Rangeland Management

Why Does the BLM Manage Wild Horses and Burros on the Public Rangelands?

The Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act of 1971, as amended, declared all wild free-roaming horses and burros on the public rangelands shall be under the jurisdiction of the Secretary of Interior, through the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and the Secretary of Agriculture, through the Forest Service. 

How are the Wild Horses and Burros Managed on the Public Rangelands?

The BLM manages wild horses and burros on the public rangelands consistent with its multiple use mission that takes into consideration all natural resources and users of the land.  As dictated by law, the primary responsibilities of the BLM are to protect and control wild horses and burros and to manage for healthy rangelands. Through intensive land use management planning efforts the BLM determines the appropriate number of wild horses and burros that each herd management area can support. Planning efforts include inventory and monitoring all users of the public rangelands.  During this process the BLM actively solicits public input.

The Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act of 1971, as amended, prohibits anyone other than an authorized agent of the Secretaries of the Interior and Agriculture from removing wild horses or burros from the public lands. Private Citizens cannot harass or remove wild horses and burros from the public rangelands.

Where are Wild Horses and Burros Found?

Wild horses and burros are found in herd management areas in Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah and Wyoming.

How are Wild Horses and Burros Removed from the Public Rangelands when an Overabundance Exists?

Normally, the BLM gathers wild horses and burros from the range using helicopters. Researchers have found this method to be the most humane and the least stressful for the animals. The BLM does not rope animals unless it is absolutely necessary. Depending on the number of animals the BLM must remove, gather operations can take anywhere from a few days to several weeks.

What Happens to the Animals Once They are Gathered from the Public Rangelands?

Once gathered, BLM wild horse and burro specialists load the wild horses and burros onto trucks for transportation to a holding area at the gather site or to a local BLM facility. At the holding area, animals are aged by looking at their teeth and their sex is determined. BLM wild horse and burro specialists separate the animals into different holding pens depending on their age and sex. All mares with foals at their side are placed in a separate pen. If a mare is lactating and has no foal at her side, BLM makes every effort to reunite the mare with her foal.

After separating the animals, BLM determines which animals will be sent to a BLM preparation facility for adoption by the general public and which animals will be returned to the range. Because older animals are not always readily adopted by the general public, the BLM often returns these animals to the range.

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