The National Academy of Sciences Delivers Scathing Rebuke of BLM Wild Horse Program

"Continuation of 'business as usual' practices will be expensive and unproductive for BLM and the public it serves" 

"How Appropriate Management Levels (AMLS) are established, monitored, and adjusted is not transparent to stakeholders, supported by scientific information, or amenable to adaptation with new information and environmental and social change." 

"Management practices are faciltating high rates of population growth..."

- National Academies, June 2013

On June 5, 2013, the National Academies released a report on its review of the Bureau of Land Management Wild Horse and Burro Program. The report is a game changer for wild horses and burros, concluding that continuation of “business as usual” practices will be "expensive and unproductive for BLM and the public it serves."

The report is a powerful validation of what wild horse advocates have been saying for years and provides a strong case for halting wild horse roundups and implementing available alternatives to humanely manage wild horses on the range where they belong. Click here to read AWHPC's press release on this milestone report. 

MORE INFORMATION

"Using Science to Improve the BLM Wild Horse and Burros Program: A Way Forward," National Academies Report

Key Findings of the NAS Report

News

Congress will have to step in to resolve wild horse issues, Reno Gazette Journal

After Wild Horse Report, Jewell Faces First Moment of Truth at Interior, The Atlantic

Congress will have to step in to resolve wild horse issues, Reno Gazette Journal

Fertility drugs, nature better than horse roundups, Associated Press

Report Criticizes U.S. Stewardship of Wild Horses, The New York Times

Independent panel to recommend changes in BLM wild horse program, Associated Press

U.S. management of wild horses flawed, scientific report finds, Reuters

Scientific Review criticizes government roundups of wild horses, NBC News

Independent panel: Wild horse roundups don’t work; use fertility drugs, let nature cull herds, Washington Post

Horse experts call for end of federal mustang roundups, USA Today

Science panel: Feds making wild horse situation worse, McClatchy

Report: Birth control better for wild horses than BLM roundups , The Salt Lake Tribune

Study finds BLM’s wild horse management practices are flawed, Wyoming Public Media

Government report rips controversial wild horse program as ‘expensive and unproductive', The Daily Caller

BLM wild horse program slammed in National Academy of Sciences report, Carson Now

Wild horses: The bad science behind BLM's management plan, Denver Westward

THE WEST: Report slams wild horse, burro roundups, The Press-Enterprise

Wild horse report concludes that BLM management program needs overhaul, Denver Post

News Releases/Statements

AWHPC/Return to Freedom: National Coalition Calls for Halt to Wild Horse Roundups in Wake of Independent Report

Congressman Raul Grijalva Reacts to National Academy of Sciences Report

Animal Welfare Institute: National Academy Report Finds Serious Fault with BLM's Wild Horse and Burro Management Program

Animal Welfare Institute Statement on NAS Report

Majority of Americans Want Wild Horses Protected, National Poll Says

HSUS: Independent Report Shows that the BLM's Wild Horse Progrram is Ineffective

ASPCA Supports New Study on Management of Wild Horses in the U.S.

NAS report fails to analyze the elephant in the room

BACKGROUND:

Eyewitness Reports on National Academies Public Meetings:

Correspondence With & Statements to the NAS Wild Horse and Burro Review Committee:

NAS Information: