More than 14,000 wild horses are set to be rounded up and removed from the western U.S. in 2026.

Federal officials say it’s a Bureau of Land Management initiative aimed at overpopulation.

According to reports from the Colorado Sun, the agency argues that the horses are straining environmental resources, citing a growing horse population amid worsening drought and limited resources on public lands.

In Colorado, the removal plan will be carried out in three separate roundups, the Colorado Sun reports, two of which will direct mustang horses into corrals using helicopters.

The removal process will span several states, officials say. Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, and Wyoming are all listed on the Bureau of Land Management’s tentative removal schedule.

Removal plans are scheduled from March through October of 2026.

The Bureau of Land Management oversees almost a quarter-billion acres of public land, primarily in the West, and is tasked with managing the wild horse population.

This is far from the first time the agency has removed wild horses. It has become an almost annual event -- much to the ire of animal activists.

Many wild horse advocates acknowledge that a lack of forage and water can be an issue in some areas. But they argue removals are unnecessary, particularly via helicopter.

Advocates argue that helicopter roundups can kill or injure horses as they are chased for miles across varying terrain. But the agency has resisted efforts to stop using helicopters, saying they’re necessary to access remote herds.

The wild horses now on the plains are largely descended from those brought by Europeans hundreds of years ago. Herds can double in size every four to five years, and when populations grow too high, they destroy topsoil, disturb water supplies, and eat grass essential to native species.

Rounding up horses
Officially called "gathers" by federal agencies, it is the process of removing wild horses and burros from public lands to manage population levels. For 2026, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) plans to remove more than 14,000 wild horses across the western United States to address overpopulation and environmental strain.

Why are horses rounded up?

The BLM and U.S. Forest Service are legally mandated to maintain an "ecological balance" on public lands.

Overpopulation: Authorities argue that growing herds exceed the land's "Appropriate Management Level," leading to overgrazing.
Resource Protection: Large populations can deplete limited water and food, especially during droughts, which threatens both the horses and other wildlife.
Public Safety: In some areas, such as California’s Eastern Sierra, horses are removed because they pose safety hazards on highways or damage unique geologic formations.

How are they captured?

Two primary methods are used for these operations:

Helicopter Gathers: Low-flying helicopters drive herds over long distances into temporary corrals. This is the most common but most controversial method.
Bait-and-Trap: Horses are lured into pens using food or water. This method is generally considered more humane but is less effective for large-scale removals.

What happens after the roundup?

Once captured, horses are moved to off-range holding facilities.

Adoption and Sales: The BLM Online Corral offers healthy horses for adoption or sale to the public. Since 2019, an incentive program has paid adopters $1,000 to take in a horse for one year.
Long-term Holding: Horses that are not adopted, often older animals, are moved to government-funded off-range pastures where they live out their lives.
Fertility Control: Some horses are treated with vaccines like PZP to slow reproduction and then released back into the wild.

Common Concerns and Controversy

Wild horse advocates and organizations like American Wild Horse Conservation often oppose these roundups for several reasons:

Animal Welfare: Helicopter chases can lead to injuries, extreme exhaustion, or death for the horses.
Family Separation: Roundups often tear apart tight-knit family bands and separate foals from their mothers.
Slaughter Risks: Despite federal protections, critics worry that some horses sold at auctions may eventually end up at slaughterhouses in Mexico or Canada.
Alternative Solutions: Advocates push for the use of humane, on-range fertility control instead of large-scale removals.