BLM plans to capture 386 wild horses from the nearly 81,000 acre Fifteenmile Herd Management Area (HMA) about 30 miles northwest of Worland, Wyoming.
In March BLM estimated the population at 308.
286 will be permanently removed and shipped to the Rock Springs facility in Wyoming.
100 wild horses will be released with a “sex-skewed” population to favor males (as high as 70%). Nature favors females at a 60%-65% ratio. Sex skewing on other ranges where the population of males is higher than 60% have demonstrated a more aggressive herd structure that can interfere with foal survival.
The number of wild horses allowed in the area (AML) is 100-230. This operation will leave the herd at or near low AML of 100.
If you believe that the BLM Wild Horse and Burro Program needs enforceable welfare rules please take take the action at the bottom of this page. BLM weakened their welfare recommendations before the summer helicopter drive trap season. (More in our welfare briefing here)
Official cumulative numbers:
Captured (official count): 238 Wild Horses (90 Stallions, 101 Mares, and 47 Foals)
Shipped:
Deaths:
Please be aware, BLM weakened the standards in their CAWP program on June 29th, right before helicopter roundup season began. A veterinarian is no longer required to be onsite.
This page will update frequently. Newer reports will appear near the top.
09-15-26:
Day 1 saw 238 Wild Horses (90 Stallions, 101 Mares, and 47 Foals) captured.
The observation location was a little over a mile south from the trap. Observers were set behind jute to obscure their position. This is a common method most BLM offices used years ago instead of putting the public more tan a mile away in open ground.
The helicopter drove several bands into the area and continued to try to capture them throughout the day as bands fractured.
It is not uncommon for a single horse to have escaped the drive and head toward observers. That “look back” to see if any band mates had followed is an incredibly poignant moment.
There was an escape attempt. We do not know if the band evaded the jute wings or broke through. They appear to have been captured later. The objective is to “catch as close to everything as possible” where the wild horses released back to the range represent nearly all that there will be on the range.
The wings and trap are obscured by a hill so there is no way to assess handling.
Trap is also serving as temporary holding. After an hour wait, observers were allowed to see the horses left in the corrals.
The capture portion of the operation is expected to end tomorrow. The release could be the same day.
The intention is to release 70% males with no analysis on the behavioral impacts of such unnatural sex ratio skewing.
Our volunteer remains onsite.
If you believe we need an enforceable welfare rules in the BLM Wild Horse and Burro Program, please take action.
You can click here to send a fast letter to your representatives.
Or you can make a call:
- Capitol Switchboard: Call (202) 224-3121 to be connected directly to your senator or representative’s office.
- House Direct Line: Call (202) 225-3121 for U.S. House Representatives.
- Senate Direct Line: Call (202) 224-3121 for U.S. Senators
Sample script:
My name is ______. I live in zip code _____ and am a constituent.
Please ensure that the 2027 Appropriations bill:
1) Maintains language prohibiting funding from being used for unrestricted sale or killing of healthy wild horses and burros. Suspension of the program pending an investigation is needed as lack of any oversight allows ongoing violations.
2) Insert a prohibition on funding being used for surgical, chemical or experimental sterilization. BLM is approving plans that included dangerous and unproven experimental procedures including gluing oviducts of mares closed.
3) Tell BLM to complete formalization of welfare standards including public participation. Strike the words “comply with CAWP” from the bill. Those words mean to comply with a program, not an enforceable welfare standard and are causing harm.
Deep reform is desperately needed in this program that rejects data-based analysis and transparency.
The very least Congress can do is to ensure the most abusive and cruel aspects of this program are reined in.
Thank you.
We need your support to keep our teams engaging lawmakers, our team fighting in the court, our team running 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. Sincere Gratitude.
Categories: Wild Horse Education
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