Jack, 

Here at American Wild Horse Conservation, we’re fighting to reform the federal government's cruel and costly wild horse and burro roundup program and to ensure wild horses and burros roam the American West for generations to come. 

One of the driving factors behind helicopter roundups is that wild horses and burros are often blamed for the impacts of extractive uses on our public lands. The Bureau of Land Management (BLM), as well as ranchers and private interests who want to free up our public lands for commercial use, often take advantage of these outdated misconceptions to justify the ongoing roundup, removal and stockpile cycle. 

That’s why combating the myths that scapegoat wild horses and burros is critical to our work. To help our herd of advocates do that, we’ve compiled answers to frequently asked questions so you can be ready to push back against false narratives that threaten our wild herds!

1. Are wild horses and burros overpopulating? 
   NO! Wild horses and burros are not overpopulated. In reality, the only animals truly overtaking the West are the privately owned cattle and sheep permitted to overgraze our public lands. Wild horses are present on just 27 million acres of BLM land in the West, while private livestock graze on over 155 million acres. Even worse, wild horses are not present on 88 percent of the public lands the BLM manages.
    
2. Are wild horses and burros responsible for overgrazing on our public lands?
   NO! The main cause of land degradation in the American West is livestock grazing. A study by Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (PEER) found that not only do livestock outnumber wild horses and burros on public lands by 30:1, but livestock grazing is the reason 72 percent of rangelands did not meet the required Land Health Standards. 
    
3. Are wild horses native?
   Wild horses are a native re-introduced species. According to research out of the University of California, Santa Cruz’s prestigious Paleogenomics Lab, fossil records and genetic results confirm that horses were part of the North American fauna for hundreds of thousands of years prior to their extinction on the continent around eleven thousand years ago. The genetic connection between extinct North American and present-day domestic horses means that the wild horses in the American West share much of their DNA and evolutionary history with their ancestors. Further, Indigenous oral histories suggest that horses never diminished to extinction in North America.
    
4. Why do roundups happen?
   Roundups are a result of over 50 years of federal mismanagement by a government agency that prioritizes private, extractive uses on public lands over federally protected mustangs and burros. This includes maintaining artificial population limits, implementing cruel and costly helicopter roundups, and unfairly allocating more resources to private livestock than to wild horses.
    
5. Why do wild horses and burros have to be managed at all?
   They live on land that is shared by multiple interests, including livestock grazing and other extractive uses. Often, natural predators like mountain lions are eradicated by hunters and a government program that kills predators for the benefit of ranchers. Under these man-made and artificial conditions, some form of management is necessary. With that being said, the BLM's roundup and removal approach is not only inhumane, but also completely unsustainable, disproportionately aggressive, and has brought the program to the brink of fiscal collapse.
    
6. Do wild horses and burros end up in the slaughter pipeline?
   Yes. While the agency cannot sell wild horses or burros directly to slaughter, countless equines are being funneled into the slaughter pipeline thanks to the BLM’s disastrous Adoption Incentive Program (AIP), which pays individuals $1,000 to adopt unhandled horses and burros. AWHC’s investigation into the AIP has shown that people are routinely adopting mustangs and burros, pocketing the cash incentive and then funneling them directly into the slaughter pipeline.
    
7. Why don't you sue to stop roundups?
   We do! While we would like to be able to go to court to stop every roundup, litigation is far from certain. Many factors need to be considered with each new case we bring. If we rush into litigation without a strong foundation for our case and lose, we could end up setting a negative precedent that harms wild horses and burros for generations to come. That’s why we choose our battles wisely to ensure the best possible outcome for our wild herds. It’s important to note that we evaluate every roundup proposal possible during the public comment period for litigation, before a helicopter ever takes off. If we are able to sue, we do.

Jack, it’s vital that we fight back against the false narratives being pushed by the livestock industry and the federal government. Please forward this email to your friends and family so that we can get the truth out about our wild herds and end these myths once and for all!

Thank you,

American Wild Horse Conservation

P.S. Your support is the key to protecting wild horses and burros from unjust roundups and giving them the freedom they deserve. Every dollar helps us challenge false narratives, fight for them in court, and advocate for humane management solutions. If you can, please consider making a donation today to help us fight for the freedom of wild horses and burros on our public lands.