Here at HAHS, we strive not only to provide the best treatment possible for the animals that come into our care, but to also advocate for the humane treatment of every hooved animal throughout the United States and the world. One of the most controversial aspects of hooved animal care in recent years is the use of helicopter roundups for the purposes of herd management. Whether you decide you agree or disagree with this practice, we aim to give you the facts and resources you need to form a well-rounded, fact-based opinion on the subject to make your voice amply heard. Population control of wild horses and burros is an essential job to maintain the integrity of the ecosystems that the horses inhabit. Adding in the complexity of grazing rights of farmers and cattle, land boundaries, and an increasing wild horse population from about 1985 to 2024, it’s no surprise that contentious, heated debate has erupted about how to humanely handle wild horse populations. Recently, amendments and other bills have been put forward to the congress of the United States that would eliminate helicopter roundups entirely. 

The use of helicopters for the purpose of assisting in wild horse management is not a new phenomenon. First introduced in the 1950s, helicopter roundups were proposed as a more efficient, effective, and safe method of managing wild horse and burro populations. When using traditional round up methods, injuries for cowboys were not an uncommon occurrence. Helicopters also allowed agencies to effectively navigate over longer distances and corral more animals at a time with less manpower. Agencies that carry out this type of roundup report low horse injury and casualty rates during the initial round up. A number of different studies, such as one done by John Derek Scasta, a PhD researcher as part of the University of Wyoming’s Department of Ecosystem Science and Management, indicate that helicopter roundups are just as safe as other roundup methods such as bait trapping, and are particularly safe for wild equids when compared to other mammals. You can find a link to the study, as well as a relevant article that summarizes their findings here and here.  

However, there are significant arguments that can be made that helicopter roundups are not humane, cause undue stress, and should be replaced with an alternative practice. This is the argument made by the newly formed Congressional Wild Horse Caucus. This bi-partisan group headed by Congresswoman Dina Titus of Nevada, has proposed legislation that would end the need for helicopter roundups. The goal of the legislation, which is an amendment to the already long established Wild and Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act of 1971 [Public Law 92–195], would be to prohibit the use of helicopters for the purposes of roundups and require study into more humane avenues of population control. One of the more popular choices for this is the use of fertility control. The Wild Horse Caucus, particularly Congresswoman Titus whose state holds over 60% of the United States wild horse population, has championed this method of population control on several occasions. There are a number of burgeoning studies being sited to support this method, such as one done by the Faculty of Veterinary Science of the University of Pretoria. The study concludes: “[T]his method of immunocontraception was associated with providing an effective, humane, publicly acceptable, and practical alternative to the previous reliance on lethal, logistically demanding, or inhumane control methods.”. A link to the full study can be found here.  

One of the most iconic representatives of the American west are wild horses. They symbolize freedom, grace, and beauty to many people, and to a special few, heritage and a life’s worth of work. These animals should be treated with the upmost care and respect, not only for the sake of future generations to be able to look upon these creatures and feel the same sense of reverence and awe that we do, but for the sake of themselves, as they are living beings worthy of our respect and care. We at HAHS believe that further research should be conducted in order to make sure these animals are treated the way they deserve to be treated, with care. Please make your voice heard by contacting your representatives to ensure the future protection of wild horses and burro populations.