**GAO-09-77**                      Published: Oct 09, 2008. Publicly Released: Nov 10, 2008.                  

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## Highlights

The Department of the Interior's Bureau of Land Management (BLM) manages about 33,100 wild horses and burros on 199 Herd Management Areas (HMA) in 10 western states. Under the Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act of 1971, as amended, BLM is to protect wild horses and burros, set appropriate management levels (AML), maintain current inventory counts, and remove excess animals to prevent overpopulation and rangeland damage. Over the years, various stakeholders have raised issues about BLM's management of the animals on and off the range. GAO examined (1) BLM's progress in setting and meeting AML; (2) BLM's management of animals off the range through adoptions, sales, and holding facilities; (3) BLM's controls to help ensure the humane treatment of animals; and (4) what challenges, if any, BLM faces in managing for the long-term sustainability of the program. GAO surveyed and analyzed documents from 26 of the 44 BLM offices that manage wild horses and burros.

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## Topics

Natural Resources and Environment

Animal welfareAnimalsCost analysisData integrityEndangered animalsEndangered speciesHorsesInternal controlsLand managementLand resourcesPopulation growthPopulation statisticsProgram evaluationProgram inventoriesProgram managementPublic landsRange managementReporting requirementsStrategic planningWild horsesWildlifeWildlife conservationWildlife managementFederal regulations