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): 342 Wild Horses (90 Stallions, 101 Mares, and 47 Foals)
Shipped: 80 Wild Horses (0 Stallions, 59 Mares, and 21 Foals)
Released: 108 Wild Horses (60 Stallions, 45 Mares, and 3 Foals)
There have been wild horses set aside for euthanasia. These will be done after all shipping is completed.
This is one of the horses designated for euthanasia due to an abscess on the ear. (Field note scribbled on image. Communication with field teams is “as fast as possible,” not the time consuming “neat and tidy.”
This is one of the horses we put in the first photo at the top of the page. We did not know the horse would be euthanized.
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.
09-16-26
Below: Release of mares… but let’s never forget the ones left behind. The calls to band mates in holding and the answers from the captives… will not be forgotten.
Release of studs:
The total captured today: 104 (36 Stallions, 49 Mares, and 19 Foals)
We had to drop the sound down as low as we could without loosing it. There are people that talk even when there are wild horses present. This small family deserves to be seen and we did not want to simply not show you the video.
The capture portion ended and 108 wild horses were released. Only three foals were among the released: (60 Stallions, 45 Mares, and 3 Foals).
Three of the foals did not pair with a mare. One foal that did not pair up was less than one week old and it was sent to a veterinarian in Worland. (There is no vet onsite.)
Releases are so bittersweet.
After mares were released, this mare circled back and kept calling to the captives… and the captives kept calling back.
BLM released 108 Wild Horses (60 Stallions, 45 Mares, and 3 Foals). On their social media today they show the video we have at the top stating “mares and foals released.” That is a bit misleading. BLM released only 3 of the 66 foals captured. We do not know if the mare was calling to her foal.
BLM stated that they knew 2 studs were left on the range post capture and a mare and foal. That leaves 112 wild horses in Fifteenmile. BLM has reached AML under this plan. We know BLM reads our website, this is for them: Once reaching AML you must complete a new analysis. Please comply with court precedent. You cannot use this EA again.
BLM did NOT update totals in the daily capture section that would note how many they decide will not be allowed to live. We were told 6 horses were separated to be euthanized this morning including a sway back, an elder stallion who was thin, and a 2-3 year filly with an abscess just below her left ear that they claim is cancer, and a colt/stallion with an injury likely caused during a fight. PLEASE REMEMBER: There is no vet on site.
As of 12:30 p.m. (PT) BLM has not updated the website to show daily capture/death totals for 9/16. Shipping and death reports continue through 9/17 until all horses ship to the Rock Springs facility.
Below: The faces of those let behind or slated for euthanasia.
The rest of the horses are being shipped to Rock Springs holding corrals.
We will continue to update.
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, reules like having a vet onsite to make any determinations on euthanasia, 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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