WASHINGTON, D.C. (Michigan News Source) – Republicans blame Democrats. Democrats blame Republicans. For everything. Washington usually changes hands every few years but if there’s one thing that seems to enjoy bipartisan support, it’s chasing wild horses with helicopters.

No matter who occupies the White House or controls Congress, America’s wild horses and burros continue to be rounded up from public lands by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), with many ending up being killed and 65,000 wild horses reportedly being held in government holding facilities.

Different presidents, same helicopters.

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The BLM says roundups are necessary because horse and burro populations have grown beyond what western rangelands can sustainably support, creating competition for food and water with wildlife and livestock. Wild horse advocates counter that livestock grazing – not horses – is the larger strain on public lands and argue that fertility control programs should replace large-scale removals.

The debate has stretched across multiple administrations, from Republicans to Democrats and back again. The policy has remained remarkably consistent over the years. What doesn’t happen all the time, however, is an opportunity for the public to weigh in.

The public still gets a say.

The BLM is currently accepting public comments on its latest management proposals affecting wild horses and burros, giving citizens a chance to tell federal officials whether they support continued roundups, expanded fertility control, or any of their other management strategies before decisions are finalized.

For those who have spent years complaining that Washington never listens, here’s an opportunity to make some noise. But it has to be done today. July 2. The deadline is now.

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The American Wild Horse Conservation organization says that the decisions made by BLM about nationwide strategies could shape how America’s wild horses and burros are managed for years to come – decisions about fertility control, helicopter roundups, population targets, holding facilities, animal welfare and public transparency.

In an email to wild horse and burro supporters, they are asking the public to contact BLM to ask them to expand proven fertility control programs; prioritize humane, on-the-range management; move away from routine helicopter roundups; reevaluate outdated population targets using current science and improve transparency and animal welfare protections. They also want the removed wild horses and burros protected from the slaughter pipeline.

Thousands of horses to be rounded up next week.

The next major wild horse roundup is coming on July 10, when the BLM is expected to begin what the American Wild Horse Conservation organization says could be one of the largest wild horse roundups in U.S. history, targeting thousands of horses in Nevada’s Callaghan Complex.

The American Wild Horse Conservation says, “Roundups are a brutal and inhumane method used to manage wild horse populations. Helicopters chase these majestic animals over vast distances, causing immense stress, injuries, and sometimes death.”

They go on to say, “This practice not only disrupts the natural social structures of wild horse herds but also leads to higher birth rates among the remaining population, exacerbating the problem.

Whether you believe the government is protecting the range or over-managing it, one thing is clear: presidents come and go, but the helicopters keep flying. If nothing else, take a stand on whether chasing wild horses with helicopters should remain the government’s primary management tool. Public comment periods are rare, and this is one of the few chances for ordinary Americans to put their views into the federal record before decisions are made. Comments can be submitted here.