A controversial wild horse gather removes 167 animals; advocates say ranchers and cattle are over-running the area

A controversial horse roundup conducted by the Bureau of Land Management ended Wednesday after 167 horses were removed from the West Douglas Herd Area. The BLM used helicopters and bait traps to capture the animals. Two horses died during the roundup. A stallion fell while being loaded onto a trailer and another horse stepped on his neck. Also, a young foal broke its leg while trying to run away. He was eventually captured and then euthanized. BLM spokesperson Chris Joyner said the BLM must manage wild horse herds so they don't go through "boom and bust" cycles. In that cycle, the population grows, the environment can't supply enough food or water for that large of a number, causing large numbers of animals to die off. Joyner said the BLM really only has two options to control the populations, either through roundups or fertility management drugs. He said the bureau is under fire for using both methods. Still, he said the BLM is dedicated to keeping the population healthy. Poyner said all 165 horses will be taken to a Cañon City prison. Inmates will train the horses so they can be adopted. Some animals will be kept in long-term holding facilities. Some of the animals may also be auctioned off. The Cloud Foundation, a group trying to preserve the U.S.'s wild horse population, filed a lawsuit to try to stop the roundup scheduled for the West Douglas Herd Area. They lost the lawsuit and shortly after, the round up started. Jaime Wade is part the foundation. She said the use of a helicopter to scare horses into corrals was cruel and unnecessary. Instead, the Cloud Foundation advocates feeding herds fertility management drugs. She said the area can sustain this herd, and instead, it's cattle and ranchers that are the ones over-running the area...more