Feral horses and burros on US public lands are managed through controversial roundup programs. The welfare of these animals during and after capture is a major concern for animal advocates.
Wild horse management in the US involves genuine welfare trade-offs in a politically charged environment. Unchecked horse populations can cause serious ecological damage and themselves face welfare problems from drought and resource competition. However, helicopter roundups are acutely traumatic and sometimes fatal for horses, and long-term holding facilities provide poor quality of life for social animals adapted to open ranges. Fertility control through immunocontraceptive vaccines offers a welfare-positive alternative that has been proven effective but requires ongoing monitoring and labor. Political conflict between horse advocates and ranching interests has impeded welfare-centered solutions.