Wild horse management too expensive, report says

RENO — A new report says the U.S. Bureau of Land Management needs to explore new options to reduce the cost of keeping excess wild horses in long-term holding pens.

The report by the Government Accountability Office says costs of caring for horses has skyrocketed in recent years, and this year likely will account for 74 percent of the program’s overall budget.

The report also says the agency has authority to euthanize or sell large numbers of horses without restrictions, but has refrained from doing so because of fear of public backlash.

The findings come as the BLM’s Wild Horse and Burro Advisory Board prepares to meet Monday in Reno.

BLM officials this summer proposed euthanizing and selling some horses because of escalating costs.