An advocacy group has identified seven locations across the Western United States for potential federal roundups of wild horses in September. Thousands of wild horses and burros face roundups as federal officials seek to manage herd sizes that exceed the land’s sustainable capacity.
Possible Roundup Locations
The American Wild Horse Conservation (AWHC) noted several locations that might experience these roundups, known as gathers:
- 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
“Another roundup month begins,” the group stated in a social media update. They emphasized the importance of documenting the events, demanding accountability, and promoting humane solutions for wild horses and burros.
The federal schedule comprises gathers, emergency removals, and fertility-control operations across various Western states. For instance, a planned operation in Wyoming, slated for mid-September, intends to remove about 286 animals from the Fifteenmile Herd Management Area.
Newsweek contacted the Bureau of Land Management for comments.
Reasons Behind Horse Roundups
The Bureau of Land Management indicates that gathers protect both wild horses and the public rangelands. The agency points out that the absence of predators allows herd sizes to double within four to five years, straining resources and impacting the land.
The agency aims to maintain herds at an “appropriate management level,” which aligns with the land’s ability to support various uses, including wildlife and livestock.
They implement management strategies like animal removal through gathers and fertility control in specific areas to manage population growth.
Criticism of Helicopter Roundups
Advocacy groups criticize helicopter roundups as harmful, disrupting established family groups and causing distress. Return to Freedom argues these methods endanger horses by forcing them over rough terrains before separation in holding pens. They endorse using fertility control to curb population growth while keeping horses on the range.
AWHC believes helicopter pursuits cause stress, exhaustion, and potential injuries or deaths. The organization emphasizes that roundups disrupt family groups, place horses in federal facilities, and incur taxpayer costs. They advocate for fertility control as a preferable alternative.
Calls to End Helicopter Roundups
Colorado Governor Jared Polis and Representative Joe Neguse urged the Bureau of Land Management to halt upcoming roundups in the state. In a letter, they stated around 800 horses had been captured in the Piceance-East Douglas Area, with six fatalities, while a planned roundup in Sand Wash Basin could reduce the herd by over 60 percent.
While acknowledging the need for sustainable herd sizes, Polis and Neguse called helicopter roundups “inhumane and unnecessary.” They highlighted risks like panic, exhaustion, and injuries. They urged federal authorities to pause operations, consult with communities and local partners, and validate the effectiveness of helicopters over other humane methods.
Contact Newsweek editors on this story: Alabama Jackson and Trevor Davies.
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