The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) plans to remove over 14,000 wild horses from public lands across the western United States this summer and autumn, using helicopters to drive the animals into corrals. The agency cites increasing threats of drought and wildfire, which leave little food and water for the growing herds.
The removals will take place in several states, including Colorado, Nevada, California, Arizona and Oregon. The largest single operation is scheduled for August in Colorado's Piceance-East Douglas herd management area, where 911 mustangs will be rounded up from 200,000 acres of public land.
Animal rights advocates have condemned the helicopter roundups, arguing they cause injuries and fatalities as horses flee for miles across rough terrain. Protesters gathered outside a BLM office in Las Vegas on Monday, chanting, 'Keep our horses wild and free.' Maya Sinstress, a protester, said, 'If there's a problem with overpopulation of horses, there's other means that can be done, such as using birth control.'
In Colorado, Scott Wilson of the American Wild Horse Conservation said the plan to remove 1,111 mustangs would cost taxpayers $53 million and keep the animals in holding pens for life. He criticised the lack of progress despite the formation of a working group to find alternatives.
BLM spokesperson Steven Hall defended the roundups, stating they 'provide one of the safest, most efficient means of gathering wild horses.' He noted that herds can grow 15-20% annually without management, making fertility control essential. The agency aims to expand fertility treatments to reduce future roundups.
Hall also pointed to worsening drought and wildfire conditions. Colorado has seen wildfire numbers more than double over the past 20 years, and over half of the continental US currently faces drought. Some areas, like West Douglas, have already lost all forage to wildfires, making them unsuitable for horses.
