Wildlife photographer Jim Brown has been visiting the wild horse herds in the North Lander Complex in West Central Wyoming for many years. His stunning photographs document the colorful wild horse herds found there. Now, he finds cattle, instead of wild horses, on these public lands designated by law for the wild horses’ principal use.

Because Jim has been photographing these wild herds for so many years, he knows where to find them. Yet, only one lone wild horse was seen on his most recent visit of a few days in the North Lander Complex. What he did find in their place were cattle - many of them. 

With no words needed, this photo tells why wild horses are being removed from their public lands in Wyoming. Cattle ranchers are taking over the public land designated for wild horses so that they can use the forage and resources to feed their enslaved livestock for their own personal gain.

The North Lander Complex includes four Herd Management Areas (HMAs): Conant Creek, Dishpan Butte, Muskrat Basin, and Rock Creek. The complex is 375,292 acres, and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has arbitrarily and unscientifically claimed that the entire complex could only support 320 – 536 wild horses. Seriously? One wild horse per 700 - 1200 acres? The BLM says this while simultaneously allowing cattle ranchers to graze thousands of exploited cattle and sheep in the same area, concentrated so unnaturally that they are trampling and destroying the vegetation. 

We previously alerted you to the draconian extinction plans for the North Lander Complex wild horse herds proposed by the BLM which included horrific procedures that will cause suffering and also the potential for agonizing deaths. If implemented, this alarming BLM plan will mean the end for the wild horses in this complex.

You may wonder why this is happening. It’s simple. When we have an ever-growing base of human consumers buying and eating the products of cattle ranchers, wild horses and burros will continue to suffer. Buying ranchers’ products gives them more power and influence than they already have, which is a lot. They use some of this money to influence politicians to continue allowing welfare ranching. Resolve to no longer be part of the problem.

We are working hard to bring about change to end the roundups and keep wild horses safe on our public lands. You may learn more about what we’re doing and how to get involved by visiting our Wild Horses and Burros campaign.  

In Defense of Animals is mobilizing supporters to stop the wild horse execution orders. We are demanding that federal agencies carry out their duty to protect and preserve wild horses and burros. Together with a coalition of animal welfare groups, conservationists, and equine advocates, we propose on-range management that is humane and science-based. 

Please join our fight for solutions, not slaughter.