Protecting our Wild Horses

As nature and wildlife enthusiasts, our volunteers dedicate considerable time and energy to protecting our herd of wild horses on the Fish Springs range on the Nevada desert. Whenever we discuss administering birth control to our wild mares, some individuals express their disapproval. They either oppose birth control entirely or criticize the use of PZP, labeling it as poison. Interestingly, many of the women who voice the strongest objections have themselves used birth control to manage their own family size and timing.

We recognize that everyone has the right to their opinion, which we strive to respect. However, it's crucial for everyone to understand our conviction in providing birth control to our herd on the Fish Spring range of the Pine Nut Mountains in Nevada for their protection. We are confident that Without this effort all of the wild horses on the Fish Springs range would be removed by the Bureau of Land Management.

Firstly, our wild horses are not in a Herd Management Area (HMA); they were initially, but this designation was removed in the 1980s. Now, they reside in a Herd Area (HA). The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) oversees wild horses and burros in 177 herd management areas across ten western states. Herd areas designate locations where wild and feral horses were found when the Wild and Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act of 1971 was unanimously enacted by Congress. 

Currently, horses in Herd Areas are not typically managed by the BLM and the horses can be removed at any time. Our wild horses on the Fish Springs range have been allowed to remain only due to the cooperation between the Department of the Interior, the BLM and the grassroots nonprofit, the Pine Nut Wild Horse Advocates. This decision was also influenced by the overwhelming support from local residents and the Douglas County Commissioners, who have respected our efforts and our appeals to let our historic bands of wild horses roam freely where they have historically for as long as local memories can recall. Additionally, the agreement of BLM to work with our non-profit has been because of our agreement to provide birth control to the mares, thereby reducing the reproduction rate.  We have successfully reduced the rate by over 90%.  This allows our population to remain running free for our residents to enjoy and allows our wild horses to live and die in the wild.  It also is at no cost to the taxpayers!

A 1982 study by the National Academy of Sciences reported "annual rates of increase of 10% or less" in wild horse populations, which contrasts with the 20% increase that the BLM uses to justify helicopter roundups. In areas where population growth rates are higher than normal, it appears that BLM's management policies may be contributing to the issue. The 2013 National Academy of Science report states: "Management practices are facilitating high rates of population growth... Thus, population growth rate could be increased by removals due to compensatory population growth from decreased competition for forage, likely increasing the number of animals processed through holding facilities." Despite this report, traditional methods of management have persisted, involving roundup, removal, and warehousing America's wild horses at taxpayer expense. I personally have believed that once the wild horse population is reduced to levels acceptable to the BLM and the livestock industry, the thousands of horses in storage will be disposed of, as they see little distinction between slaughtering livestock or horses, and the cost to taxpayers is exorbitant. For this reason, we fight to control the reproduction rate, and to find sanctuary homes for any of our cherished Fish Springs wild horses that have been removed.
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When we started this birth control program in 2014 we were averaging 14 new foals with the top of 22 foals born in a single year.  Taking into consideration the BLM had been removing horses via trapping often. In the past, this has caused compensatory breeding.  We have discovered once our birth control program was stopped and started, we saw females being bred as young as 9 months old and old mares continuing to foal, long after we believed was typical.   We saw 2-year-old fillies giving birth before they had matured themselves. Each new foal that increases our population, puts the remaining horses at risk of removal. This year it looks like we will end 2024 with four foals, one filly (Hazel) and 3 colts (Liam, Thunder and Rebel) In 2023 we ended with two, one filly (Butterscotch) and one colt. (Angel) and in 2022 we ended with the year with 2 (Magic and Peaches)

One comment suggested that we should "just leave them alone."  While this notion is indeed beautiful and romantic, reflecting the desire to let them exist as nature intended, we must confront the reality that the land they inhabit today is vastly different from that of decades past. The migration routes they once roamed are now obstructed by fences, homes, subdivisions, roads, an airport, industrial areas, a waste transfer station, an animal shelter, county fairgrounds, and extensive fenced agricultural land. Although the horses still have thousands of acres available, it's important to consider the condition of the range land they call home. Our aim is to ensure that our existing wild horse population can live out their lives on the range where they were born, among the family herd they grew up with. We want healthy horses on a healthy range. Our mission statement states "We protect our wild horses and the range they roam on."   Today there is plenty of forage for the size of the herd and all the other wildlife and the Pine Nut range is even shared with hundreds of sheep, deer, antelope, bear, coyotes, mountain lion, bobcat and much more!! 

The Pine Nut Wild Horse Advocates firmly believe that a strong birth control program is the most effective method to protect the wild horses our community and people from all over the world holds dear. We are grateful that the majority of our supporters concur and have consistently contributed the necessary funds, enabling our team to have access to the tools, supplies and vaccines required for a successful program.  Our wild horses mean so much to so many people, and there is a widespread desire to see our program succeed.