Wild Horse and Burro Comprehensive Animal Welfare Program
4700 (260) P
The purpose of this Permanent Instruction Memorandum (PIM) is to reaffirm the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM’s) longstanding commitment to ensure the humane treatment of wild horses and burros (WHB) in all on-range and off-range management activities through the Comprehensive Animal Welfare Program (CAWP). The humane treatment of wild horses and burros outlined in this policy reiterates the BLM’s longstanding practices and provides additional clarification to BLM employees. This PIM establishes a suite of standards for the humane treatment of WHBs, drawing on the BLM’s decades of experience as well as accepted practices in animal husbandry and livestock management. It also increases transparency concerning the humane treatment of wild horses and burros.
The BLM is committed to continue protecting animal welfare and providing humane care and treatment to WHBs both on and off the range. Consistent with long-standing policies and practices, the handling and treatment provided by the BLM, its contractors, and its partners are always based on compassion and concern for the animals’ well-being.
All state, district, and field offices will continue to always comply with the WHB CAWP policy. The WHB CAWP policy includes:
- CAWP Standards for Wild Horse and Burro Gathers (Attachment 1): These standards include requirements for trap and temporary holding facility design, capture and handling, transportation, and care after capture. The standards are also incorporated into drive trapping gather contracts, catch treat hold and release gather contracts, and bait/water trapping gather contracts as specifications for performance.
- Training for gather operations: All BLM staff associated with gather operations (e.g., incident commanders, contracting officer representatives, project inspectors, public affairs officials, and law enforcement officers) and contractor crews are required to complete training annually for CAWP – Gathers (BLM-TC-4700-13), which is available through DOI Talent or in-person or virtual training identified by the CAWP Coordinator.
- CAWP Standards for Off-Range Corral Facilities, Transportation, and Adoption/Sale Events (Attachment 2): This includes requirements for holding of animals in off-range corrals, transportation, and adoptions/sales events. These Standards are incorporated into off-range corral contracts as specifications for performance.
- Training for the Care, Handling, and Transportation of Wild Horses and Burros at off- range corrals and adoption/sales events: All personnel, including contractors and partners involved in the care, handling, and transportation of wild horses and burros at off-range corrals and adoption/sale events are required to complete training annually for CAWP – Off-Range Corrals, Transportation, and Adoption/Sale Events (BLM-TC-4700-14), which is available through DOI Talent or in-person or virtual training identified by the CAWP Coordinator.
- Additional CAWP Standards may be developed for animals on and off the range as determined necessary: All personnel, contractors, and partners involved in management of WHBs on and off the range are required to complete training annually following the development of these Standards.
The purpose of this PIM is to continue to ensure that the humane care, handling, and treatment of WHBs remains the priority for BLM, its contractors, and its partners. The BLM will continue to use the best available science, husbandry, and handling practices applicable for WHBs. Whenever possible, the BLM will make improvements to its practices while also meeting planned objectives in accordance with current BLM policy and contractual and cooperative agreement requirements. The CAWP will be reviewed periodically by WHB program leadership and modified as necessary to strengthen public trust, transparency, and effectiveness in assuring the humane care, handling, and treatment of the WHBs.
The authorized officer is the primary party responsible for immediately addressing any actions that are inconsistent with the CAWP. Consistent with applicable BLM delegation of authority manuals, the authorized officer may delegate responsibility to an alternate individual. The authorized officer should promptly notify the employees, contractors, and partners of actions that are not compliant with the CAWP and correct all issues immediately. It is the responsibility of all individuals engaged in actions throughout the WHB program to implement all aspects of the CAWP.
The WHB CAWP Coordinator will lead the implementation, development, and modification of all aspects of the CAWP.
This policy is effective immediately.
This PIM codifies long-standing policy, practice, and guidance to include mandatory annual training and reporting requirements for BLM personnel, contractors, and partners associated with gather operations. The cost for the required training is approximately
$100 per person per year. Implementation of this PIM is estimated to continue to account for 12 to 18 work months per year.
Public Law-195, Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act of 1971 (as amended) and 43 CFR 4700.0-2 provide the authority for a CAWP for WHB.
This reissued CAWP policy, originally issued in 2021, provides a comprehensive approach to long-standing policies and practices within the BLM WHB program. Prior to the 2021 PIM, the BLM had been criticized by some animal protection organizations on its handling and care of WHBs, especially during gathering activities and the transition of WHBs from public lands to off-range facilities. Examples include transportation conditions, facility design, environmental conditions, handling practices, and nutrition. The 2021 PIM helped to address those criticisms. Like policies adopted by other organizations in agricultural and animal research industries, the CAWP policy establishes a transparent framework to ensure and verify humane care, handling, and treatment of animals.
The CAWP for WHB consolidates and highlights the BLM policies, procedures, and ongoing commitment to protect animal welfare; provides training for employees, contractors, and partners on animal care and handling; and implements assessment tools to evaluate adherence to the CAWP Standards by the agency, contractors, and partners.
This PIM affects policies in BLM Manual/Handbooks H-4700-1, rel. 4-116 “Wild Horse and Burro Management” and H-4750-2, rel. 4-105 “Adoption of Wild Horses and Burros” and replaces PIM 2021-002.
If you have any questions, please contact the Wild Horse and Burro Division Chief, at 866-468-7826 or [email protected].
This PIM was coordinated among HQ-100, HQ-200, HQ-260, HQ-600, Deputy State Directors, WHB State Leads, APHIS Veterinarian, WHB Facility Managers, and WHB Specialists.