The Bureau of Land Management’s Color Country District concluded the 2026 Sulphur Wild Horse Gather on Oct. 17, 2026. The operation was conducted to reduce overpopulation and support healthy wild horses on public rangelands.
According to the BLM, wild horse herds can increase 15-20 percent annually, doubling in size every 4-5 years due to few natural predators. Without management, herds can outgrow the available forage and water, potentially leading to starvation and thirst for the horses. The BLM plans to gather and remove approximately 300 excess wild horses from the Sulphur Herd Management Area to maintain an appropriate management level of 165-250 wild horses, based on available forage, water, and other authorized uses like livestock grazing and wildlife habitat.
During the gather, contractors used helicopters to guide animals into temporary corrals, a method intended to move horses across rugged landscapes while minimizing stress. All operations were conducted in compliance with the BLM’s Comprehensive Animal Welfare Program. To protect wild horses and public safety, the BLM temporarily closed certain public lands around the gather locations in accordance with 43 CFR 8364.1.
As of the conclusion of the gather on Oct. 17, 2026, officials reported that 259 animals were gathered, including 75 stallions, 131 mares, and 53 foals. Of those, 257 animals were shipped, consisting of 75 stallions, 130 mares, and 52 foals. Two deaths were recorded during the operation: one sudden/acute death of a 9-year-old grulla mare with a broken right front leg, and one pre-existing/chronic death of a 17-year-old brown mare with a lame front right leg and a swollen knee.
The Sulphur Herd Management Area encompasses 265,711 total acres, including 230,157 acres of BLM lands and 35,554 acres of Federal, State, and privately-owned land. Located in western Iron, Beaver, and Millard counties, the area is approximately 50 miles west of Minersville, Utah. The landscape features elevations ranging from 6,000 feet in valley floors to 9,790 feet on top of Indian Peak. The area is dominated by dense Pinyon-Juniper woodlands and supports species such as mule deer, Rocky Mountain elk, and pronghorn.
All excess wild horses identified for removal are transported to the Sutherland Off-Range Contract Wild Horse Facility near Delta, Utah. There, they are examined by a veterinarian and prepared for the BLM’s wild horse Adoption and Sale Program. Horses not placed in new homes are cared for in off-range pastures for the remainder of their lives.
