The BLM is capturing wild horses at the Cedar Mountain Herd Management Area (HMA) in Utah.
BLM describing the target as: “The BLM plans to gather and remove approximately 500 excess wild horses from the Cedar Mountain Herd Management Area. The appropriate management level for the Cedar Mountain herd is 190-390 wild horses based on the available forage, water and other authorized uses, such as wildlife habitat and livestock grazing. The latest estimated population size is 660 wild horses. Once the gather is completed, BLM will perform a post gather population inventory survey. If the results of the survey find that the population is below AML, horses will be selected and returned to the HMA.”
Cedar/Swasey?
BLM removed 124 wild horses from the Swasey HMA.
Swasey and Cedar Mountain share a contractor package and a single line on BLM’s schedule, but they do not share one environmental decision. Swasey’s gather plan dates to 2020. Cedar Mountain’s current operation relies on a 2022 population-control analysis, reaffirmed through a September 2026 Determination of NEPA Adequacy. They are managed by different field offices, have different population targets, and carry different research histories.
We agree that the way they list this is not simply highly unusual and “confusing.”
We have no idea why BLM did one contract obligation for HMAs that share no NEPA (underlying paperwork) and no physical boundaries. This is highly unusual and when seen, it it because there is a funding gap (like the end of a fiscal year) one contract can span without any delay. Here, there is no fiscal year but one contract award. Perhaps it allowed them to avoid a higher cost for the smaller Swasey operation?
Swasey was a weeklong squeeze of an area hit with a roundup and multiple forms of fertility control including IUDS. In just the first two days of Cedar, more horses were caught than in a full week at Swasey.
The “fertility control” picture is very different at Cedar. Cedar was used around twenty years ago as an area for PZP-22 (time release). In 2023, BLM awarded a nonprofit organization a cooperative agreement to identify Cedar Mountain horses, dart mares with fertility-control vaccine, and monitor horses and habitat. Just two years later, BLM switched gears and began planning a roundup.
Where wild horses were sent directly to Sutherland from the range at Swasey, at Cedar there seems to be a split: 150 stallions for the Sutherland facility and the remaining 350 horses for the Axtell facility. Both facilities are off-limits to the public.
Is there a chance Onaqui horses could get taken in the Cedar roundup?
The plain explanation: Yes, there is a plausible chance that horses previously identified with Onaqui could be captured during the Cedar Mountain operation, particularly if they have moved onto Dugway and are within the areas being gathered. the Army’s 2003 environmental impact statement records BLM’s statement that horses from both Cedar Mountain and Onaqui “are known to utilize areas on Dugway.” That establishes historical use of the installation by both herds.
BLM is moving into Dugway. They had originally set a “press day” for November 12 stating that day would exclude the public. That changed yesterday and observation is being permitted. BLM had stated they would be flying in Dugway Nov 13-Nov 15 and there will be no public allowed, not even at the temporary corrals. Those dates may also change.
Cedar is the sixth roundup in Utah in 2026: Canyonlands burros for bait trap. Wild horses: Bible Springs Complex (August 2–21), Confusion (August 24–September 1) , Sulphur (October 2–17) Swasey (November 3–8) followed by Cedar Mountain. We have heard an Onaqui operation is being readied for late summer.
Official cumulative numbers:
Captured (official count): 128 (39 stallions, 65 mares, and 24 foals)
Shipped: 43 (31 mares, 13 foals)
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.
Updates will appear with the most recent at the top.
11-11-26
61 (17 stallions, 31 mares, and 13 foals) wild horses were captured. Weather remained good with moderate temperatures 50-60 degrees.
Below: 1 escapes and ten 2 more
Below: clips from the day
A tour of temporary holding was permitted.
Our observer is worried about a small paint foal that did not “pair up” with a mare. BLM said the foal was “in poor condition” and sent it to an “adopter” (or foster). We will update you if we receive additional information.
Holding.
11-10-26
67 (22 stallions, 34 mares, and 11 foals) captured. Once again BLM put out the press release after the operation started with no public confirmation beforehand.
Documenting roundups is not just about taking pictures. The documentation provides critical information that allows us to advocate for both onsite welfare issues and the long term goal of gaining enforceable welfare rules.
Documentation powered our early litigation that drove the creation of the Comprehensive Animal Welfare Program (CAWP). But BLM stopped short as the focus shifted under the weight of large lobby groups pushing one agenda, “get to AML and keep populations low” (or Path Forward). Not only are the population goals absurdly low, in many cases below genetic viability, but these numbers were never based in data and science but through other backdoor agreements.
We must get Congress focused on pathways to real reform and not just ways to continue to make the status quo sound more palatable. We also need to push these debates into the public eye as moves are made to gut public voice and leave decision-making in the hands of those that stand to benefit finacialy.
If you would like to take action to help protect wild horses and burros you can take the following 2 actions today:
The Department of Interior is in the process of rewriting regulations to guide BLM management of wild horses and burros on public lands. We are asking for a public, transparent, Oversight hearing from Congress before any changes to regulations are finalized. Learn more and take action HERE.
A massive $30 million influx of funding is coming to BLM from the USDA (that oddly never has enough money to fund their own USFS wild horse program). There is not one single guardrail against how that funding is going to be used for “getting to AML and staying there.” Plans are already being finalized to sterilize wild horse herds, even where AML is below genetic viability. Learn more and take action HERE.
Our team is continuing to create boots-on-the-ground data that we are actively using in the courtroom today. Our team is working to educate members of Congress that have the power to change the framework to benefit wild horses and burros and the public voice that cares about them.
But your calls and letters matter. It shows that it is not just a few advocates that want these changes, it is a large portion of the public. The public that still has a voice in public lands management.
Our team is working hard.
We need your support to keep our teams engaging lawmakers, our team fighting in the court, our team running in the field covering the roundup schedule.
Categories: Wild Horse Education
You must be logged in to post a comment.