protect the natural ecological balance of all wildlife 
species, particularly endangered wildlife species; and 
‘‘(6) ensure that any adjustments in forage allo-
cations are made after taking into consideration the 
needs of other wildlife species. 
‘‘(b) In order to determine if an overpopulation of 
wild free-roaming horses and burros exists, the Secretary 
shall— 
‘‘(1) maintain an inventory of wild free-roaming 
horses and burros on the public lands; 
‘‘(2) update the inventory annually; and 
‘‘(3) make the inventory by herd management 
area available to the public on the Website of the 
Bureau of Land Management at no cost. 
‘‘(c) In order to better manage wild free-roaming 
horses and burros, the Secretary, not later than one year 
after the date of the enactment of this section, shall take 
the following actions: 
‘‘(1) Adopt and employ the best scientific, peer- 
reviewed methods to accurately estimate wild free- 
roaming horse and burro populations on public 
lands. 
‘‘(2) Employ scientifically sound methods to de-
velop a policy for setting consistent, appropriate 
management levels. 
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‘‘(3) Provide a public process, including a pe-
riod for notice and comment, for finalizing appro-
priate management level standards. 
‘‘(4) Publish and distribute these standards to 
each field office so that the methodology for esti-
mating population and determining appropriate 
management levels is consistent across public lands. 
‘‘(5) Train Bureau of Land Management per-
sonnel on the use of these standard techniques to es-
timate population and determine appropriate man-
agement levels. 
‘‘(6) Consult with— 
‘‘(A) the United States Fish and Wildlife 
Service; 
‘‘(B) wildlife agencies of the State or 
States where wild free-roaming horses and bur-
ros are located; 
‘‘(C) individuals independent of Federal 
and State governments who have been rec-
ommended 
by 
the 
National 
Academy 
of 
Sciences; and 
‘‘(D) individuals who the Secretary deter-
mines to have scientific expertise and special 
knowledge of wild horse and burro protection, 
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wildlife management, and animal husbandry re-
lated to rangeland management. 
‘‘(7) Identify new, appropriate rangelands for 
wild free-roaming horses and burros, including use 
of land acquisitions, exchanges, conservation ease-
ments, and voluntary grazing buyouts, and negotiate 
with private landowners to allow for the federally su-
pervised protection of wild horses and burros on pri-
vate lands. 
‘‘(8) Establish sanctuaries or exclusive use 
areas; and 
‘‘(9) Research, develop, and implement en-
hanced surgical or immunocontraception sterilization 
or other safe methods of fertility control. 
‘‘(d) If the Secretary has exhausted all practicable op-
tions of maintaining populations of wild free-roaming 
horses and burros on the range, the Secretary may provide 
that excess wild free-roaming horses and burros are hu-
manely captured and removed for private maintenance and 
care, so long as the Secretary has determined an adoption 
demand exists by qualified individuals and the Secretary 
can ensure humane treatment and care by requiring 
that— 
‘‘(1) no more than four wild free-roaming 
horses and burros may be adopted per year by any 
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individual, unless the Secretary determines, in writ-
ing, that the individual is capable of humanely car-
ing for more than four wild free-roaming horses and 
burros, including the transportation of such animals 
by the adopting party; 
‘‘(2) each individual adopter shall execute an 
appropriate attestation, pursuant to section 1001 of 
title 18, United States Code, affirming that adopted 
animals shall not be used for purposes of slaughter 
for human consumption; 
‘‘(3) methods for removing wild horses and bur-
ros shall not include the use of helicopters or any 
other airborne devices; and 
‘‘(4) wild horses and burros shall not be con-
tained in corrals or other holding facilities for more 
than 6 months, while awaiting disposition. 
‘‘(e) When an excess wild free-roaming horse or burro 
has been transferred to a qualified individual for adoption 
and private maintenance pursuant to this Act and the Sec-
retary determines that such individual has provided hu-
mane conditions, treatment, and care for such animal for 
one year, the Secretary may, upon application by the 
transferee, grant the transferee title to that animal. 
‘‘(f) Not later than one year after the date of the 
enactment of this subsection, for the purposes of carrying 
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out a successful wild free-roaming horse and burro adop-
tion program the Secretary shall— 
‘‘(1) implement creative and more aggressive 
marketing strategies for the adoption program, in-
cluding the use of the Internet or other media to 
showcase horses and burros and the adoption pro-
gram; 
‘‘(2) explore public outreach opportunities, in-
cluding agreements with local and State organiza-
tions that are using horses and burros for rehabilita-
tion, therapy, or prisoner programs; 
‘‘(3) provide resources to properly screen and 
train potential adopters; 
‘‘(4) conduct tours of Bureau of Land Manage-
ment facilities for interested parties; and 
‘‘(5) develop volunteer mentor and compliance 
check programs for assisting the agency in facili-
tating successful adoptions. 
‘‘(g) The Secretary may not destroy or authorize the 
destruction of wild free-roaming horses or burros unless 
the Secretary— 
‘‘(1) determines that the wild free-roaming 
horse or burro is terminally ill; and 
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