A contentious plan to fully eliminate free-roaming horses from a Delaware-sized region in southwest Wyoming has cleared its environmental review process, and roundups are scheduled to start in about seven weeks.
The Bureau of Land Management on Thursday announced it has signed off on its earlier proposal to permanently remove more than 3,000 feral equines that dwell in the Great Divide Basin, Salt Wells Creek and Adobe Town herd areas. That proposal, outlined in an environmental assessment, elicited 2,138 comments from people and parties who wanted to share their views about horses dwelling in BLM’s Rock Springs and Rawlins field offices.
“I have carefully considered all public comments received on the EA and wish to thank all commenters for their interest in wild horse management in the project area,” BLM Rock Springs Field Office Manager Kimberlee Foster wrote in her decision, which was signed on Thursday. “This decision will be effective upon issuance and the actual gather start date will be subsequently scheduled.”
In a press release announcing the decision, BLM officials disclosed that start date: July 15.
The 2025 operation is expected to stretch for two months and target an estimated 3,624 horses in the Salt Wells Creek and Adobe Town herds. (The Great Divide Basin herd removal will follow in 2026.) This year’s operations are the largest horse-removal effort scheduled to take place across the West, according to the BLM’s tentative wild horse and burro gather schedule.
“Litigation” is listed as the purpose of the Salt Wells Creek and Adobe Town operations in that schedule.
Wyoming’s checkerboard region — a 40-mile-wide region where public and private land meet at common corners — has not only spawned the high-profile public land access dispute that could be decided by the U.S. Supreme Court. It’s also caused a long-running dispute over free-roaming horse management.
Some 15 years ago, the cattle and sheep-centric Rock Springs Grazing Association, which owns and leases about 1.1 million acres of private land in the checkerboard, revoked consent for feral horses to roam its property.
Wild horse advocacy groups and the horse-leery grazing association have been sparring with the BLM ever since. Lawsuits from both parties have targeted the BLM’s planned actions, but last summer U.S. District Court for Wyoming Judge Kelly Rankin, a Biden appointee, ruled in the federal government’s favor in both cases.
Subsequently, a coalition of pro-horse petitioners — the American Wild Horse Campaign, Animal Welfare Institute, Western Watersheds Project, Carol Walker, Kimerlee Curyl and Chad Hanson — petitioned the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals. Oral arguments took place in March.
“I think we just have to keep our powder dry and wait and see which way the court rules so we can figure out our next steps,” Western Watersheds Project Executive Director Erik Molvar said.
BLM’s Foster expects that decision “soon,” she wrote in response to emailed questions.
“If that decision alters the planned gather,” she wrote, “BLM will notify the public.”
Foster’s decision also marked the onset of an administrative appeal process. Within 30 days, members of the public and organizations that “have standing” and submitted comments during earlier stages of the federal environmental review process can appeal.
“The appeal must state clearly and concisely why you think the decision is in error,” Foster wrote in her decision.
Because Office of Hearings and Appeals regulations don’t allow electronic filing, appeals must be sent via snail mail. They must be “served simultaneously” to the following three addresses:
Rock Springs Field Office
280 Highway 191 North
Rock Springs, Wyoming 82901
Office of Hearings and Appeals
Interior Board of Land Appeals
801 North Quincy St., Suite 300
Arlington, Virginia 22203
Office of the Regional Solicitor
Rocky Mountain Region
755 Parfet St., Suite 151
Lakewood, Colorado 80215
When the 30-day appeal period lapses on June 28, there are no additional steps in the BLM’s process. The documents released Thursday constitute the final decision to authorize the whole-herd removals, according to Foster.
Free-roaming horses gathered out of the Great Divide Basin, Salt Wells Creek and Adobe Town herd areas are offered up through BLM’s adoption and sales programs. Those not selected or of the right temperament will live out their days pastured on private land in places like the Centennial Valley west of Laramie or Oklahoma.
I am appalled at Kimberlee and the state of Wyoming for allowing the elimination of these magnificent horses from their home. Money always makes for an evil motive to persuade humans to do unspeakable things.
This is a shameless “wipeout plan” for one of America’s and the West’s last substantial mustang herds! And so I ask you: What will the West be like without its vast and vigorous, wonderful wild horses! To me it will be but an empty shell of its former self, a body without a soul!
This is ridiculous!!! These horses have been here for years and years! Why and what gives the government the right to come in and banish part of the ecosystem that has been around and a very large part of the eco system for decades?? That is just not right! Shame on you!! We don’t walk into your house and take what belongs to you and remove them bc you want to let other animals graze there!! Those mustangs play a very large part of the ecosystem!!! You’re nothing but greedy! Let the cow farmers keep their cows and animals on their own land and leave the mustangs alone!!! They were there first, they’re on the open “free land”. Just let them be! Tell cow farmers if they don’t have enough land for their cows, either feed them inside or put up to keep them on their own land!!! Free the mustangs!!!
Your anger should be directed at the ranchers association that revoked permission for these horses to graze and has asked the government to eliminate them.
It must be done. When they overgraze the land there ls no alternative. However it must be done humanely.
Horse’s have been here for a long time,I am ninty years old.I hope we live them along.still love ❤️!!!henri Berlanga
What will happen to the horses? Will private citizens be able to catch horses? And if so how do you sign up?
Why destroy wild horses families ftom freedom to cruelty corals or secret slaughter ,, please let them be they need each other as family like as humans do
Cruel gathering please let them be
😡😡😡😡😡😡😡🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬so where are u sending them, slaughter house, glue factory or dog food factory…. y’all seem to think they eat all the wildlife food, well take a million or so from all these people putting in for tags and not drawing and buy some damn hay and feed everything besides yourselves. I’m a hunter and blm and dwr make me sick what your doing!!!!!!!!!
This is so wrong in every way. Leave these innocent animals alone.
Why does man feel the need to interfere Nature? It is so destructive to break families and take them from their home. Did we learn nothing from the Trail of Tears? What makes horses any different?
If reduction of herd numbers is truly the goal there are other methods. Shots to mares and fillies of a 5 year hormone that prevents pregnancy and geld all colts and stallions. Continued adoption efforts. I personally believe that cheep grazing for cattle/ sheep ranchers is the actual goal and wild horses a national treasure that belongs to all of us will be the price.
I hate this!! It’s a travesty that DOGE cut money from almost every public service, but retained funds to slaughter wild horses. They are sentient, emotional mammals and deserve humane treatment and honor. This is such a betrayal to wildlife and a deliberate suck-up to ranchers and those who would rape our public lands for profit.
Please don’t destroy these wild horses. They were here before man. If I had lots of money I would take them all to my own property and let them roam.
Round them up. Send them to Mexico for slaughter. There are countries that still eat horse meat. Mexico , Japan, France are 3.
Larry, have you ever owned a horse? I have owned horses and cattle. If we can send man to the moon why can’t we figure this out?? The horses should not pay!
There needs to be a birth control effort for wild mustangs. Chincoteague ponies on the north end of Assateague (the 1/2 that’s part of Virginia) are managed in this way (mares are darted). The 4 private ranches listed, that contract to provide pasture for former BLM horses, currently house ~1200 horses total. How are they going to suddenly absorb 3,000 more? Other mustangs are moved around from auction to auction and kept on dry lots for extended periods. This is cruel. This needs to be managed better. It seems the sheep and cattle’s needs (meaning the profit of their owners) is being prioritized more and more over time.
The blm is a corrupted agency, the public doesn’t belong to the ranchers , it’s a crime against the wildlife , I was over last weekends it’s foals season , they are going to separate families , they are going to kill some of them , plus the big heat , those roundup must to stop , we must fight against those monsters 🤬🤬🤬🤬
Have those signing and backing the elimination of these feral horses considered getting in contact with other states having accomodations and veterinary resources to keep the number of feral horses under control? Can they share the financial/costs of doing so with other states? There are already costs involved in removing and eliminating them that could be diverted to preserving strategies. Does this state has the veterinary resources to also help keeping the feral horses population under control, this of course means the fixing them? I just think about a book of authority saying: “The righteous one takes care of his domestic animals” (Proverbs 12:10). So, taking righteous decisions are extremely important.
Every God-damned day there’s some new appalling action being taken by this government. It’s disgusting, and history will never forgive them for what they’re doing to this country.
This article broke my heart to read. These horses are a part of Wyoming wildlife and have a right to life just like we don’t. I grew up with the opportunity to ride a mustang the my sister acquired and took with her to school. She was one of the most intelligent and beautiful creatures I ever had the opportunity to love and spend time with. She was one of Wyoming’s mustangs they had born in captivity but she was truly a magnificent animal. These animals are a part of the wildlife and should be viewed with most respect than just deciding they don’t serve a purpose and putting them down. All of nature serves a purpose. I see humans as the only creatures who would decimate an entire population just to benefit themselves. My family and I will always support the horses before we stand and support the BLM. I pray that the judgements are swayed because these animals are worth so much more.
Won’t the removal of that many horses cause the predators to now go for cattle amd sheep? Or other smaller animals? I guess we’re gonna find out arnt we. Sad sad turn of events.
As a citizen with Conservative and Libertarian economical and political views I believe that it is morally and ethically wrong to eliminate these animals. The question is who will profit from this endeavor? Because somebody will, that is for certain. A very similar notion takes place when it comes to the existence of grizzly bears in that part of our Country. Developing territories that are meant to be wild and free is wrong, and it is in conflict with one of the main purposes of our national parks’ system, which is the preservation of disappearing nature. Ironically, the government should enforce and protect, but it is the number one enemy of what it claims to protect.
Who is profiting by this, by name, since I have to put my name under my comments?
Best regards.
It’s mentioned briefly in the article, Jack — the party that stands to profit is the Rock Springs Grazing Association, which represents private ranchers in the area. They’ve demanded that the government eliminate these mustang herds so that they can graze more cattle in this region.
Horses are really contentious issue, especially in the west. They symbolize the free wild West. The reality is, however that just like the iconic tumbleweed, it is an invasive species. It is a very destructive introduced non-Native species. Feral, meaning wild doesn’t cover nativity. The horses absolutely destroy riparian ecosystems and the rare vegetation that grows in them, introduces non-native species, , ruins the water quality, kills ecosystem services, including recreation, flood control, plant and animal species richness and cover and food web complexity, nutrient cycling, etc. Plus, I don’t need to tell y’all that water is one of our most precious resources. I think perhaps the author could’ve made mention of the reasons why the towns don’t want the feral horses, by the BLM doesn’t want the feral horses, etc. it may be over 1,000,000 acres, but guess how many acres of riparian habitat are on that Millon? And what percentage of the time do you think the horses are spent congregating at these parents in Springs? It ends up that the watering holes are disproportionately used compared to the rest of the less fecund acreage. i certainly cannot for the life of me figure out why an organization called Western watersheds is pro feral horses. Without using any loaded language, this makes the deal and look bad for no reason. I’m so sorry but I can’t be bothered to fix all the punctuation and grammar list because the app is being really weird, but please know I know how to use a comma and stuff.
yes but so are the millions of cattle and sheep we raise for food and profit. wyoming is no more wild with or without feral horses. the devastating effects of domesticated herd animals reaches far beyond horses. it seems as though feral horses are the scapegoat for a much greater issue: cattle overabundance, and the gigantic co2 emissions they create.
It is a scientific fact that the wild and free roaming horses are a much less damaging factor on these environments than the cattle and sheep that will replace them. Horses roam up to 20 miles and more, away from water sources to seek food. How ever cattle do not. Cattle remains within a couple of mile from any water source. In doing so they trample the surrounding terrain and keep other “native” wildlife away from water sources. The displaced native wild life then either have to find other water sources, which are few. Or they die out causing other problems with the natural eco system. If you have ever seen wild horses at the watering areas it is a much different story. They travel to the water once or twice a day. Each herd or family band takes its turn in a fairly orderly fashion to drink and enjoy time in and at the water. Then within a short time they move off to wander away back to their grazing areas. This creates a flow of animals coming and going from the water source. Unlike cattle that will linger and wallow in the water for hours, urinating and defecating in the very water they and the native wild life needs for drinking and survival. This behavior has been know to poison natural watering sources for all.
Another fact is the way the different species eat. Cattle and sheep rip the grasses and other food source from the ground, pulling up the roots of the vegetation and consuming it. That is why sheep specifically are used to “clear” land for fire abatement and in some places clearing land for builders and land developers. Also cattle not only pull the vegetation up and consume roots, but being such heavy animals and heavy grazers they trample what they don’t eat. This destroys any chance for recovery the vegetation might have. Horses on the other hand tear the vegetation further from the ground level, therefor leaving root systems in tact so that it has a chance to recover and regrow. Horses also do not trample the land. They have a much lighter foot print on the soil. Also since horses travel 20miles or more each day they cover more space grazing not just devastating small areas of all the plant life.
Sounds like we need to boycott the rock springs grazing association!
40 years ago, horses were rarely seen in these areas. I remember it being quite the sight if you happened to run into a herd. Very cool. Now there are so many that it’s not a somewhat rare occurrence. A few years ago, I remember being on a knoll and surveying the landscape near Adobe Town. There were over 150 horses in 6 or 7 different herds. Being a particularly dry summer, water was scarce. The horses had overtaken the few water sources that were not yet used up or dry. They basically homesteaded the area to the detriment of any native ungulate that needed a drink. Antelope and deer were basically cut off from the water sources. Elk too, although they were allowed access if the herd was big enough. While a member of the Muley Fanatic Foundation, we erected steel-jack fencing to keep the horses out of the natural springs while still allowing deer, antelope and elk access. Otherwise, the springs would be DESTROYED by the horses continually stomping their hooves into the water to splash upon themselves in order to cool off. The springs generally restored themselves after the horse enclosures were built. Although I’m sure there has been no maintenance since then, the fences were put there to try to stop the erosion from the horses. Why should horses be exempt from removal from the range? Ungulate removal is done to keep the herds in check so that they don’t exceed carrying capacity. What is the carrying capacity for horses? They just get free reign regardless of whether or not there are too many for the available range? That’s not good wildlife biology. Sorry folks, but they need removed. Trust me, they will definitely be back.
Leave the Horses alone & remove all cattle, which are an invasive species & destroy everything in the environment.
This is our government for you. Dumb city people making decisions on land they have never set a foot on. But money is everything to them. They have no clue what goes on beyond there computers. And they are out to make money not lose it. So what makes more money the cattle that they allow to take all the grass. Leaving the wild animals hungry. Inwhitch they knew these animals were on the land they bought or lease. So they knew what they were getting into before they signed the contract. But these people again decide that their cattle should have all the grass. This should not be allowed. The are making money for pennies on the dollar from the cattle. But that money they are making just get them more cattle and more grazing. And then complain to their high dollar governed people to change the laws. To kill wild animals that were on that land before they were born. Next they will start eliminating well elk, deer, moose, lions, just so they can make more money. The fools don’t think about their grandkids and their grandkids never seeing animals in the wild. Only in zoos. Because people don’t care about anything but money. Killing of wildlife. Building houses on streams. Tearing up nature’s heaven. All because they have money. That don’t have a clue about dirt, tree’s, animals, ect. Or how they live. Money is all that counts to these people. Common sense did not.
I’m surprised that this hasn’t happened Long time ago Sheep vs Cattle in this Area Grassing 😳 where Are Theses Wild Mustangs headed to today 🤔 ❔️❓️🤠🇺🇲
You can help save the wildhorses by letting the govt agencies manage their numbers.
😂🤣
You’re joking of course!
This is NOT okay. Are we just going to sit here and let them kill thousands of horses? What did they do?!
I don’t see a reason for BLM’s 100% removal of the wild horses from this checkerboard area. The comments Kimberlee Foster mentioned she looked at re this removal, some 2,000, what were they? Yes or nay for or against this removal? All seems vague; BLM just saying, “Well we’ve decided to remove all these horses from 3 areas in the Checkerboard.” Okay, why are you removing all the horses? Ranchers want a shopping mall or cow motel? I can say 100% its the ranchers pushing our western icons and heritage to extinction or sentences to life time holding pens on private ranges where no horseperson can ever see them again. Nothing in this whole debacle rings true or ethical to me, a reasonable and credible person of some years. Former law enforcement with many years of legal education makes me feel a rat is in the BLM’s woodpile in WY. My gut is seldom wrong. Wild horses survive on their instincts, but BLM is targeting total removal, and how do they escape this scenario? Their speed, stamina and instincts can compete with total anniliation. We, as advocates, must organize and act; write appeals, letters, back wild horse groups, etc. or all the wild horses will be gone from their home range. We need a “peaceful” revolution as Willie Nelson once sang. Action, not reaction. I have a WY mustang mare FB #19864823 HF1ADAABC
Titled 9-28-23. She was adopted 9-28-22 to a man in Konawa, OK, under the now defunct AIP $1,000 Incentive program. I found her at Stroud, OK killpen last year. I paid for her, $850, had her transported to Texas, $325, QT’d her 30 days and she is here now. These killpens make a mint off these dumped wild horses. Adopter kept her a year and never touched her. She was wild when I got her. So many wild horses get dumped to the slaughter pipeline; 7 dumped at Kemp. TX lot. Ones not saved will ship to Mexico this weekend. Several 2 yr old mustangs in this group not safe. Last Chance Direct Ship Horses, Kemp, TX.
Money and land will always win. Our judicial system is tainted and nothing innocent will ever continue. Wr have failed the humanity test and this world I hope never to see again. All my work for good was wasted. I want to just vomit
Where are you going with the horses after caught. Are you going to cull them or where are they going.
Okay, maybe I’m not fully awake. I read this article twice. What will happen to the horses that will be removed? I understand why they’re being removed. I believe that it’s humans that are taking land for their own use and pushing others, out.
Time to slow down the human population. We wouldn’t have these issues. There are just too many people, 8 billion. And humans are the ones with the highest intelligence,
makes me laugh..
This is absolutely disgusting. Shame on them. None of the ppl involved can claim to be animal lovers. These majestic animals have a right to live, just like us. Another reason to be disgusted by the human race. I can only pray it stops.
I am just concerned they will go to be sold at auction in kill pens & be sent to slaughter at the Mexican. & Canadian borders for meat by the lb. for dog food & human consumption internationally..
I am hoping & praying, that’ is not the end game , for the government to make some money off of these once majestic, free & wild beautuful creatures.
Unnecessary, a vaccine for horse pregnancy was invented (by Dr Jay Kirkpatrick of Montana) and used around the world 30 years ago. Wyoming just likes to do it the cowboy way, waste money, have their helicopters and big roundup events, spend lots of money. Why didn’t Dodge cut the BLM funding? Guys driving around ticketing people for taking pictures of wildflowers 5 feet off the dirt road (not talking about dumb tourists doing dangerous things).
Some resolve to make appeals for the horses not to move. That’s respectable to keep the horses moving along so that the horses don’t get stuck. The horses have options but not say. That’s superb. C’mon Animal rights? Have a good day
Leave those beautiful horses alone. If anything move them to another area where their lives r not jepardized!!! They have every right to live as much as you and the next guy.The lord put them on this earth for a reason just like certain people have.; Good people. Not people who kill animals cause they don’t like them.Those people need to b put away somewhere where they can think about being good . Those horses should be moved not slaughtered!!!!!
I see both sides. The horses are free to the land, but much of the land is privately owned. I believe it is God who put us in charge of caring for the animals. Is that right? He didn’t separate free from private. Like if squirrels were living on private land, they could & should be destroyed cuz they have no right to be there.
BLM decides that land owners have all the rights. Ok. As intelligent human beings, can we figure out a way of relocating the horses? If not, can a more humane way be found to destroy them? A way that doesn’t traumatize them all?
What gives BLM the right to remove the horses? They are animals, they were here before any man other than Native Americans.
What a bunch of heartless butchers. I hope there is really karma and these people rot in hell. Leave the wild horses alone leave the wolves and bears the only mammals that need to decrease their herd is human
Why are these horses being terminated? What are their destructions to the land or cattle ranchers?
Leave the horses alone they have done nothing to anybody they just want to be left alone to live in peace
Humans do more damage than any animal could we are so destructive and hell been on killing everything and destroying everything we touch
That’s alot of horse’s being removed in the next couple years. All will not be adopted. A large amount will go overseas for meat. Sad but true. Theres no easy life for these majestic horses. Just death and extenction. Going in the direction of the American bison and other creatures that were at the managment of humankind or should I say humannotkind.
I’m baffled at how any human being can live with themselves in favor of rounding up these beautiful majestic horses and burrows. Even in the Bible in Genesis it states that God created all animals for our pleasure and expects us to care and love the animals and the land. It just sickens me to think what will become of all of these angels. I believe in the power of prayer. We should all join together in prayer that the people in power over these roundups will have their eyes opened to what they’re doing and come to their senses..let’s trust that this will be turned around in the courts.
How do you sleep at night?
Why do they need this land? What is going to happen to all these equines? Are you selling them to make more money and destroy the wild lands of the west? It breaks my heart to hear this.
ABSOLUTELY WRONG AND SUCKS!
HUMANS ARE NOTHING BUT KILLING MACHINES🤮🤮☹☹😖😖😡😠🤬😭😭😢😢😥😥💔💔💔💔💔💯💯🤞🤞🤞🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏
Oh no, just more sad news for wild life!
Why can’t you gather all the males stallions yearlings weenlings leave the mares do it again the next year collect the males and the mares will eventually dwindle off checking every once in awhile to see if there is a stallion around.
What is wrong with you? Don’t touch those horses; they are an American symbol of Freedom, they were here before you and your organization was, why do you want to kill everything?
What will they do with the horses
Sad. I was raised in southern Wyoming, always enjoyed seeing the mustangs in the wild.
I’d put myself in the category of Conservative Libertarian, and this is one of those issues the Fed needs to step away from.
These Animals are “Wyoming”, living free and wild. Too decimate these herds would be horrible. I can understand limiting the birthrate, for health concerns of these animals and the cattle ability to feed aswell.
But we shouldn’t wipe them out, there’s the “free & wild” aspect, as well asthe history to how they got here.
All of interest to many visitors and locals.
On a side note, i wonder if this is phase one of the plan, to wipe these herds out, and then be able to build infrastructure here at a later date.
You should do a little more research on wildhorse populations. There are thousands of wildhorses adjacent to this herd management area (HMA). They will eventually repopulate this area over time. It is nearly impossible to keep these wildlands free of wildhorses so a clean sweep is necessary from time to time. These animals are feral and non-native. They increase populate by about 20% each year, you can see them all over the western United States, they are not rare and mostly likely will never be rare. Wildhorse numbers are out of control, they cost over a $100 million dollars a year to manage herds and keep the captured wildhorses alive in Kansas and Nebraska on ranches and farms (about 70,000 out there now). Most of these horses are unadoptable and will be, as you might say, wards of the state for a few decades. The wildhorse legislation was never meant to allow unchecked populations of wildhorses to roam the west and destroy wildlife habitat for other animals, it was to management wildhorse population levels so they did not destroy the land that they live on. I hate to say it but the wildhorse “Nuts”, will not compromise on management of the wildhorse because all horses are holy to them. If you care about the west you will let the agencies manage wildhorse numbers and allow reasonable populations of wildhorses to exist in areas where all animals are sustainable. There ya go.
Only one word,,: God says: Your destruction of animals will terrify you.
I agree, totally 👍👍
You mean my tax dollars should support cattle and sheep grazing instead?
Leave my Wild Horses and Burros alone.
I do not support the beef industry’s right over the horses.
Total Removal of Wild Horses or any animal for exploited purposes or human greed is wrong. Especially since this is ignoring basic biological principles of ecosystems and preserving the landscape. Find a better way than removing innocent animals.
Why does man feel the need to interfere Nature? It is so destructive to break families and take them from their home. Did we learn nothing from the Trail of Tears? What makes horses any different?
The horses were given the right to live. The property was given to them! It is about the cattle and ranchers! Actually, I understand both sides…..like the Indians and whites! How wrong were we there? THINK ABOUT THIS!!!!
Total Removal of Wild Horses or any animal for exploited purposes or human greed is wrong. Especially since this is ignoring basic biological principles of ecosystems and preserving the landscape. Decrease cattle and ranching is the answer to maintenance and getting back healthy ecosystems.
I agree with all points made in these. This is so wrong! $$$Greed and not intelligent care of Land or animals.
Thier hearts get rougher and more rotten with every stroke. All the way up the $$$ chain.
Why don’t you start rounding up all the people that are against horses .what there are most people out there than there are horses. And while your at it take away all the vehicles too because if you can’t appreciate horses than you need to start walking cause there horses under your hood !!!!!!!
Presently, the BLM short’-term and long-term holding facilities for rounded up horses are full. I suggested to the director of the BLM Wild Horse and Burros Program that they stop roundups until have room to take good care of the horses.
Please people come together & stop this inhumane gathering. This land belongs to qGod & He put these horses there. They do not harm the land. This is their home. Man had already broken up herds & caused foals to die also the older horses by chasing them with helicopters. Please you that live in the area, protest & stop this greedy stupidity.
What gives you the Wright to play God and remove wild horses! Soon you will get rid of all the wild life ! Then us as human are done!
That does it , our govt. Sucks totally and never want to visit the areas that do that. While they are at it gather all the excess humans as well.
I’ve faught the BLM here in Nevada. It’s not a pretty picture! It is absolutely discusting that BLM continue to win against these murdering mares in foal!!! Break legs and let the horses die as they kill these beautiful GOD blessed animals. It is INHUMANE~ THESE BLM GUYS/GIRLS NEED TO BE STOPPED!!! GOD, BLESS YOUR BEAUTIFUL HORSES. PRAY THIS WILL BE STOPPED! J. Voigts
Why do the horses need to be removed? It’s their habitat. I think they should be left alone.
Hi, I would like to write and then send
3 letters to the addresses mentioned in your article. Your article says that the letters need to be “simultaneously served” to
the 3 agencies. What does “simultaneously served” mean? Can I mail them through regular US mail. Or do they need to be certified letter? I am confused. Please tell me how to do this. Connie Buntin Boston, MA
Why is this “roundup” taking place during the hottest time of the year?
Because the cattle barons pay lobbyists to influence legislators to kill them all, so only livestock can graze the land with NO competition, for pennies on the dollar.
What can we do to help save these beautiful wild horses & burros?
This is terrible terrible news. 😢🐴🙏
Get it done. These horses are not wild and should not continue to be prioritized at the expense of actual native wildlife.
native wildlife…as in sheep znd cattle?
we have to follow the money The Greedy Welfare Cattle Ranchers Association is behind this Removal.All they want is to more Cattle on our Public Land to Continue to Line there fat pockets .
The way I see it alot of these poor horses will eventually be sold off to slaughter houses as we know the BLM facilities are full .
Cattle, sheep and other domestic animal grazing does more damage to the habitat then the horses do!! This is just human greed. Not to mention that BLM land is public land and they don’t have a right to change it without the public ‘s approval. When they do they rent it to ranchers and the money goes to the government, not public benefit.
You mean my tax dollars should support cattle and sheep grazing instead?
Leave my Wild Horses and Burros alone.
I do not support the beef industry’s right over the horses.
A sterilizing system of horses ,so they can’t reproduce so many wild horses would be the humane thing to do.The BLM has proven their management abilities on the Bundy ranch in the past when harry reed wanted to drill on the land for his revelalitives in the past and blm ran over buddy’s cattle and trampled his land,BLM needs to be replaced with farm and ranch that knows how to take care of land and animals.
For the good of native and invasive species, I believe a common ground has been met with this decision to move the horses.
This is wrong. Those horse belong there. This mass killing is disgusting and I hope everyone human involved gets thier Karma. They were here first it’s thier home. Let them be.
not killing! Read the article!
Ike everything else the government is lying. They’ll hold the horses for a few years then send them to slaughter.
It is killing, because the horses end up in the slaughter pipeline. Adoption doesn’t work. The BLM should be closed down, they work on greed and corruption. They don’t care what the public wants only the ranchers. Colorado saves their wild horses for tourism.
Have you seen those “holding pens?”
No shade, no water, barely food, overcrowded, bleeding.
Foals driven to death.
Anything resembling a senior killed.
There is no justice here, to drive horses in the heat of summer.
No honor, no justice, no peace for America’s Wild Horses.
Not on my tax dollars!!!
Sad, cruel and letting cattle and sheep ranchers dictate what animals are acceptable on certain PUBLlC land. BLM can and does manage wild horse herds, they have the ability. I am blessed sick of being told by the ranchers what is best on public lands– no wolves, no mountain lions, no horses, but we the public should be able to have a say. BLM routinely uses PZP as an effective fertility drug for wild horses that prevents reproduction. GO onto blm.gov site and read about their fertility control operations planned for 2025 in CO, AZ, OR, ID, UT, CA and some areas in WY. Then Ask yourself why this very cost-effective option is not being offered here?
Time to remove the grazing associations lead role in this saga. And the job of the BLM is not to simply do their bidding. Wild land belongs to all of us. Maybe the BLM should gather these grazing associations and their livestock and remove them instead.
RSGA is private land. Private. Not ours. Not yours. Theirs.
Let’s follow the science! The BLM says some of the horses need to be removed.
I agree, good comment. The RSGA has too much clout. As I understand it, they’re just a small number of ranchers, trying to control what happens in public lands. That’s very wrong. The BLM is probably also acting unlawfully. They should not manage the land for livestock, but for wild horses and wildlife too.
So you round up the entire Hurd of wild horses without any injuries. Then take them to auction? I don’t think they will ever have a chance to live a good life It makes me sad
Mustangs, an invasive species? To make a long story short, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) manages mustangs for the benefit of the public land ranching grazing interests and wildlife. They don’t consider mustangs natural wildlife; hence, they continually reduce the mustangs on public land by rounding them up then disposing of them. Ranchers with grazing leases don’t like them because they compete for forage on cattle and sheep grazing leases. Game and Fish don’t like them because they compete for forage against endemic wildlife. The mustangs of the Greater Yellowstone are not wild in the sense of being native to the area, to the consternation of those mentioned above; they are not endemic to North America. Or are they?
Maybe it’s time we stopped thinking of wild horses as invasive pests, and started celebrating them as a successful reintroduction. When Europeans brought horses back to the Americas they were reintroducing a long-time indigenous species that very likely was wiped out by man. It could be construed that the conquistadors, albeit accidentally, launched the first reintroduction of an endangered species in the Americas.
Maybe it’s time we stopped thinking of wild horses as invasive pests, and started celebrating them as a successful reintroduction. When Europeans brought horses back to the Americas they were reintroducing a long-time indigenous species that very likely was wiped out by man. It could be construed that the conquistadors, albeit accidentally, launched the first reintroduction of an endangered species in the Americas.
Just pull quotes from a longer article I wrote.
If the BLM rounds them all up, more horses will come. I have read in the past where the BLM has used selective roundups by releasing the genetically significant Spanish mustang horses back onto the range and keeping other feral horses from diluting the bloodlines by sending them to auction or holding facilities as mentioned in other posts, i.e. Oklahoma etc. Why do they have to remove them all? They can then use pzp for fertility control among the actual true mustang herds. Another concern is that auctions aren’t always monitored against kill buyers between this and type the way Roundup’s are conducted can be improved greatly. Roundup during high heat and when foals are young are not necessary. More people need to contact and petition the BLM to change their protocols.
So we should introduce elephants just because there were mammoths here once? The horses that lived here in the past were a very different animal.
Why can’t this country have laws that protect all animals ?
So many horrible things that people do to them and they only pay a fine as punishment . This is so wrong!
These are God’s creatures. Do what is right!
I can not believe that they are removing every horse. What happen to the land being theirs and them being protected? Over 2 million acres and they are taking every horse man Needs to retire
Hey can do of hide them
I got 150 acres of grass here in louisiana , i went to blm sale , early morning , over 2/3 of horses had already been reserved on line and i asked to see if i could purchase 10 and was told 2,was the limit
In the title of article it uses the word eleminated , relocated would be a better word . The horses have no chance , with the prices of beef thru the roof now and in the future they are targets
I think it is past due. I frequent the area where the the lander herd was removed last year. There is more wildlife now and the one gets the sense that the land is in recovery, its main intruder removed
I think some commenters didnt read the last paragraph of the article.
“Free-roaming horses gathered out of the Great Divide Basin, Salt Wells Creek and Adobe Town herd areas are offered up through BLM’s adoption and sales programs. Those not selected or of the right temperament will live out their days pastured on private land in places like the Centennial Valley west of Laramie or Oklahoma.”
I have friends and neighbors that have adopted these wonderful horses.
A great film documenting adopted BLM horses is called “Unbranded”.
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3020666/
This is a huge win for native wildlife and plant species in the area. I spent a good deal of time running in the desert in southwest Wyoming. These unchecked herds of feral horses with no natural predators destroy large swathes of habit and out complete native ungulates.
If they don’t increase the numbers of cattle or sheep, but I bet they do
I live in Virginia. Articles in the last year about how Wyoming treats animals have been astonishing. While your state was at one time on my list explore, no more! You people should be ashamed
I am in no way pro-cattle/sheep and in college was did some of my education in big game biology at UW. Everyone loves the idea of “wild” horses roaming the western plains. However, these are not a native species. They have fewer predators than native species so overpopulation is an issue. They are ruining habitat for native species – who’s populations are managed by predators and hunting. People outside Wyoming might see the vast open spaces and thing “what’s the problem, there’s plenty of room”. But this is harsh habitat and all the land doesn’t have a lot of forgeable feed. Even if the association didn’t want them on the leased land, they are still a problem.
The options are not good (separate from removing them from this land). Do nothing and over time they starve and native species starve. Start a “horse hunting season” like we have deer, elk and antelope hunting? They’ve tried adoption programs and there’s not enough people who want to adopt them. Round them up and keep them in feed lots, but to what end (expensive and inhumane). Round them up and start a spay and neuter program – not sure the feasibility of this. The organizations that want to “save” the wild horses need to come up with a realistic plan other than just “leave them alone”.
Thank you.
Why is America ridding of their iconic mustangs off of the very land they have roamed for hundreds of years? Beyond horrific.
They are not a native species. Technically, they are an invasive species. Should we give horses priority over natives species like deer, antelope, elk and moose? Just because they’ve been here along time doesn’t mean they belong here.
“Horses are non-native so let’s get rid of them so our non-native cattle and sheep can use the land” 🤠
Good point Riki, Mountain goats were culled/killed in Grand Teton NP a couple years back.
Here’s an older Wyofile article explaining the removal of non-native species.
https://wyofile.com/grand-teton-civilian-mountain-goat-gunning-a-go-again/
you mean over cows and sheep don t you
Horses ARE native. The only people who insist that they are “invasive” are the people who want them removed. Wild horses belong on the range and should be treasured for their benefits to the ecosystem instead of vilified and used as scapegoats for damage done by cattle and sheep. Horses do have plenty of natural predators but the only reason there aren’t enough predators to keep the populations balanced is because ranchers, who think they are entitled to dictate how our public lands are used, have decimated the predator populations to protect their invasive sheep and cattle.
The very least wild horses are, is a reintroduced native species Dr B Shapiro, the wild horse genome project. They evolved in North America and came back to their home. Various science studies eg Murchie et al, have shown that they existed here until at least 5,700 years ago. More science is coming! It’s also very possible that when they went across the Bering bridge, they survived in pockets in Iberia. Same, that they survived in pockets here. The gaps are being closed.
The very least is that they are a reintroduced native American species.
slaughter of the innocent…. once again Americas wild horse icons to be rounded up, butchered, slaughtered, tortured…. great decision BLM……. what is wrong with working with horse rescues to find humane decisions….. the wild west rises again with devastating destruction for majestic animals….
I can not believe that they are removing every horse. What happen to the land being theirs and them being protected? Over 2 million acres and they are taking every horse man Needs to retire
Hey can do of hide them
As a horse lover and diligent rescue volunteer, I asked the following questions. How does leaving the Ferrell herd impact the locals? Is there a program or should there be a program to manage growth of wild horse herds with sterilization? Thank you.
These roundups should be regulated by the humane society with consideration for the horses . It is possible to do them with compassion.
People like to watch them if they end up in glue factory shitt try to adopt one butt they will let them be killed blm need to get this right their needs to be middle ground blm has never ever gett things right
Anyone fighting this needs to have a plan to take and care for these horses. Because they don’t belong where they are. The environment can’t support them and they exist to the detriment of every animal native to the area.
But starvation is fine?? And all of the species they displace?? Why don’t they matter??
You mean like the native cattle and sheep?
Why are they being removed? How long have wild horses been on this range? What will be on this range if they are removed?
Pronghorn, Mule Deer, Elk, Sage-grouse and occasionally cows and/or sheep.
The BLM has been doing this for years, removing the horses so cattle and sheep can use the land. It’s a smokescreen that they are starving. Pictures of an aged horse at the end of winter that is thin is used for this propaganda. They’ve been surviving on this same land for decades without external help. Deer and other grazers are generally thin by the end of winter as well but they all fatten up quickly as soon as the summer grazing begins. If it weren’t for cattle and sheep replacing them the BLM might have justification. Go anywhere that the herds have been removed and you will find cattle or sheep grazing. This is the reason they want them to go. The BLM was supposed to be the horses savior from slaughter and abuse but today’s BLM does not do that. Behind the curtain they keep the animals in crowded corrals exposed to all weather conditions. A year after purchase you own it and a high percentage go to auctions and are bought by meat buyers that ship them to slaughter in Mexico or Canada where abuse is the name of the game. It’s all about the money.
Good
Feral horses have no predators or other natural limits on their population. The notion of “just leave it alone and nature will handle it” does not work with non-native, introduced species.
Them horses are not hurting nothing the greedy cattle and sheep people want the Land for themselves
What a travesty for those innocent wild horses and all wild things our disgusting climate of greed for greed’s sake. Destroying the few wild things and places we have left is a final stupidity.
We have to find a way to save them. The severe weather across the country is taking its toll on the bigger animals. What I am trying to say is we can’t “take them out” nature is all ready doing that. We just don’t have enough recorded to show and give numbers.
Article makes it sound like the horses not adopted will live a good life on someone’s property. Many of these beautiful horses are bought by kill buyers then shipped to Mexico for slaughter. Let’s not forget the many that are killed or injured during round up.This is disgusting and surely someone could come up with a better solution.We can do better.
Get rid of BLM wild horses were here before you!!!!
Is there a reason why BLM or other horse minded organizations did not use birth control vaccine on these herds in Wyoming? Even a few years ago would have helped manage the population…anyone know if they tried or did not at all and why? Who is going to be there to monitor the roundups?
Fertility control is administered when they do a roundup, to all of the mares that will return to the HMA (herd management area). It’s very difficult to dart in many areas of WY because of the vast expanses of many areas.
There is a system designed by Wildlife Protection Management- https://www.wildlifepm.com/your-team that operates remotely and will read each horse’s vitals, insert rfid chip, and then helps monitor herd health and need for fertility control administration. It can inject them with Gonacon but not PZP yet.
The Science and Conservation Center in Billings is working on a longer lasting version of PZP I believe and CSU developed Gonacon I believe. The Botsteiber Institute has great information on fertility control options for all sorts of species! They all collaborate on the situation but unfortunately there is not yet a single best solution that can reduce populations without the need for removals due to the differences in each area, each herd in each area, and each individual within those herds. But there is research being conducted!
How many of these horses will end up in slaughter pipeline to Mexico and Canada for gruesome terrfying and savage deaths?
Too many I am afraid . What happened to the plan to sterilize these horses ? I know it would involve alot of time but I cringe too about their gruesome fate.
How many of these National Treasure will end up at Mexico slaughter houses? How many family groups will be split up? How many will be hunted down by helicopter and then “injured” and destroyed? How many foals will loose their life or their dam/mother? This is removal is only going to benefit 1 group of people monetarily.
One possible solution to the inhumane shipments of killer horses to Mexico and Canada would be to allow humane processing facilities in the United States. As much as I love horses….
Joy, my personal belief is that the horse owning general public as a whole needs to do better planning regarding care and end of life for their horses. Too many “pass the buck” in my opinion by selling infirm or geriatric horses for slaughter, or horses whose training didn’t consider the five freedoms or were too harsh and confusing to the animal.
I also feel too many breeders are not breeding “thoughtfully”, passing along genetics that create health problems and flood the horse market contributing to the need for slaughter.
We can do better. We should do better!
If we have to fence our property to keep cattle and sheep off of it then maybe the ranchers could fence their property to keep the Wild animals off.
The welfare ranchers will fence out wild horses just as soon as there is a government subsidy that will pay them double the cost.
They are feral not wild, just like feral cats we all loathe. It’s like the wolf’s and grizzlies we got rid of them , bright them back only to get rid of them again. By definition our bunny huggers are insane people, albeit with the best intentions.
Not everyone loathes feral cats. If people were responsible about spaying and neutering their cats, dogs etc. this wouldn’t be a problem. Also recent archaeological evidence shows that horses were here before the “feral” horses.
As a horse owner and trained wildlife biologist, I must chime in.
Feral horses are NOT wild! They are a non-native, invasive species. Herd management objectives in the west are 300% above the desired level. Please educate yourselves on the problem by viewing the documentary “Horse Rich, Dirt Poor” here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q6h242vy_q8, and read The Wildlife Society’s issue statement on feral horses and burros here: https://wildlife.org/tws-issue-statement-feral-horses-and-burros-in-north-america/.
Feral and owned free-roaming domestic cats are also non-native invasives and kill billions of native birds, small mammals, amphibians, and reptiles every year across the globe. To educate yourself on this problem, visit the American Bird Conservancy’s “Cats Indoors” website here: https://abcbirds.org/program/cats-indoors/, and The Wildlife Society’s issue statement here: https://wildlife.org/tws-issue-statement-feral-and-free-ranging-domestic-cats/.
Wild horses are designated “wild” in the 1971 Act. The use of the word “feral” is more linked to human psychology than a biological term – it is designed to remove the animals from a closeness to humans. A bit of a travesty when one considers how much horses have done for the world, and certainly for America.
The mini docu referred to is biased. I know this, because a friend of mine was in a position to add in some information, and was not allowed, because it was pro wild horse. They were only looking for anything that was anti wild horse.
Likewise, TWS used to be a reputable organisation, however these days not so much. I’ve seen this myself when they cited from a study, and did not use the whole paragraph, instead cutting it off, altering the meaning.
It’s important to seek the truth out – this can be difficult, especially when universities are already churning out the mis or dis information regarding wild horses and burros.
People don’t analyse what they are told.
The BLM data shows that the main cause of rangeland degradation is livestock (cattle, sheep). Yet wild horses are removed because they “compete” with livestock on their own designated lands (1971 Act). Livestock can be removed when the health of the land is suffering, but they are not. Even on the wild horses’ own HMA, it is the wild horses who are the ones scapegoated, and removed. Fair? No. Lawful? Likely, not.
I hope that people will educate themselves, this is from the Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility, wait a moment for the download:
https://peer.org/report-bureau-of-land-management-land-health-status-11-09-2022-pdf/
HorSES are beautiful animals and deserve respect but should not be allowed to over populate the natural environment. THE WILDLIFE NEED ALL THE HELP THEY CAN GET WHICH INCLUDES GETTING RID OF NONNATIVE SPECIES THE HORSE.
Everyone is talking horses, sheep and cattle…no one is talking the actual native species that everyone should actually care about, deer, elk and antelope. These species are the ones being harmed by all of these. If you want to take a side, take the side of native species – which fences are horrible for! These are migrator animals and fences destroy these migration patterns which are necessary for THEIR survival!
Riki, I agree with you! However, years of observing wild horses in the Red Desert has taught me about the symbiotic relationships between these species.
Right now, elk and antelope are in close proximity to the horse herds which increases the protection of the young for all three species! Antelope frequently mingle with herds and the horses pay attention to the antelope who can see further and alert the horses to approaching dangers. In return the horses consistently offer protection from predators who might be able to take down a pronghorn. Sage grouse nest near the water spots, and they and the young feast on the bugs in the horse manure.
I love nothing more than hanging out and watching them ALL interact! But you are correct, overpopulation of any species can disrupt the ecosystem and damage the environment. Folks think it bounces back quickly but it takes many years.
That’s a very harmonious daydream. In real life though the horses step on the nests and chase wildlife away from the water sources as soon as drought hits.