Cedar Mountain Herd Management Plan Targets Overpopulation to Safeguard Horses and Ecosystem Health

SALT LAKE CITY – The Bureau of Land Management is seeking public comments on plans to update wild horse management in the 211,593-acre Cedar Mountain Herd Management Area near Dugway in Tooele County to address chronic overpopulation and improve rangeland conditions.

Current wild horse populations in the area exceed the appropriate management level of 190-390 animals. As of March 2026, there are approximately 574 wild horses in the area, which is nearly twice the number the range can sustain. Persistent overpopulation strains forage and water resources, degrades habitat quality and increases the risk of starvation and thirst for wild horses and other wildlife. The BLM’s focus is on reducing overpopulation, maintaining populations at appropriate management levels, and lowering long-term costs for taxpayers. 

Maintaining healthy wild horses on healthy, productive rangelands remains a core priority for the BLM. Public input is valuable early in the process and will enable the BLM to develop a well-informed assessment.

The BLM manages and protects wild horses and burros under the Wild Free‑Roaming Horses and Burros Act of 1971, which directs the agency to preserve these animals as part of a thriving natural ecological balance. Management decisions are based on detailed analysis of environmental conditions, resource health, and multiple‑use requirements across public lands.

Additional information is available at the BLM National NEPA Register, where comments may be submitted through the “Participate Now” option until Sept. 3, 2026. For more information, please contact BLM Salt Lake Field Office Wild Horse & Burro Specialist Tami Howell at [email protected] or 801-320-8300.