UPDATE: 633 Wild Horses Captured In BLM Helicopter Roundups Across Three States, 10 Deaths Reported
Photo Credit: American Wild Horse Conservation (AWHC)
Hundreds of wild horses are being removed from the public lands where they roam freely across the western United States as the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) continues its controversial helicopter roundups. According to the agency’s latest reports, 633 wild horses, including 140 foals, have been captured across Utah, Wyoming, and Nevada since October 2, with 10 reported deaths.
For these wild horses, the roundups mean far more than capture. They can mean losing the only home they have ever known, being separated from their families, and facing an uncertain future in government holding facilities. These intelligent, social animals form deep bonds within their herds, making the separation of families especially heartbreaking.
In Utah, the BLM concluded its roundup in the Sulphur Herd Management Area on October 17. A total of 259 wild horses were captured, including 53 foals. Of those, 257 were transported to holding facilities, none were released, and two mares tragically lost their lives. According to the BLM, one mare had a broken front leg, while the other suffered from severe lameness.
“The roundup will separate established family bands and send hundreds of wild horses into the federal holding system.”
According to the BLM, horses removed from the Sulphur herd are being sent to the Sutherland Off-Range Contract Wild Horse Facility near Delta, Utah, where they will receive veterinary evaluations and be prepared for potential adoption or sale.
Meanwhile, helicopter roundups continue in Wyoming and Nevada, placing hundreds of additional wild horses at risk of removal.
In Wyoming’s Red Desert Complex, 287 wild horses had been captured as of October 19, including 64 foals, with seven reported deaths. The BLM attributed the deaths to pre-existing conditions, including two foals who were euthanized due to blindness. The agency plans to gather approximately 1,035 horses during the current phase of operations.
In Nevada’s North Complex, 87 wild horses had been captured, including 23 foals. One death was reported after an 11-year-old stallion suffered a broken hind leg in a holding corral and was euthanized.
The BLM maintains that the roundups are necessary to manage wild horse populations and protect limited water and grazing resources. However, wild horse advocates continue to raise serious concerns about the use of helicopters, the welfare of captured horses, and the long-term consequences of removing these animals from the wild.
These magnificent animals are more than statistics. They are sentient beings who deserve compassion, protection, and the freedom to remain wild and free in their natural habitat.
Our hearts and prayers are with the horses who have lost their lives and those who have been taken from the wild.
Keep them wild. Keep them free!
