Stop the Roundup — Save the Montgomery Pass Wild Horses

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and U.S. Forest Service (USFS) plan to round up and remove 624 of the 694 wild mustangs in California’s Eastern Sierra — nearly 90% of the herd, leaving only about 70 horses on their 200,000 acre territory.

Such a drastic reduction risks genetic collapse, especially since this unique herd has already been naturally regulated for decades by mountain lions. Instead of preparing a legally required Herd Management Area Plan (HMAP) and ensuring adequate water on the Territory, the BLM has mismanaged the land for over 35 years. Now, the agency’s failures are being taken out on the horses themselves – a profoundly unjust outcome, punishing this wild herd simply for trying to survive.

To stop this, we’ve filed a federal lawsuit — and three dedicated plaintiffs are standing up for these wild horses:

Carl Mrozek, an acclaimed filmmaker, is finishing a half-million-dollar documentary on the herd, with one segment already aired on CBS Sunday Morning. He cannot complete his film if the roundup goes forward.

Craig Downer, a wildlife ecologist who has studied the herd for sixty years, warns the roundup will lead to the herd’s “decline and eventual demise,” harming his life’s scientific work and conservation mission.

Cherie Tobin, a physician and wildlife photographer, is completing a photo book on the herd and needs one final winter season of documentation — which will be lost if the horses are removed.

Why We Need Your Help

Litigation is expensive and deadlines are approaching fast. Our legal fund is nearly depleted and we must present our oral arguments on October 17th. We are a brand-new grassroots organization who came together to save these horses. We are fueled by the passion and support of people like you. Every dollar raised ensures we can keep protecting the horses in court.

Please give what you can and share this campaign widely. Together, we can stop this majestic herd’s eradication so that you, your children, and your grandchildren can visit them for decades to come!