Wild horse advocacy groups are calling on the U.S. Forest Service to stop its planned April 27, 2026 roundup in and around the Heber Wild Horse Territory, citing legal concerns, lack of transparency, and potential harm to protected animals.

In a joint letter sent Tuesday to Dr. Drotar, head of the Forest Service’s Wild Horse and Burro Program, American Wild Horse Conservation, The Cloud Foundation, and Wild Horse Education challenged the agency’s plan to impound horses it labels as “unauthorized livestock.”

Fernando Guerra, AWHC’s Director of Law and Policy, said the roundup may violate both a 2007 court-approved settlement and the Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act. He noted that the agreement reaffirmed the Heber Territory and recognized the horses as part of the public lands ecosystem.

The groups argue the Forest Service has not explained how it will distinguish legally protected wild horses from those it intends to remove—raising both legal and practical concerns. Without clear criteria or methodology, they warn, protected horses could be unlawfully captured.

Federal law defines wild horses as unbranded, unclaimed animals using public lands since 1971. The organizations contend that horses do not lose that status simply by moving beyond administrative boundaries, especially when they continue to rely on public land habitat.

The roundup follows an April 2 notice stating that removals could begin April 27, including bait trapping and helicopter operations. Advocates warn the plan could expand removals across a broader area while reclassifying horses without a lawful basis. (NOTE: We have gotten word that USFS is allowing active trapping by the permittee and others, now. We will update as soon as we have more information.)

They also highlight serious animal welfare risks, noting the absence of any publicly available protocol for identifying horses before capture. Without safeguards, they argue, traps could indiscriminately capture protected animals.

The letter calls on the Forest Service to provide key information before moving forward, including:

• The criteria and evidence used to classify horses as unauthorized livestock
• The legal basis for those determinations
• Supporting data and documentation
• Maps, survey data, and internal guidance
• Humane capture and handling protocols

Without this transparency, the groups say the roundup would be arbitrary, legally vulnerable, and could cause irreversible harm. They are urging the agency to delay the operation until it demonstrates full compliance with federal law and court orders, and have requested an expedited response along with disclosure of relevant records.

Letter below:

Right now your contribution will be matched in honor of National Volunteer Week and Earth Day!

Through May 1, your gift will be matched dollar-for-dollar up to $10,000. 

We need your support to keep our teams engaging lawmakers, our team fighting in the court, our team ready to run the roundup schedule. Every mile we travel to cover roundups or assess a herd, every court case we bring, every win, every action we take is only possible because of your support.