Every year, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) rounds up thousands of wild horses using helicopters. This year, it starts on July 8th. Just after we celebrate our freedom in America, 1000s of American symbols of freedom, wild horses, will lose theirs. They run the horses so far during these roundups that some end up being run to death, including babies whose tiny bodies aren't able to take the stress of running so far, so long, and often in hot temperatures. The BLM will also shoot horses during roundups that are blind or have other disabilities, even though they have lived with them successfully for years in the wild, such as blindness. Once the horses that make it through the roundups alive are rounded up, they go to holding pens where their families are separated and even more horses will die. The BLM holding pen in Burns, OR had 42 horse deaths in 6 months for various reasons...some listed as "other" or "unknown", and some for disabilities, even though there are sanctuaries that will take horses with disabilities. There are alternatives to these roundups such as water bait trapping, which is where the horses are lured in with water and then trapped. There is also PZP birth control which can be administered by darting the horses from a distance and would allow on-range management. Both of these options are much less traumatic for the horses. There is also a Scientist, named Anthony Marr, who has come up with what he calls The Marr Plan. This would end all wild horse roundups and use PZP to manage the horses. Helicopter roundups are blatant animal abuse and your tax dollars are paying for it! Demand that helicopter roundups are stopped immediately and that the BLM works with wild horse advocacy groups and others on alternative options.
