Scientist’s Report Says BLM should Avoid Roundups

RENO, Nev. (AP) — The U.S. Bureau of Land Management says it welcomes recommendations by a panel of scientists to change the way it manages wild horses. The scathing independent scientific review of roundups in the West concludes that the BLM would be better off investing in widespread fertility control of the mustangs.

BLM spokesman Tom Gorey said the agency "needs and wants to do a better job" managing horses, but said those advocating an end to all roundups are misguided. The review by a panel of the National Research Council says fertility control would naturally reduce excess herds instead of the government spending millions to house wild horses in overflowing holding pens.

The American Wild Horse Preservation Fund says the report makes a strong case for an immediate halt to the roundups.