Wild Mustang/Burro Campaigns

The following is from the American Wild Horse Campaign: Federally sanctioned roundups are in full swing as the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) continues to target thousands of wild horses across the West. As we speak, innocent horses and foals on Wyoming’s North Lander Complex are the targets of a grueling, multi-week helicopter roundup that is set to cost taxpayers in excess of $100 million.  American Wild Horse Conservation (AWHC) observers are on the ground documenting these brutalities in real time, but what you may not know, is that the BLM blocks observers from seeing the most barbaric events unfolding. TAKE ACTION The trap site, where wild horses and burros are driven at the end of a helicopter chase, is the most dangerous part of a roundup — often resulting in severe injury and death. Despite public observation of a government operation being guaranteed under the First Amendment, AWHC observers are frequently positioned so far from the trap site that they can’t see it at all. For example, at the ongoing North Lander roundup in Wyoming, our observers have been placed up to 1.6 miles from the site. Thank you to AWHC observers Monica Martinez Ross and Steve Paige, who are on the ground in Blue Wing, Nevada, where at least 1,277 horses and burros have been captured so far. Their documentation (below) puts into perspective the distance BLM inserts between our volunteers and the brutal realities of government roundups — and the lengths BLM is willing to go to hide their costly, inhumane herd management tactics. Video Credit: Monica Martinez Ross When the Blue Wing roundup kicked off across the Nevada desert, AWHC’s roundup observers were positioned over a mile from the trap, which was in a ravine — rendering any view of the situation nearly impossible. So far this summer, at least 31 horses and burros have died during the Blue Wing roundups. Our observation teams are doing their best to document what’s happening to these innocent animals, but there’s only one way to guarantee no BLM atrocity goes unrecorded: cameras. Will you join us in calling on the BLM to mandate cameras on all helicopters used for government roundups? TAKE ACTION These roundup operations already take place in some of the most remote regions of the West — away from the public eye. Limitations on observation are only meant to further shroud the BLM’s irresponsible, unscientific management practices from the American ...

The following is from the American Wild Horse Campaign: We have quite a few updates for you in this week’s edition of e-news. Read on to learn about our recent political efforts, a timeline of our 12-year battle for Wyoming’s wild horses, and an exciting tale (or tail!) from the Virginia Range! AWHC Political Update Recently, AWHC’s government relations team has been hard at work both at the state level and at the federal level! Read our most recent blog about our efforts to support wild horse-friendly legislation in both Colorado and Congress. Read More AWHC Litigation Update  We often get asked, “Why don’t you sue?” And the answer is, we do! When considering potential litigation, there are many factors our expert legal teams consider — including the viability of legal action and the precedent the lawsuit will set if we win or lose. We take on litigation that will have the biggest impact on our wild horses for years to come. In the Wyoming Checkerboard, we’ve been litigating to protect 1 million acres of public lands and the horses who inhabit them for the last decade. Read the full timeline of our legal actions here. AWHC and partners took the BLM to court over their decision to completely eradicate two wild horse herds in the Great Divide Basin HMA and Salt Wells Creek HMA. The court will determine if the BLM has the authority granted by Congress under the Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act to make such drastic and harmful decisions. This case could set a precedent for the future of wild horse protection. Longtime AWHC attorney Bill Eubanks said, "Arguably this is the most important wild horse case that’s ever been argued." Watch his full interview here! The Wyoming Checkerboard Timeline Tails From the Wild Wild horse bands have a complex social structure that is incredible to witness when you get a chance to see them in the wild! One day, AWHC volunteer Deb Sutherland was there to witness them in action. She was hiking on the range documenting the Virginia Range mustangs for AWHC’s fertility control program when she came across a chestnut stallion with a star, a dark blue roan stallion, a light bay mare with a funny-looking blaze, and a dark bay mare. A herd of bachelor stallions was playing in the spring that this family was walking toward. Click here to read what happens next! Read the Full Story Roundups Update: 

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The following is from the American Wild Horse Campaign: Happy Wild About Wildlife Month! The American Wild Horse Campaign (AWHC) is wild about preserving the lifelong freedom of America’s wild horses and burros in their natural habitats. And those habitats include a host of other wildlife who live alongside these iconic animals! Last year, we launched our Land Conservancy Project to protect the ecological balance of America’s wild herds and their cohabitants across America’s western landscapes. In celebration of Wild About Wildlife Month, will you donate to fuel our land conservancy project? FUEL THE LAND CONSERVANCY PROJECT According to the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) own range data, much of the land it manages has degraded in condition due to extractive uses, such as the overgrazing of livestock. These activities — along with fire and drought — have depleted habitats for all wildlife, including protected species like wild horses and burros. Our land conservancy pilot project area includes more than 3,000 acres of rolling foothills, sprawling meadows, and natural spring water around the Pine Nut Mountains of Nevada. This innovative conservation initiative provides a safe environment for thousands of animals to live, graze, hunt, and play. Click here to enjoy 15 seconds of one local bear-y blissful bath! Our ponds and streams are also enjoyed by coyotes, deer, antelope, and many other species of wildlife that live alongside our cherished wild herds. FUEL THE LAND CONSERVANCY PROJECT We’re proud of the progress made on this exciting project, which solidifies conservation as the key driver behind our advocacy for wild horses and burros. Will you make a donation today to help us expand this wildly successful program to other areas of the West? Your generosity helps ensure we have all the resources necessary to offer a safe, ecologically balanced habitat to as many wild horses and burros (and their other wild pals) as possible. As always, thank you for standing with our wild herds. Onward, Team AWHC ...

The following is from the American Wild Horse Campaign: Did you know that today is National I Love Horses Day? Here at American Wild Horse Conservation (AWHC), we take any and all opportunities to celebrate horses, both domestic and wild! And, tomorrow, AWHC’s lawyers will be in Court arguing two cases that will decide the fate of not only the wild horses from Wyoming’s Checkerboard, which include the Salt Wells and the Great Divide Basin Herd Management Areas (HMA), but will also set an important precedent for generations to come: Will private interests be allowed to dictate the use of public lands and decide whether our federally protected wild horses and burros can live on them? POWER OUR WORK  In honor of National I Love Horses Day, we want to tell you a touching story from the Great Divide Basin HMA. AWHC’s partner and co-plaintiff in this critical litigation, Kimerlee Curyl, was out photographing the incredible Great Divide Basin horses when she came across a stunning, heavily pregnant white mare. Kimerlee stayed a respectful distance away from her, watching the mare and her family interact. While she was sitting there, a group of boisterous bachelor stallions approached the band, trying to steal the band's mares. But their lead stallion was not about to back down. He fought the bachelors with fury. The other mares and a few youngsters in the group were extremely distressed, but they knew they had to protect their pregnant family member. They started running circles around her — kicking up dust, determined to keep her safe. This made it extremely hard for any bachelor to try and infiltrate the group. Kimerlee wrote about this experience: “Finally, the stallion drove the last of the bachelors towards the horizon, the ground shook with the stampeding of hooves across the desert floor. I didn’t think he could do it, but he did. The powerful stallion won this battle with his strength, determination, and the unbreakable family bond they possessed.  He swiftly galloped back to the family and returned directly to her side with an air of chivalry. A testament to the enduring noble nature of the wild. She returned her tired head to the space upon his back where she had been resting, let out a big breath and all was calm in their world once again. Witnessing such events and moments in their wild world is the inspiration ...

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The following is from the American Wild Horse Campaign: Here at American Wild Horse Conservation (AWHC), our team is dedicated to preserving the lifelong freedom of America’s wild horses and burros in their natural habitats. Every day we work to advocate for better protections by lobbying Congress, taking legal action, and mobilizing our grassroots army to achieve change. We noticed you haven’t been opening our emails lately, so we wanted to check in with you to see if you’d like to keep hearing from us. If you’re still with us in the fight to protect our wild herds, let us know by clicking this link! COUNT ME IN AWHC is fighting on all fronts to end cruel helicopter roundups in favor of humane management and in-the-wild conservation initiatives, such as scientifically proven, safe, and reversible fertility control vaccines. Every year, thousands of our nation’s wild herds are rounded up by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and taken from their homes. These brutal operations often lead to severe injuries – or worse – deaths. If you’re still with us, we’re so grateful for your continued support! We’ll be in touch with more opportunities to speak up for our wild herds. In the meantime, be sure to follow us on our social media pages to get all the latest updates on the fight to save America’s wild horses and burros!   Thank you! Team AWHC ...