In mid-August, Wyoming’s White Mountain herd roundup began. Over the course of this helicopter roundup, nearly 600 horses were removed from the only home they had ever known; their freedom lost.
Tragically, the south side of this herd management area (HMA) was wiped clean of every horse. All bands which were known and documented for years were permanently removed.
This brutal, unnecessary roundup resulted in 536 wild horses losing their freedom with 10 having lost their lives.
In Oregon, the South Steens roundup also began in mid-August. The BLM’s goal was to capture 760 wild horses. An initial report indicated that 574 were rounded up, with 8 deaths.
Just past mid-August, the Marietta Wild Burro Range helicopter roundup started. This area is the nation’s first formally recognized range managed principally for wild burros. It is the home to approximately 387 burros. The shameful goal of the roundup was to reduce the population by 75%!