In a groundbreaking legal victory for wild horse advocates, a judge in Reno has ruled that U.S. land managers failed to adopt a legal herd management plan, leading to the deaths of 31 mustangs during a roundup of over 2,000 horses in Nevada last summer.
U.S. District Court Judge Miranda Du ordered the Bureau of Land Management to complete a formal herd management plan for the Pancake complex in eastern Nevada by next March 24. She also mandated the agency to reopen an environmental assessment to consider the potential impact of roundups on wildfire risks.
The ruling rejected the agency’s argument that broader resource management plans sufficed, emphasizing the need for a specific herd management area plan (HMAP) for the long-term health of the herds and rangeland in a particular area or herd complex.
Wild horse advocates celebrated the ruling, noting that while it came too late for the horses affected last summer, it sets a precedent for protecting mustangs on federal lands in the West moving forward.
Laura Leigh, founder of Wild Horse Education, hailed the decision as a victory for the Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act, emphasizing the importance of long-term management planning for the preservation of these iconic animals.
The Bureau of Land Management is currently reviewing the ruling and has not yet issued a statement in response.
This ruling marks a significant step towards ensuring the protection and preservation of wild horse populations in Nevada and beyond, setting a precedent for responsible land management practices in the future.
