BLM: Wild Horse Gather Progress and Controversies

A wild-horse gather conducted by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) south of Rangely has collected 133 horses as of Monday, with one fatality reported. The gather, which has faced criticism from various groups, aims to manage the herd size in the West Douglas Area.

The horse that died was a stallion that fell and broke its neck while a trailer was being loaded, according to BLM spokesman David Boyd. Despite this incident, Boyd stated that the gather “has been going well and the horses are in good condition.”

The BLM is collecting horses from the West Douglas Area, which had an estimated herd of 365 before the gather. Critics argue that the BLM intends to “zero-out” the herd, but a federal judge in Washington, D.C., refused to halt the gather, allowing it to proceed.

BLM officials argue that the 128,000-acre West Douglas Area lacks sufficient habitat for more than about 30 horses. However, the agency currently has space for only 167 horses in Cañon City, where they are stabled.

The gather is scheduled to continue through Friday and may extend to the Piceance-East Douglas Area, located east of Colorado Highway 139. Unlike the West Douglas Area, the Piceance-East Douglas Area is managed with wild horses in mind.

Originally reported by The Daily Sentinel.