Wyoming's Wild Horse Roundup: BLM's Controversial Gathering in the Red Desert

Wyoming’s Bureau of Land Management (BLM) recently concluded one of its largest wild horseroundupsin the southwest part of the state. While controversial, many local residents believe it is necessary.

About80 percent of wild horsesin the Sweetwater County area were gathered between last fall and this January. This roundup is part of the ‘Wild Free Roaming Horses and Burros Act’ passed byCongressin 1971, which requires theBLMto manage wild horses when they overpopulate. According to theBLM, the number of horses in southwestern Wyoming was double what their data shows the land can sustain.

The majority of the 4,161 horses gathered will remain in captivity; however,659 of them were returnedtoBLMland.

They are treated with birth control using either PZP, a drug, or an IUD, an intrauterine device. On a windy day in mid-February, the last nine of the mares treated withfertility controlwere released back onBLMland, just outside Rock Springs.

A few spectators came to watch. Krista Hubbard, a Rock Springs resident who spends a lot of time onBLMland rockhounding and taking photos of the horses, said she initially was upset at theroundups, especially because they use a helicopter to gather the horses.

There were37 horse deathsduring the roundup; however, 27 were because of pre-existing conditions like a club foot. Although Hubbard said she did not like the horses being taken off the land, she understands why it is done.

Some national groups vehemently oppose theBLMroundups. According to theAmerican Wild Horse Conservation (formerly American Wild Horse Campaign), it is “costly and inhumane.” The organization claims that the land can sustain more wild horses than theBLMallows.

The majority of the horses gathered are put up for adoption. Lisanne Fear, a lifelong resident of nearby Sublette County, has adopted multiplemustangs.

She is currently riding a few of hermustangsacross the country, advocating for the adoption of wild horses. There are nearly 60,000 wild horses and burros inBLMcare nationwide, andaccording to BLM data, it costs about $50 million yearly to take care of them.

But, Fear said not rounding up the horses and leaving themalltofree roamon public land is not viable either.

Some ranchers say the horses compete for the vegetation on the land with their cows, but not all ranchers feel that way. Tara Miller, part-owner of Miller Land and Livestock in Sublette County, said she likesmustangs.

The majority of the horses from this year’s roundup are in long-term holding facilities, with about800 in the Rock Springs corrals. A lot of the horses will remain there until adoption, while some will go to horse training facilities and other long-term holding facilities across the state.

TheBLM’s Brad Purdy said it remains to be seen if there will be another roundup in southwest Wyoming.

TheBLM is currently assessingwhether there will be a wild horse roundup in the Lander area later this year.

Originally posted by Wyoming Public Media