BLM Begins Swasey Wild Horse Gather near Delta to Balance Population Size
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DELTA, Utah – The Bureau of Land Management is beginning gather operations in the Swasey Herd Management Area near Delta to address populations above range sustainability levels. This effort will help improve herd health, reduce pressure on range resources, and support a balanced, healthy environment for wild horses into the future.
Wild horses are an important part of the American West, yet populations that grow beyond sustainable levels can place increasing pressure on the resources available within a herd management area. As numbers rise, horses must compete more intensely for forage and water, travel greater distances across the landscape, and face heightened risks to their overall health and condition, especially during drought. Active management helps ensure wild horses can continue to thrive on healthy, productive rangelands.
In the Swasey Herd Management Area, the current estimated population is approximately 247 wild horses, exceeding the target herd size of 60 to 100 animals. This gather is an important step toward achieving a sustainable population, promoting the long-term health of the herd and preserving the ecological balance of the public lands they call home.
The BLM plans to gather and remove approximately 140 wild horses as part of this operation to restore a healthy natural ecological balance. Animals removed from the range will receive health evaluations, vaccinations, and care at BLM facilities before being made available for adoption, sale or transfer to qualified adopters.
The safety and welfare of wild horses during gather operations is a top priority for the BLM. All contractors and BLM staff are trained in humane gather and handling techniques specially designed for wild horses and burros. Learn more about the BLM’s Comprehensive Animal Welfare Program. Under BLM supervision, contractors will conduct gather operations with assistance of one or more helicopters that will guide animals on the range into temporary gather corrals. Crews maintain a controlled approach that keeps horses moving comfortably, pausing whenever any animal shows signs of stress.
The BLM will temporarily close certain public lands around gather location to public access, including a prohibition on the use of unmanned aerial vehicles (“drones”). The closure is necessary to protect wild horses, as well as public health and safety. BLM will notify the public about the duration and location of temporary closures on the gather webpage. Learn more about the gather on the gather webpage. Additional information, including the Decision Record, is available at the BLM National NEPA Register.
The Wild Free‑Roaming Horses and Burros Act of 1971 charges the BLM with managing wild horses and burros on public lands. Federal law prohibits the commercial slaughter of these animals, and the BLM does not sell or send wild horses or burros to slaughter. The agency enforces adoption and sale requirements, strengthened the bill of sale language, and works closely with law enforcement whenever credible information suggests a violation may have occurred.
This commitment to humane care is central to the BLM’s mission and guides every action we take to ensure wild horses and burros remain responsibly managed for generations to come. Learn more about the Wild Horse and Burro Program.
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.