Sec. 2. Findings
215 words·~1 min read·
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Congress finds the following: As part of efforts to control equine populations under law, the Bureau of Land Management is directed to humanely capture wild free-roaming horses and burros for adoption. The Bureau of Land Management contracts directly with private enterprises, including helicopter companies, to round up equines at rates between $500–$800 per animal. The use of helicopters to chase equines over prolonged distances, usually on rough terrain, is particularly dangerous, and can frighten the animals and lead to deadly situations.
In January 2022, during the horse gathering at the Pancake Complex in central Nevada, a young colt was chased for miles by helicopter, ultimately gravely injuring itself, and necessitating the need for the animal to be shot and killed. Since 2011, the Bureau of Land Management’s top three helicopter contractors have collected over $36.8 million in taxpayer funding for their services, including over $5.3 million since 2021 alone. Scientific research shows that more humane and cost-effective alternatives exist to control equine populations, including fertility controls.
Currently, the Bureau of Land Management’s Wild Horse and Burro Program spends less than one percent of its budget on implementing fertility controls. The elimination of helicopters from the Bureau of Land Management’s gatherings would provide a more humane method of capturing equines, and provide significant savings to taxpayers.