Roundup Report: Outside Antelope HMA Emergency Roundup

An emergency helicopter round up was slated to begin on Sunday, February 22, 2026, with only two days public notice. The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) planned to remove “approximately 300 excess” wild horses outside the Antelope HMA and Moriah HA in White Pine County, northeast of Ely, NV. 

The target area consists of approximately 30,000 acres of land and was focused on the southern end of Antelope Valley. BLM claims that due to overpopulation of horses on the HMA, the result is these horses residing outside the HMAs where the land is not managed for wild horses. This type of logic directly contradicts recent direction from the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals that requires the agency to consider a thriving ecological balance when determining that “excess” horses must be removed to preserve range health. 

At the time of the roundup, there is still no BLM roundup schedule published for the year. 

Agencies are given more flexibility in removing wild horses and burros facing emergencies that threaten their wellbeing. However, a good-faith use of this power should be based on urgent circumstances that do not permit the review process for the removal of wild horses based on appropriate management levels.  When agencies use “emergency” status for gathers without publicizing evidence for the basis used to declare an emergency, the public is unable to view the conditions listed for the removal.  In addition, the agency prevents adequate public scrutiny and comment, as required by governing authorities. 

AWHC had an observer on the ground documenting this roundup. Solid tarps surrounding the panels at temporary holding prevented any view of the body condition of horses to confirm what was being reported (BCS 2-4). 

Read on for the daily updates from our observer and the roundup summary.

Full Gather Totals: 344 horses captured including 131 stallions, 147 mares and 66 foals. There were three deaths with two listed as chronic and one acute neck fracture at the trap site. The horses will be transported to the National Wild horse and Burro Center at Palomino valley for processing and adoption and sale.

February 24, 2026

We met BLM personnel at 7:30am and arrived at observation for a new trap site at 8:30am. The trap site was approximately one-third of a mile from observation today. The helicopter was in the air by 8:45am, completing 7 runs by 12:30pm, with 107 horses captured. 

On the fourth run, a heavily pregnant mare fell back and was roped by wranglers who were having a hard time getting her into the pen. With foaling season imminent, handling practices and excessive stress on the pregnant animals are a concern. The horses, including the very pregnant mares, will now travel for hours being transported by semi-truck to Palomino Valley. 

Two horses died, one listed as a 17 year old black stallion with chronic low body score deemed unable to improve. The second was a yearling mare who suffered a neck fracture at the trap site. I believe this happened on the final run, but was unable to see where it happened. 

Daily totals: 107 horses captures, including 37 stallions, 46 mares, 24 foals and two deaths. 

‍February 23, 2026

We met BLM personnel at 6:00am. The helicopter was in the air at 7:39am and completed 7 runs, concluding just before 2:00pm with 76 horses captured. 

On the second and sixth runs, a horse evaded the trap and was roped by 3 wranglers and walked into the trap. Since the horses were being fully removed, leaving them behind was not an option.

I did not visit temporary holding today. 

Daily totals: 76 captures, including 29 stallions, 34 mares, 13 foals with no deaths. 

February 22, 2026

We met BLM personnel at 5:30am and arrived at the trap site at approximately 7:30am. The trapsite was approximately a mile from observation. The helicopter was in the air by 7:45 and completed 17 runs over the course of the day, capturing 161 horses. One six year old stallion was euthanized for a “pre-existing” broken hind leg. 

Observation of each run were not fully visible due to terrain and distance. Temporary holding was on private land, but we were able to observe. Solid tarps lined the panels blocking view of the condition of the horses, so were unable to confirm the claimed body condition scores of 2-4. 

Daily totals: 161 captured, including 65 stallions, 67 mares, 29 foals) with one death.