Wildlife

Wild Horse Roundup Welfare

The Bureau of Land Management conducts helicopter roundups of wild horses in the American West, raising significant welfare concerns.

Key Facts

Approximately 12,000 horses are rounded up annually from public lands
Helicopter roundups cause injury, death, and severe stress
Over 60,000 captured horses are held in government holding facilities
Many advocates argue rangeland management problems are caused by livestock not horses

Welfare Considerations

Wild horse roundups cause immediate welfare harms including injuries, deaths, and profound stress from helicopter pursuit. Captured horses then face long-term confinement in holding facilities with limited natural social structures. More humane population management alternatives like fertility control are available but less frequently used.

What You Can Do

Support organizations advocating for humane wild horse management alternatives
Advocate for expanded use of PZP fertility control to reduce roundup frequency
Oppose permanent removal of wild horses from public lands
Adopt a federally protected wild horse or burro through the BLM adoption program