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BLM Looking For Burro Birth Control

The federal government is looking for help from scientists to control the West’s wild horse and burro population. The Bureau of Land Management wants to develop new forms of contraception.

The BLM estimates more than 33,000 wild horses and nearly 7,000 wild burros roam the western United States. But the animals have no natural predators and there has been years of controversy over how to limit the animals’ population growth.

A recent study says the BLM has been undercounting the animals, and urges the agency to better control the herds’ fertility. The BLM now says it’s asking veterinarians, scientists and pharmaceutical companies to develop new ways to get that done.

The BLM wants to spay or neuter the animals on the range, and one suggested method is developing a new intrauterine device, otherwise known as an IUD for a donkey.

Peter O’Dowd was a reporter and news director at KJZZ from 2009 to 2014.