Natural Management in the Pryors

Nature Is Already Doing the Job. BLM’s Pryor Mountain Proposed Wild Horse Plan Threatens Genetic Diversity and Overall Survival.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Nature Is Already Doing the Job. BLM’s Pryor Mountain Wild Horse Plan Threatens Herd Genetic Diversity and Overall Survival.

Pryor Mountains, MT/WY — July 31, 2025 — The Cloud Foundation is sounding the alarm as the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) advances a proposed plan to reduce the iconic Pryor Mountain Wild Horse Herd to its lowest allowable population in decades — ignoring high natural mortality, declining foal survivability, and the unique genetics of one of America’s most historically significant wild horse populations.

Today, the Pryor herd numbers approximately 200 horses. Fertility control has successfully reduced reproduction to around 10–15%, and high foal mortality and natural adult deaths from age and injury are further limiting growth. Yet despite these naturally occurring checks, the BLM’s proposed management plan would reduce the herd to as few as [insert final AML range] horses — a move The Cloud Foundation says is biologically and ethically indefensible.

“Nature is already doing the work of population control,” said Ginger Kathrens, Emmy Award-Winning Filmmaker and Founder of The Cloud Foundation. “The herd is self-regulating. For BLM to move forward with removals on top of this, especially without regard for genetics or family structure, risks collapse of the very thing that keeps this herd healthy.”

Foals Are Dying, and That Matters

The Pryor herd is already experiencing significant natural losses, especially among foals:

  • 2022: 14 of 20 survived — though one was removed as an orphan

  • 2023: 5 of 13 survived

  • 2024: Just 7 of 28 foals survived — one has since disappeared

  • 2025: Only 6 of 15 foals have survived to date

These numbers, combined with the loss of adult horses due to old age, weather, or injury, point to a population already being shaped by nature — not in need of further reduction by federal agencies.

Forest Service Moves Ahead While BLM Decision Still Pending

In contrast to BLM, the U.S. Forest Service has already issued a final decision impacting wild horse management on Forest Service lands within the Pryor Mountain Wild Horse Range. Meanwhile, BLM’s 2024 Environmental Assessment remains in the proposed stage.

“We are urging BLM to take this opportunity to pause, review the facts, and consult with independent geneticists and ecologists before issuing any final decision,” said TCF Vice President, Dr. Lisa Friday.

Random Removals, Ignoring Genetic Health

The BLM’s preferred alternative appears to rely on random removals, rather than informed selection based on lineage, rare traits, or heterozygosity. This poses a direct threat to the long-term genetic health and viability of the herd — especially as the population drops below critical thresholds.

The Pryor horses descend from rare Spanish Colonial bloodlines and exhibit unique physical and behavioral characteristics. Their preservation is not just about numbers — it’s about heritage.

The Cloud Foundation Urges:

  • A halt to removals planned for 2025 and beyond

  • A full reassessment of the Appropriate Management Level (AML) using updated scientific data

  • Full accounting of natural mortality and declining foaling rates in population modeling

  • Genetic monitoring and informed decision-making around removals

  • Transparency and meaningful public input throughout the management process

The Pryor Mountain Wild Horse Herd is a living legacy. Let’s protect it with the care and science it deserves — not through arbitrary reductions.

Contacts:

Dr. Lisa Friday
VP and Communications Director
The Cloud Foundation
lfriday1958@gmail.com

Kerry Ferguson
Executive Director
The Cloud Foundation
719-633-3842 | kerry@thecloudfoundation.org

https://www.thecloudfoundation.org

Cloud’s look-alike palomino daughter, Encore, also suffered loss. Her June filly, Zuela, was taken by a mountain lion just a few weeks after her birth. Encore suffered scratches to her face - but those external wounds are healing.

The Cloud Foundation