The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has reassessed its position on wild horses and burros. It estimates that the population of the wild horses and burros double every four years, largely because they are virtually free of natural predators. Their ongoing challenge is to prevent overpopulation and adjust the number of wild horses and burros to be consistent with the capacity of public rangelands that supports them. As a result of higher fuel and feed costs, the number of animals adopted has been declining (noting a decrease from 5,701 in Fiscal Year (FY)2005 to 4,772 in FY 2007. possible each year into private care through public adoptions, but adoptions have been declining in recent years because of higher fuel and feed costs. Adoptions declined from 5,701 in Fiscal Year 2005 to 4,772 in Fiscal Year 2007.

An additional concern raised by the Agency is the costs of maintaining these animals in holding these animals in holding facilities. It projects that out of a $37 million budget for FY 2008, over $26 million will be allocated for holding costs. To maintain the short- and long-term holding facilities at their current level of operation, BLM estimates that it would need an increase in congressional appropriation to the Wild Horses and Burros Program to $44 million this fiscal year, $58 million in 2009, and upwards of $77 million in 2012.

BLM has approximated that an appropriate management level of wild horses and burros to maintain is around 27,000. The solution is to euthanize wild horses and burros that cannot be adopted. Is euthanizing wild horses the way to handle problems with budgeting and saving money? The Bureau of Land Mangement claims that they want your input. If you have any passion, or even an ounce of empathy for what these animals mean to the history of our country, I urge you to take them up on their invitiation for your input. To leave your comments or opinion, Click here to access the Agency's feedback form or call them at 1-800-710-7597.