Pine Nut Wild Horse Advocates - Protecting Wild Horses

As nature and wildlife enthusiasts, our volunteers dedicate considerable time and energy to protecting the herd of pine nut wild horses on the Fish Springs range in 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 of pine nut wild horses on the Fish Springs 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 (BLM).

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 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 grassroots wild horse advocacy groups, including 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 pine nut wild horses roam freely where they have historically for as long as local memories can recall. Additionally, the agreement of the BLM to work with our nonprofit has been contingent on our commitment 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 of pine nut wild horses to remain running free for our residents to enjoy, letting them live and die in the wild, all at no cost to 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 Sciences 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 wild horse management have persisted, involving roundups, removals, 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 our cherished Fish Springs wild horses that have been removed.

When we started this birth control program in 2014, we averaged 14 new foals, with a peak of 22 foals born in a single year. Taking into consideration that the BLM had been removing horses via trapping often, this caused compensatory breeding. We discovered that once our birth control program was paused and then restarted, 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 three colts (Liam, Thunder, and Rebel). In 2023, we ended with two (one filly, Butterscotch, and one colt, Angel) and in 2022, we finished the year with two (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 rangeland they call home. Our aim is to ensure that our existing population of pine nut wild horses 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 proudly 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 on the Pine Nut range, which is even shared with hundreds of sheep, deer, antelope, bears, coyotes, mountain lions, bobcats, and much more!

The Pine Nut Wild Horse Advocates firmly believe that a strong birth control program is the most effective method for wild horse advocacy and to protect the wild horses our community and people from all over the world hold dear. We are grateful that the majority of our supporters concur and have consistently contributed the necessary funds, enabling our wild horse advocacy team to access 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.