The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is investing $30 million from the USDA into expanding fertility control efforts for wild horses and burros.
“The USDA investment will allow the BLM to increase field capacity, train and deploy more fertility control applicators, and expand vaccine delivery across remote herd areas,” the agency said.
The move comes following a roundtable with groups of stakeholders including horse advocacy groups and government agencies.
BLM also announced it will continue to conduct horse and burro gathers across the West throughout fiscal year 2027.
“These operations are designed to rescue animals from deteriorating range conditions, protect remaining horses and burros from resource shortages, and restore balance on drought stricken landscapes,” the agency said.
BLM also recently updated its bill of sale terms to “better protect wild horses and burros” placed in its wild horse and burros sales program. The new language in the bill of sale “clearly requires” buyers to certify “they will not knowingly, carelessly, or negligently sell or transfer a BLM animal to anyone who may turn the animal or its remains into commercial products.”
