
AWHC Team
| DONATE |
Take Action for Arizona’s Wild Horses
The following is from the American Wild Horse Campaign:
We have both encouraging and concerning updates from Arizona to share with you.
First, the positive news: The recent lawsuit threatening the humane management of the Salt River wild horses was dismissed by the US District Court for the District of Arizona. The lawsuit was filed by the Center for Biological Diversity (CBD) and trophy hunting groups. The United States Forest Service (USFS), responsible for the Tonto National Forest where the horses reside, successfully moved to dismiss the lawsuit, exposing factual inaccuracies in the CBD’s complaint. The American Wild Horse Campaign (AWHC) and the Salt River Wild Horse Management Group (SRWHMG) also filed a motion to intervene, highlighting misinformation in the CBD complaint.
In October of this year, the judge granted the USFS’s motion to dismiss, but gave CDB 30 days to amend its complaint. On November 30, the 30-day window closed without action from CBD, resulting in the lawsuit being officially dismissed in the lower court. This victory ensures the continued protection of the Salt River wild horses and safeguards the successful humane management program.
Now, the unfortunate news: In the Apache Sitgreaves Forest, just 150 miles from the Tonto National Forest, the USFS shipped 45 captured Alpine wild horses to a notorious slaughter auction in Texas. Fortunately, the Salt River Wild Horse Management Group and other organizations rallied together to find placement for all 45 horses. However, the USFS is continuing to roundup wild horses in an attempt to eradicate them from the Apache Sitgreaves National Forest, meaning more of these magnificent animals are at risk of being shipped to kill pens unless the agency changes its deadly policy.
Your voice can play a crucial role in safeguarding these beloved and historic animals. Join us in urging the USFS to adopt humane management practices that prioritize the protection and humane treatment of wild horses on our public lands.
The American Wild Horse Campaign