Judge Allows U.S. to Proceed with Wild Horse Roundup in Nevada Despite Deaths
Despite objections from wild horse advocates, a judge has ruled in favor of the U.S. government, allowing them to continue capturing thousands of mustangs in Nevada. This comes after 31 horses died during the roundup, sparking concerns about the humane treatment of these animals. However, U.S. District Judge Larry Hicks denied Wild Horse Education’s bid for an emergency order to halt the roundup, stating that there was no evidence to support such a move.
While recognizing the tragic deaths of the horses, Judge Hicks concluded that the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) was complying with the law and conducting the roundup as humanely as possible to address the issue of overpopulated herds. He acknowledged that losses are to be expected when dealing with wild animals, even though they are beautiful creatures.
Although the judge agreed that the horse advocates were denied access to observe one of the mustang traps, which he deemed a constitutional violation, he considered it a moot point since the roundup in that particular area had already been completed. Government lawyers representing the BLM argued that the deaths of the horses were regrettable but not unexpected. According to them, the presence of free-roaming mustangs poses a threat to the ecological health of public rangeland.
On the other hand, horse advocates argued that the deaths were unnecessary and resulted from inhumane tactics used during the roundup. They claimed that pregnant mares and young foals were being chased in extreme summer heat across treacherous terrain into makeshift corrals. Laura Leigh, the founder of Wild Horse Education, expressed disappointment in the ruling and mentioned that they are discussing their options with their attorney.
The roundup, which began on July 9 and is scheduled to continue until August 22, has sparked controversy surrounding the treatment of these wild horses. While government lawyers argue that the deaths are within the average mortality rate for such roundups, horse advocates believe that the mustangs are being unfairly blamed for range damage caused by taxpayer-subsidized cattle grazing.
In response to the advocates’ claims, the government says that the roundup is based on an outdated environmental review and fails to account for current conditions on the range. They also argue that the use of helicopters is largely prohibited during the foaling season, which is seemingly being ignored. Democratic U.S. Representative Dina Titus of Nevada has introduced legislation in Congress to ban the use of helicopters altogether in such roundups.
As the debate continues, it remains to be seen how this ongoing roundup will affect the plight of wild horses in the United States. Advocates will likely persist in their efforts to advocate for stricter regulations and more humane treatment, while the government maintains that these measures are necessary to maintain the ecological balance.
