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BLM Plans Piceance-East Douglas/West Douglas Wild Horse Gather

Colorado
Event Coordinator
BLM Colorado
BLM Office:
White River Field Office
Event Dates

Meeker, Colo. – The Bureau of Land Management announced tentative plans to conduct a helicopter-assisted gather of approximately 1,025 excess wild horses within and adjacent to the Piceance-East Douglas Herd Management Area and the West Douglas Herd Area beginning around Aug. 1, 2026.

“The purpose of this gather is to help maintain a healthy wild horse herd on a healthy landscape,” said White River Field Office Manager Bill Mills. “The Piceance-East Douglas herd is currently well above the number of horses the habitat can sustainably support. By reducing population numbers and applying fertility control where appropriate, we can better support the long-term health of the horses, the range, and the other wildlife and resources that depend on this landscape.”

The Piceance-East Douglas Herd Management Area can sustainably support 135 to 235 horses, but current population estimates place the herd about 345 percent above the established Appropriate Management Level. The West Douglas Herd Area is not suitable for wild horse management due to a lack of forage and water. 

Of the 1,025 horses planned for gather, about 1,011 horses will be removed from the range, and 14 will be returned to the Piceance-East Douglas HMA. Ten of the returned horses will receive fertility control treatment to help slow future population growth.

Following the gather, removed horses will be transported to a temporary holding facility where they will receive veterinary care, vaccinations, identification, and evaluation. Horses determined suitable for placement will eventually be made available for adoption or other placement opportunities through the BLM’s Wild Horse and Burro Program.

People are welcome to observe the gather. Information about viewing opportunities and additional details is available at https://bit.ly/4fcyZFb. The gather is planned for approximately 30 days, though exact start and end dates will be determined by the contractor’s availability, weather, and the safety of the horses and those participating in the gather. 

The Piceance-East Douglas Herd Management Area is located southwest of Meeker, east of State Highway 139, and encompasses approximately 190,130 acres of public, state, and private lands in Rio Blanco County. 

The West Douglas Herd Area is located southwest of Rangely near Douglas Pass and encompasses approximately 123,000 acres across State Highway 139 from the Piceance-East Douglas Herd Management Area.

The Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act of 1971 directs the BLM to protect and manage wild horses and burros on public lands while maintaining a thriving natural ecological balance. The BLM manages wild horses as one part of a larger multiple-use mission that includes wildlife habitat, recreation, livestock grazing, and other public land uses.

Supporting National Environmental Policy Act documents for this gather are available through the BLM’s ePlanning register:

The BLM manages about 245 million acres of public land located primarily in 12 western states, including Alaska, on behalf of the American people. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. Our mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of America’s public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations.