Oregon's Wild Horse Dilemma: Challenges and Conservation Efforts

Oregon is a state of natural wonders, known for its Pacific Northwest fog, vast forests, and rugged coastline. Yet, many are unaware of the wild horses that roam its high desert, painting the landscape with their striking roans, pintos, palominos, and cremellos. These majestic creatures face challenges common to wild horse herds in the West, such as Bureau of Land Management (BLM) roundups and resource competition, but also encounter unique difficulties.

Oregon's Wild Horse Population

Oregon's wild horses inhabit three million acres across over 18 Herd Management Areas (HMAs). Currently, fewer than 3,000 wild horses and burros remain due to BLM roundups that have removed 17,000 animals since 1971. The mountainous terrain of these HMAs makes accessing and documenting the herds challenging, compounded by issues of water scarcity and fire, leading to "emergency roundups."

Recent Roundups and Their Impact

The 2023 roundups resulted in nearly 300 fewer wild horses in Oregon. Here's a closer look at the recent events affecting these herds.

Last Three Years

In 2020, the Paisley Desert Emergency Wild Horse Gather saw over 700 horses rounded up. Additional roundups that year removed over 200 more horses. The 2021 Barren Valley Complex Emergency Wild Horse Gather resulted in nearly 1,700 horses being removed, with 27 fatalities. The Palomino Butte Emergency Wild Horse Gather also removed over 200 horses. In 2022, the South Steens HMA roundup halved the herd's population, capturing over 700 horses and resulting in 22 deaths.

2023 Roundups

In August 2023, roundups occurred in three HMAs in southeast Oregon, a popular area for wild horse viewing. Near Burns, Oregon, the Palomino Butte HMA saw 192 horses gathered, leaving only 62 on the range. The Stinking Water HMA had 63 out of 103 horses removed, and the Hog Creek HMA saw 38 horses gathered, with 14 returned to the range, leaving an estimated 42 horses.

The Plight of Cremellos

Oregon's mustangs are renowned for their beauty, including pintos, roans, palominos, and cremellos. However, advocates are concerned about the fate of cremellos post-capture. During the South Steens roundup, 11 of the 22 euthanized horses were cremellos. Misconceptions about their susceptibility to disorders due to pigmentation persist, raising concerns about euthanasia based on coloring.

AWHC's Role in Oregon

Oregon has been a focal point for controversial wild equine sterilization experiments proposed by the BLM, halted due to legal actions by organizations like the American Wild Horse Conservation (formerly American Wild Horse Campaign). AWHC continues to fight against inhumane practices, including helicopter roundups that threaten herd viability. Join AWHC's grassroots efforts to protect Oregon's wild mustangs.