Katherine Heigl’s Fight to Save Utah’s Onaqui Wild Horses
Katherine Heigl leads a powerful coalition to protect Utah’s treasured Onaqui wild horses from mass roundups and slaughter.
Katherine Heigl, acclaimed actress and committed animal welfare advocate, has become one of the most prominent voices protesting the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) mass helicopter roundups of the Onaqui wild horses residing in Utah’s Great Basin Desert. Her impassioned campaign has galvanized animal rights organizations, lawmakers, and members of the public to stand up for these iconic herds and demand humane solutions to preserve America’s wild mustangs.
Table of Contents
- The Onaqui Herd: History and Importance
- The BLM’s 2021 Roundup Plan and Its Consequences
- Katherine Heigl’s Advocacy and Leadership
- Public Rallies and Coalition Efforts
- Issues with BLM Management and Livestock Grazing
- Humane Alternatives to Roundups
- BLM Accountability and the Adoption Incentive Controversy
- How to Get Involved
- Frequently Asked Questions
The Onaqui Herd: History and Importance
Nestled in Utah’s Great Basin Desert, the Onaqui Mountain wild horse herd is one of the most beloved and iconic populations of wild mustangs in the United States. With both their beauty and resilience, these horses have become a living emblem of the American West, capturing the hearts of local residents, photographers, wildlife enthusiasts, and tourists alike.
- Estimated numbers: At the beginning of 2021, approximately 475 Onaqui wild horses roamed these lands.
- Economic impact: The herd attracts visitors whose spending benefits local businesses, from hotels to gas stations.
- Cultural significance: For many, the Onaqui horses symbolize freedom, resilience, and the wild spirit of the American frontier.
These unique mustangs, enduring both intense desert summers and bitterly cold winters, have evolved into a resilient and integral part of Utah’s public rangelands.
The BLM’s 2021 Roundup Plan and Its Consequences
In July 2021, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) announced plans to commence a massive helicopter roundup targeting nearly 80% of the Onaqui population. The stated goal of the BLM was to reduce the herd to a ‘sustainable’ level, an argument that has spurred fierce criticism from wild horse advocates and animal welfare organizations.
- Nearly 300 horses slated for removal, with plans to send these mustangs to off-range holding facilities.
- Horses considered unhealthy, injured, or very old would likely be euthanized during the roundup process.
- Those removed often face uncertain fates, including the risk of being funneled into the slaughter pipeline.
Critics contend that the BLM’s approach is both inhumane and misdirected, ignoring the real causes of range degradation, and failing to consider non-lethal, science-based management options for the herds.
Katherine Heigl’s Advocacy and Leadership
Renowned for her compassion and deep commitment to animal protection, Katherine Heigl resides in Summit County, Utah, where she keeps horses of her own. Upon learning of the impending Onaqui roundup, Heigl immediately leveraged her platform to draw national and international attention to the horses’ plight.
What others are reading
- Launched a high-profile billboard campaign in Salt Lake City calling for humane management of the Onaqui herd.
- Partnered with organizations including Animal Wellness Action, The Cloud Foundation, Wild Horse Photo Safaris, and the Center for a Humane Economy.
- Issued passionate statements: “With their historic place on the public lands of Utah, the Onaqui horses are living treasures… Instead of cruel helicopter roundups, I call on the BLM to manage them humanely with fertility control and to limit livestock grazing to protect the ecosystem.”
Heigl’s efforts helped mobilize a broad coalition, from grassroots activists to prominent animal welfare groups, uniting them under a shared goal: Stop the Onaqui roundups and promote humane solutions.
Public Rallies and Coalition Efforts
To increase pressure on policymakers and the BLM, Heigl and allied organizations announced and hosted the Wild Horse and Burro Freedom Rally on July 2, 2021, at the Utah State Capitol. The event drew attention from local media, national animal welfare organizations, and scores of activists.
- Speakers included Katherine Heigl and leaders from several advocacy groups.
- Rally attendees later traveled to the rangeland to witness the Onaqui horses in their natural habitat and highlight what was at stake.
- A coordinated letter-writing campaign urged President Biden and Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland to halt the roundups, gathering signatures from over 90 organizations and more than 1,100 individuals.
Key message: The coalition emphasized that wild horses are a public trust and living national heritage—not disposable obstacles to commercial interests.
Issues with BLM Management and Livestock Grazing
One major point of contention is the BLM’s prioritization of livestock grazing over the protection of wild horse populations.
- Public lands designated for wild horses often support tens of thousands of cattle and sheep—far outnumbering the mustang herds.
- Advocates argue that overgrazing from commercial livestock is the real driver of range degradation, not the relatively small horse populations.
- For years, livestock producers have secured government-subsidized grazing permits, while horses are blamed and removed under the pretext of land health.
Organizations and advocates, including Erika Brunson (Global Council for Animals), have sharply criticized the BLM’s approach, noting that “public land is legally dedicated to the public and wild horses, not commercial animals.” Brunson’s analysis of BLM reports revealed a flawed and ineffective management history, marked by costly roundups that have left more than 50,000 wild horses languishing in government captivity.
Humane Alternatives to Roundups
Several science-backed, humane options exist for managing wild horse populations on America’s rangelands. Animal welfare leaders, including Katherine Heigl, have forcefully advocated for these alternatives, emphasizing their efficacy and compassion.
- Fertility control via immunocontraceptive vaccines: Birth control vaccines such as PZP can be administered to wild mares to reduce population growth without removing horses from the range.
- Rangeland ecosystem management: Limiting commercial livestock grazing helps preserve forage and ecological balance, benefiting both horses and native wildlife.
- Improved planning and public involvement: Transparent decision-making and community stakeholder engagement can help design solutions that respect all interests while upholding the long-term welfare of wild horse herds.
These methods have been piloted successfully in various regions and enjoy broad support from wildlife scientists and animal protection organizations.
BLM Accountability and the Adoption Incentive Controversy
The BLM’s Adoption Incentive Program (AIP)—originally designed to increase adoptions of wild horses removed from the range—has come under intense scrutiny. Investigations and media reports have revealed alarming patterns of abuse:
- Participants receive $1,000 per horse but often sell unwanted horses to kill buyers, funneling them into slaughter in Mexico or Canada.
- Horses, including those from the Onaqui herd, have ended up in slaughter pipelines despite BLM assurances.
- Double-dipping: Some individuals profit both from the BLM incentives and from selling horses to slaughter, a practice funded in part by U.S. taxpayers.
This revelation has triggered calls for comprehensive reform and stricter oversight to ensure that no wild horse is sent to slaughter after removal from public lands.
How to Get Involved
Public support and advocacy have already made a substantial impact, raising awareness and pushing for policy change. Here’s how you can help:
- Attend rallies and events: Join in-person actions like the Wild Horse and Burro Freedom Rally to show your solidarity.
- Contact legislators: Write or call your Congressional representatives urging them to support humane wild horse management and an immediate halt to roundups.
- Support wild horse organizations: Contribute to groups such as Animal Wellness Action, The Cloud Foundation, and the Center for a Humane Economy.
- Educate others: Share information and resources on social media to spread awareness about the Onaqui horses and the need for responsible stewardship of public lands.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: Why are the Onaqui wild horses at risk?
A: The BLM’s plan to reduce the herd through helicopter roundups threatens to remove most of the horses from their ancestral range, placing them in holding facilities or exposing them to the risk of slaughter.
Q: What are the main arguments against the BLM roundup?
A: Opponents cite the roundups’ cruelty, ineffectiveness, and the fact that livestock—not horses—are the primary cause of rangeland degradation. Advocates also warn that roundups separate family bands and destroy herd genetics and social structure.
Q: What alternatives exist to roundups?
A: Fertility control programs, reduced livestock grazing, and collaborative rangeland management offer safe, humane, and sustainable ways to maintain wild horse populations without mass removals.
Q: How can I help protect the Onaqui herd?
A: Get involved through advocacy, contact with legislators, supporting wild horse organizations, and raising public awareness.
Q: What’s next in the fight to save America’s wild horses?
A: Continued public pressure, legal advocacy, congressional actions, and media attention are essential to secure a moratorium on roundups and to promote lasting reforms in wild horse management.
Take Action for Utah’s Wild Horses
With high-profile support from Katherine Heigl and a rapidly growing coalition of advocates, the Onaqui wild horses stand as a testament to the value—and vulnerability—of America’s living natural heritage. The ongoing battle to protect them is one of compassion, perseverance, and shared responsibility for the future of the West’s open spaces.
- For more details, visit SaveTheOnaqui.org and allied organization websites.
- Every voice and action counts in the fight to secure a safe and humane future for the Onaqui and all wild horses.
References
- https://www.thecloudfoundation.org/action-alerts-tcf/2021/6/18/freedom-rally-for-the-onaqui
- https://americanwildhorse.org/stories/actress-katherine-heigl-urges-congress-to-halt-wild-horse-roundup-7670
- https://animalwellnessaction.org/our-campaign-to-save-onaqui-horses-of-utah/
- https://patch.com/us/across-america/actress-katherine-heigl-advocates-utah-wild-horse-population
- https://americanwildhorse.org/stories/katherine-heigl-joins-effort-to-save-utahs-famous-herd-of-wild-horses-7674
- https://www.luckythreeranch.com/katherine-heigl-joins-the-fight-to-save-the-onaqui-wild-horses/
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