BLM Plans Earlier Wyoming Wild Horse Roundup

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is planning to conduct a wild horse roundup in Wyoming earlier than initially scheduled. This decision comes as the horse population in the area has exceeded desired levels, prompting concerns from both ecological and ranching perspectives.

BLM's Population Management Goals

RIVERTON, Wyo. (AP) — A U.S. Bureau of Land Management official says he’d like to round up excess wild horses from an area southeast of Riverton later this year.

The roundup had been planned for next year, but BLM Lander Field Office Manager Rick Vander Voet tells Fremont County commissioners the horse population is way above desired numbers.

BLM officials want to maintain a population on the low end of between 480 and 720 horses.

Current Population Concerns

The BLM estimates more than 1,000 wild horses currently inhabit the area. Horse advocates advocate keeping large numbers of wild horses on the range, but ranchers say wild horses can damage grazing lands and compete with cattle for forage.

Originally posted by K2Radio