UPDATE: 1,035 Wild Horses Captured & 17 Dead Following Wyoming’s Red Desert Helicopter Roundup
A controversial helicopter roundup in Wyoming’s Red Desert has ended with 1,035 wild horses captured and 17 deaths reported, intensifying concerns among animal protection advocates over the treatment of wild horses removed from public lands.
The operation, conducted by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), concluded on October 27 after nearly two weeks of roundup activities across the Stewart Creek and Green Mountain Herd Management Areas.
According to official BLM records, eight horses were euthanized after being determined to be blind, including a cremello mare and two cremello foals. The deaths have prompted renewed calls for greater veterinary oversight and accountability during helicopter roundups.
“We continue to urge BLM to have an on-site veterinarian at the trap to ensure every horse is properly evaluated before life-or-death decisions are made.”
As of October 28, the BLM reported that 944 captured horses had been transported to off-range holding, with the animals destined for a facility in Wheatland, Wyoming. AWHC also reported that 104 horses are expected to be returned to the range following fertility control treatments and gelding. No horses had been released as of the latest update.
AWHC shared:
“Our observers were on the ground at the roundup, documenting the events and the families fighting to remain free. On the final two days, our staff was the only public observer present.”
Despite the widespread captures, one extraordinary encounter offered a glimpse of the horses’ determination to remain free.
As AWHC described:
“Among the moments they witnessed was a palomino stallion leading his family up a hill and escaping the helicopter.”
The organization credited observers Darlene Smith and Carol Walker for their dedication to documenting the roundup and providing firsthand accounts of the operation.
The BLM describes the removals as part of its efforts to manage wild horse populations. Wild horse advocates, however, condemn helicopter roundups as cruel and are calling for more humane alternatives that protect these animals, preserve their family bonds, and allow more wild horses to remain free on public lands.
With additional roundups scheduled, the events in Wyoming’s Red Desert underscore the urgent need for greater transparency, humane treatment, and stronger protections for America’s wild horses.
