Wild Horse and Burro Welfare in the Western US

Wild horses and burros on US public lands are managed through a controversial program that has created large holding populations with significant welfare implications.

Key Facts

Approximately 82,000 wild horses and burros currently roam public lands in the American West
The Bureau of Land Management holds over 50,000 additional horses in long-term holding facilities
Roundups using helicopters cause significant stress and occasional injuries and deaths
Water and food competition between wild horses and livestock is a central management conflict
Fertility control through PZP vaccine is an evidence-based humane management alternative to roundups
Wild horses are feral descendants of domestic horses — they are not native wildlife in most ecological contexts

Welfare Considerations

Wild horse management in the US involves a welfare paradox: the animals living free on public lands experience the best welfare, while those removed to holding facilities experience conditions ranging from adequate to poor. Helicopter roundups cause acute intense stress, separation injuries, and occasional deaths. Long-term holding facility welfare varies by operator. The massive holding population — over 50,000 animals — represents a costly and welfare-compromised alternative to on-range management. Evidence-based fertility control using PZP vaccination is the most welfare-positive management approach, reducing birth rates gradually without roundup stress, but requires sustained long-term investment.

What You Can Do

Support fertility control programs for wild horses as an alternative to roundup and removal
Adopt wild horses or burros through the BLM adoption program if you have appropriate facilities
Advocate for increased funding for humane management alternatives to helicopter roundups
Support organizations monitoring wild horse welfare in both on-range and holding facility settings