Federal Roundups of Wild Horses in the Western U.S. Highlighted by Advocacy Group

An advocacy group has identified seven locations in the Western United States where federal roundups of wild horses might occur this September. As previously reported, thousands of wild horses and burros are being gathered from the American West as federal officials aim to manage herd sizes, which they claim have exceeded sustainable limits.

Potential Roundup Locations

The American Wild Horse Conservation (AWHC) organization highlighted several regions expected to witness these ‘gathers.’ These locations include:

• Nut Mountain HMA – September 1, 2026
• Bitner HMA – September 1, 2026
• Massacre Lakes – September 1, 2026
• Challis HMA – September 9, 2026
• Sand Wash Basin – September 17, 2026
• Fifteenmile – September 15, 2026
• Jackson Mountains HMA – September 20, 2026

The group emphasized the importance of monitoring activities during September, a critical period for documenting events, demanding accountability, and advocating for humane solutions for wild horses and burros.

Federal Plans and Operations

The federal schedule for September includes gathers, emergency removals, and fertility-control operations across Western states. For instance, a Wyoming operation slated to begin on or after September 15 aims to remove 286 animals from the Fifteenmile Herd Management Area per the Bureau of Land Management’s schedule.

Newsweek contacted the Bureau of Land Management for comments on this matter.

Reasons Behind Horse Roundups

According to the Bureau of Land Management, these operations protect wild horses and burros as well as the public rangelands supporting them. Due to the absence of predators, herds can double in size every four to five years, overextending available resources and degrading the habitat. The agency seeks to maintain herd sizes within an ‘appropriate management level,’ considering the land’s capacity to support the animals alongside wildlife, livestock, and other uses.

Management practices include removing animals through gathers and applying fertility control in certain areas to curb population growth.

Concerns Over Helicopter Roundups

Advocacy groups criticize helicopter roundups, claiming they harm animals and disrupt family groups. Return to Freedom describes them as hazardous, with horses driven over difficult terrain before being separated. The group supports fertility control as a means to manage population while keeping horses on their ranges.

AWHC also condemns helicopter pursuits, citing stress, exhaustion, and potential injuries or deaths. They argue these roundups fragment family units, detain animals in federal facilities, and impose significant costs on taxpayers.

Opposition from Colorado Lawmakers

Colorado Governor Jared Polis and Representative Joe Neguse have urged a halt on upcoming horse roundups in the state. In a September 3 letter, they detailed that around 800 horses were captured in the Piceance-East Douglas Herd Management Area, with six deaths occurring during these operations. A planned roundup in Sand Wash Basin might reduce the herd by over 60%.

While acknowledging the need for sustainable herd sizes, Polis and Neguse label helicopter roundups as ‘inhumane’ and ‘unnecessary,’ noting they can cause panic, exhaustion, and serious injuries. They requested postponement of the operations, advocating for broader consultation with communities and partners, and demanded proof that helicopters are indeed more effective compared to other, ‘more humane’ methods of population control.

For further information, Newsweek editors Alabama Jackson and Trevor Davies can be contacted regarding this story.