BLM to Round Up Half of Wyoming's Wild Horses

By Nicole Pollack, Casper Star Tribune

September 27, 2021

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is set to round up most wild horses in fiveherd management areasin southwestern Wyoming, starting as early as October 7. This decision aims to manage the wild horse population effectively.

Approximately 4,300 of the estimated 5,105 wild horses in the Great Divide Basin, Adobe Town, Salt Wells Creek, White Mountain, and Little Coloradoherd management areaswill be removed. These areas are home to most of Wyoming’sapproximately 7,700 wild horses.

Removed horses will undergo freeze branding, vaccination, deworming, and a Coggins test for Equine Infectious Anemia. About 800 horses will be returned to the range with temporary fertility controls administered to all returned mares, aiming to reduce the population to a target of 1,550–2,145. The remaining 3,500 horses will be available for adoption, pending medical and behavioral clearance.

TheBLM's actions align with a Trump-era goal of gathering up to 31,000 Western wild horses by the end of fiscal year 2022, potentially reducing the total count below 56,000, asE&E News reported last month.

Under the Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act of 1971, theBLMis required to maintain a minimum population of just under 3,800 wild horses in Wyoming. The agency can remove horses exceeding that number, driven by concerns that the landscapecannot sustain current wild horse numbers, especially as drought conditions worsen in the West.

“By managing wild horses at appropriate levels, theBLMcan better maintain herd and rangeland health and reduce trespass onto private land and highways,” stated theBLM.

The public can observe the roundup efforts by arranging with the agency, provided they bring their own supplies and do not interfere with operations. Daily reports on the horse gatheringwill be publicly available.

However, the plan to reduce Wyoming’s wild horse population by 45% to about 4,200 has faced criticism from wild horse advocates.

“All Americans should have a say in the future of these lands, which have been designated as habitat for federally-protected wild horses in the state,” said Suzanne Roy, executive director of the American Wild Horse Conservation (formerly American Wild Horse Campaign), in a statement.

Originally posted by Casper Star Tribune