Federal government begins large Oregon wild horse roundup

PORTLAND, Ore. — Wild horse advocates are calling for a stop to one of the largest roundups of wild mustangs in Oregon history.

The U.S. Bureau of Land Management on Monday began preparations to gather up to 1,500 wild horses roaming freely on about 625 square miles of the Beatys Butte herd management area east of Lakeview in southern Oregon.

Officials say the mustangs will be rounded up by helicopter. The roundup’s aim is to reduce the population to 100 and remove the rest.

It’s the first roundup since a federal investigation in October determined a Colorado livestock hauler repeatedly lied to officials and sold nearly 1,800 wild horses to buyers who took them to slaughterhouses in Mexico.

The hauler bought the mustangs through the BLM program that’s supposed to provide wild horses with good homes.

Wild horses are protected under federal law, and selling them for slaughter is illegal. The BLM said it has taken additional steps to “prevent this type of situation from happening.”

Officials say the large population of mustangs in southern Oregon damages the environment and wildlife, a problem compounded by the area’s drought that has stressed forage and water availability.

“Horses have overgrazed sagebrush and other plants to the extent that plants and soils are being lost entirely,” BLM spokeswoman Larisa Bogardus said in a statement.

But horse advocates say conflicts with livestock, which share the land with the mustangs, are driving the roundup. Deniz Bolbol with American Wild Horse Preservation Campaign said thousands of cattle are permitted by the federal government to graze in the area.

“It’s the ranchers versus the wild horses,” Bolbol said. “The horses eat the same food as the cows.”

Federal officials say ranchers have voluntarily reduced grazing in the area by approximately 70 percent.

Wild horse advocates are also asking the government to implement a program to suppress population growth — with the use of a fertility control vaccine that’s currently administered to a small number of horses.

But BLM says that vaccine’s effectiveness is limited to one or two years and must be hand-injected or deployed via ground-darting, making it difficult to administer to wild horses on a large scale. The agency is currently researching other fertility controls, including sterilization — something mustang advocates say would be cruel and would change wild mustangs’ natural behavior.

According to BLM data, there are an estimated 47,000 wild horses and 10,000 wild burros living freely on the range throughout the U.S.

In Oregon, an estimated 4,300 wild horses and 50 burros roam freely.

BLM says it must round up horses, because mustangs have no natural predators and their herd sizes can double every four years. From 2012 to 2014, the agency removed about 13,000 wild horses from the range throughout the West.

Few of the animals are actually adopted or sold. Instead, many wind up in BLM’s long-term facilities. Currently, 46,000 wild horses are held in off-range corrals, pastures and eco-sanctuaries — including about 550 mustangs in a facility in Burns, Oregon. The cost of feeding and housing the horses: $49 million a year.

Beatys Butte has the largest number of mustangs in the state: 1,287, according to the most recent census count last June. The agency estimates a 20 percent annual population growth, so up to 1,500 could be present, but a recent survey estimated 1,255 horses.

During the roundup, which could take up to a month depending on weather, about 100 horses will be captured daily. They will be checked by a veterinarian and transported by truck and livestock trailer to the Burns holding facility. Once capacity is reached, the remaining horses will be transported to Palomino Valley, Nevada or other holding facilities.

All gathered horses will be offered up for adoption later this year.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Local News

Customers enter and exit the Costco on Dec. 2, 2022, in Lake Stevens. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Costco stores could be impacted by looming truck driver strike threat

Truck drivers who deliver groceries and produce to Costco warehouses… Continue reading

Two Washington State ferries pass along the route between Mukilteo and Clinton as scuba divers swim near the shore Sunday, Oct. 22, 2023, in Mukilteo, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Ferry system increases ridership by a half million in 2024

Edmonds-Kingston route remains second-busiest route in the system.

Pharmacist Nisha Mathew prepares a Pfizer COVID booster shot for a patient at Bartell Drugs on Broadway on Saturday, Oct. 1, 2022, in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Everett lawmakers back universal health care bill, introduced in Olympia

Proponents say providing health care for all is a “fundamental human right.” Opponents worry about the cost of implementing it.

x
Edmonds police shooting investigation includes possibility of gang violence

The 18-year-old victim remains in critical condition as of Friday morning.

Outside of the updated section of Lake Stevens High School on Thursday, Feb. 27, 2020 in Lake Stevens, Wa. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Lake Stevens, Arlington school measures on Feb. 11 ballot

A bond in Lake Stevens and a levy in Arlington would be used to build new schools.

Robin Cain with 50 of her marathon medals hanging on a display board she made with her father on Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025 in Lake Stevens, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Running a marathon is hard. She ran one in every state.

Robin Cain, of Lake Stevens, is one of only a few thousand people to ever achieve the feat.

People line up to grab food at the Everett Recovery Cafe on Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Coffee, meals and compassion are free at the Everett Recovery Cafe

The free, membership-based day center offers free coffee and meals and more importantly, camaraderie and recovery support.

Devani Padron, left, Daisy Ramos perform during dance class at Mari's Place Monday afternoon in Everett on July 13, 2016. (Kevin Clark / The Herald)
Mari’s Place helps children build confidence and design a better future

The Everett-based nonprofit offers free and low-cost classes in art, music, theater and dance for children ages 5 to 14.

The Everett Wastewater Treatment Plant along the Snohomish River on Thursday, June 16, 2022 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Everett water, sewer rates could jump 43% by 2028

The rate hikes would pay for improvements to the city’s sewer infrastructure.

The bond funded new track and field at Northshore Middle School on Thursday, Oct. 24, 2024 in Bothell, Washington. (Courtesy of Northshore School District)
Northshore School District bond improvements underway

The $425 million bond is funding new track and field complexes, playgrounds and phase one of two school replacements.

Lake Stevens Sewer District wastewater treatment plant. (Lake Stevens Sewer District)
Lake Stevens sewer district trial delayed until April

The dispute began in 2021 and centers around when the city can take over the district.

A salmon carcass lays across willow branches in Edgecomb Creek on Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025 in Arlington, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Tribes: State fish passage projects knock down barriers for local efforts

Court-ordered projects have sparked collaboration for salmon habitat restoration

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.