BLM CAPTURES & CULLS WILD HORSE POPULATION

In a controversial move, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) recently came under fire for using helicopters to round up wild horses on federally protected land in Colorado, which is just a portion of public rangeland that spans 10 states across the American West. Citing an excess of wild horses and their cost to the American taxpayer (nearly $50M annually), the BLM estimates that around 8,000 of the nearly 86,000 wild horses and burros will be culled from the population, with the majority of these animals located in Arizona, California, and Nevada.

Public sentiment is mixed-to-negative despite the regular nature of the practice, with some citizens openly disparaging the rough nature of the capture and treatment of the animals once in captivity, and an ever growing concern that protected wild horses are being sent to slaughterhouses.

FDA AUTHORIZES EMERGENCY DRUG FOR NWS OUTBREAK

As temperatures rise, portions of the southern United States become more inhabitable for New World Screwworms (NWS), and their effect on horses can be life-threatening. Unlike other worms and flies, NWS lay eggs in open wounds (including healing umbilical wounds) or superficial cavities (like noses and sheaths) and feed on living tissue.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has authorized the emergency use of liquid Ivermectin for the short-term prevention of infestations. Signs of an infestation include severe pain, wounds that won’t heal, visible maggots, and a foul odor. If you suspect that your horse is affected, isolate them and contact your veterinarian immediately. Be prepared to take well-lit, detailed photos of the affected area to track progress of the suspected infection.