Wild Free-Roaming Horse and Burro Act (WFRHBA) of 1971
The Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act (WFRHBA) was established in 1971 to protect wild horses and burros on federal land, placing them under the jurisdiction of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and U.S. Forest Service (USFS).
Among other things, the Act:
Samplings from the Law
“Range” means the amount of land necessary to sustain an existing herd or herds of wild free-roaming horses and burros, which does not exceed their known territorial limits, and which is devoted principally but not necessarily exclusively to their welfare in keeping with the multiple-use management concept for the public lands.
“Excess animals” means wild free-roaming horses or burros (1) which have been removed from an area by the Secretary pursuant to application law or, (2) which must be removed from an area in order to preserve and maintain a thriving natural ecological balance and multiple-use relationship in that area.
The Secretary shall manage wild free-roaming horses and burros in a manner that is designed to achieve and maintain a thriving natural ecological balance on the public lands.
The Secretary shall cause additional excess wild free roaming horses and burros for which an adoption demand by qualified individuals does not exist to be destroyed in the most humane and cost efficient manner possible.
Sale of Excess Animals
In general, any excess animal or the remains of an excess animal shall be sold if the excess animal is more than 10 years old or the excess animal has been offered unsuccessfully for adoption at least three times.
An excess animal that meets either of the criteria shall be made available for sale without limitation, including through auction to the highest bidder, at local sale yards or other convenient livestock selling facilities.
Among other things, the Act:
- Made it a federal crime for anyone to harass or kill “wild” horses or burros on federal land.
- Set the groundwork for further studies of the animals’ behavior and habitats.
- Permitted that public land could be set aside for use as herd management areas.
- Requires that herd management plans “maintain a thriving natural ecological balance among wild horse populations, wildlife, livestock, and vegetation and to protect the range from the deterioration associated with overpopulation.”
- Allows for public lands to be utilized for multiple purposes while improving the health and stability of “wild” horse and burro populations.
Samplings from the Law
“Range” means the amount of land necessary to sustain an existing herd or herds of wild free-roaming horses and burros, which does not exceed their known territorial limits, and which is devoted principally but not necessarily exclusively to their welfare in keeping with the multiple-use management concept for the public lands.
“Excess animals” means wild free-roaming horses or burros (1) which have been removed from an area by the Secretary pursuant to application law or, (2) which must be removed from an area in order to preserve and maintain a thriving natural ecological balance and multiple-use relationship in that area.
The Secretary shall manage wild free-roaming horses and burros in a manner that is designed to achieve and maintain a thriving natural ecological balance on the public lands.
The Secretary shall cause additional excess wild free roaming horses and burros for which an adoption demand by qualified individuals does not exist to be destroyed in the most humane and cost efficient manner possible.
Sale of Excess Animals
In general, any excess animal or the remains of an excess animal shall be sold if the excess animal is more than 10 years old or the excess animal has been offered unsuccessfully for adoption at least three times.
An excess animal that meets either of the criteria shall be made available for sale without limitation, including through auction to the highest bidder, at local sale yards or other convenient livestock selling facilities.