The Bureau of Land Management recently completed a helicopter roundup in Wyoming’s Red Desert, resulting in the capture of 1,035 wild horses, according to a report published October 30.
During the operation, one horse died of a seizure. Additionally, 16 horses were put down due to reasons including club foot and limb deformities, while eight horses were euthanized because of blindness.
The Red Desert roundup is part of a long-term plan by the Bureau of Land Management to remove 1,800 wild horses from the Red Desert Complex of Herd Management Areas (HMAs). Before the roundup, the 752,694-acre complex had an estimated population of 2,278 wild horses, while the agency has set a population target for the complex between 480 and 720.
Following the Red Desert operation, the agency plans to treat 52 mares with fertility control and return them to the range along with the same number of stallions. A limited number of Cedar Mountain mares have been treated with fertility control in previous years.
Utah roundups are scheduled to start Monday, Nov. 2, 2026. The Bureau of Land Management plans to capture and remove 500 wild horses from the Cedar Mountain HMA and 140 from the Swasey Mountains HMA.
The Cedar Mountain HMA covers 211,592 acres and has an estimated population of 660 horses, with a set population target of 190 to 390. The agency stated it will conduct a post-roundup survey and return horses to the HMA if the population drops below 190.
The Swasey Mountains HMA covers 120,113 acres and has a population target of 60 to 100 horses. The population was last estimated at 206 before foaling season. The Bureau of Land Management does not appear to be using fertility control at the Swasey Mountains location.
Return to Freedom has long supported the use of safe and humane fertility control as a tool for stabilizing population growth, aiming to replace roundups as the primary management method used by the agency.
Return to Freedom is encouraging supporters to send letters urging Congress to hold the Bureau of Land Management accountable regarding fertility control implementation.
