BLM Announces $30 Million To Expand Fertility Control For Wild Horses & Burros
A new $30 million federal investment will expand fertility control for wild horses and burros, an approach that could help spare more animals from cruel helicopter roundups and removals from public lands.
The Bureau of Land Management announced that funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture will be used to expand fertility-control efforts nationwide, including training and deploying more applicators and increasing vaccine delivery in remote herd areas.
The BLM says slowing herd growth through fertility control could reduce the need for future gathers and decrease the number of wild horses and burros entering long-term government holding facilities.
American Wild Horse Conservation (AWHC) was among the organizations that participated in the National Wild Horse and Burro Roundtable where the announcement was made.
AWHC has reported results from its on-range fertility-control program in Nevada’s Virginia Range. In 2025, the organization reported an 82% reduction in foal births through the program.
At the time, AWHC Nevada State Director Tracy Wilson stated:
“This 82% reduction in foal births proves that there are humane ways to manage wild horse populations, and that roundups, removals and slaughter are not the answer.”
The BLM says gathers will still generally be needed to administer fertility treatments, while broader use could help reduce future roundups and removals.
For wild horse advocates who have long fought for humane alternatives, the $30 million investment represents an important opportunity to keep more wild horses and burros with their herds on the public lands they call home.
WAN and Peace 4 Animals believe it is time to end cruel helicopter roundups once and for all and ensure America’s wild horses and burros can remain wild and free for generations to come.
