An advocacy group has identified seven sites in the Western United States where federal agencies might conduct wild horse roundups in September. Thousands of wild horses and burros are being gathered as officials aim to manage herd sizes to prevent overpopulation. The American Wild Horse Conservation (AWHC) has pinpointed several potential roundup locations in a social media post.
Roundup Locations
The AWHC highlights these locations as places where roundups could happen:
- Nut Mountain HMA – 9/1/26
- Bitner HMA – 9/1/26
- Massacre Lakes – 9/1/26
- Challis HMA – 9/9/26
- Sand Wash Basin – 9/17/26
- Fifteenmile – 9/15/26
- Jackson Mountains HMA – 9/20/26
The group stated, “Another roundup month begins,” stressing September as a crucial period to monitor activities and advocate for the animals’ welfare.
Government’s Roundup Plans
The federal government’s plans include various operations, such as gathers and fertility-control measures, across several Western states. For instance, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) intends to remove about 286 animals from Wyoming’s Fifteenmile Herd Management Area starting around September 15.
Newsweek contacted the BLM for comments regarding these plans.
Reasons for the Roundups
The BLM states that roundups protect both wild horses and public rangelands. Herds grow rapidly due to a lack of predators, potentially depleting resources and harming the environment. The agency aims to maintain herds at sustainable levels, using fertility control and animal removal as part of their management strategy.
Criticism of Helicopter Roundups
Advocacy groups criticize helicopter roundups as harmful. Return to Freedom notes these roundups can drive horses long distances over difficult terrain, separating family groups. The group suggests fertility control as a humane alternative to population management.
The AWHC adds that helicopter methods can cause stress, injuries, and deaths among horses, leading to high costs for taxpayers. The organization supports fertility control as a more suitable approach.
Opposition from Colorado Lawmakers
Colorado Governor Jared Polis and Representative Joe Neguse have requested a pause in helicopter roundups, following operations that captured around 800 horses, with six fatalities, in the Piceance-East Douglas area. They argue these methods are “inhumane” and propose consulting local parties to find more humane solutions.
They urged federal officials to provide evidence proving helicopters’ effectiveness over other methods.
For further information, contact Newsweek editors Alabama Jackson and Trevor Davies.