BLM Begins Actions to Protect Sulphur Herd and Land Health from Overpopulation

< All Press Releases

BLM Begins Actions to Protect Sulphur Herd and Land Health from Overpopulation

Organization:

Media Contact:

CEDAR CITY, Utah - Wild horses in the Sulphur Herd Management Area are facing shrinking food and water on drought-strained rangelands, and today marks a critical step in protecting them. Humane gather operations are beginning to bring vulnerable animals out of harm's way and restore the conditions they need to stay healthy on the range.

Without active management, wild horse herds can double in size every four to five years. As populations rise, forage and water decline, forcing animals to travel greater distances in search of food and water. This increases safety risks for the animals and may also lead to conflicts on private lands. Prolonged overpopulation, intensified by drought, greatly increases the likelihood of horses experiencing loss of weight and strength, starvation, dehydration, and other serious health concerns.

The Sulphur Herd Management Area spans roughly 230,000 acres of public lands. Recent population surveys indicate that the wild horse population has grown far above what the available water and forage can sustainably support in the long-term. The BLM currently estimates the approximately 560 wild horses roam the area - far above the target population size of 165-250 wild horses.

Heavy use by a growing wild horse population have pushed the range beyond what it can reliably provide. Forage and water are increasingly scarce, and the land is struggling to sustain the herd's basic needs. Without action, continued strain on this fragile landscape could lead to long-term damage and further loss of essential resources. The BLM's management responsibilities are aimed at preventing those outcomes, protecting the health of the horses, and ensuring the range remains able to support them into the future.

The BLM plans to gather and remove approximately 300 wild horses as part of this operation to restore a healthy natural ecological balance in the Sulphur Herd Management Area. 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 responsible homes.

The safety and welfare of wild horses during gather operations is a top priority for the BLM. All operations will be conducted in full compliance with the BLM's Comprehensive Animal Welfare Program. Under BLM supervision, contractors will conduct drive trap gather operations 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.

For more information, including updates and opportunities to observe operations, please visit the 2026 Sulphur Wild Horse Gather webpage. Additional information, including the Decision Record, is available at the BLM National NEPA Register.

The BLM will temporarily close certain public lands around gather locations to public access in accordance with 43 CFR 8364.1. The closures are necessary to protect the wild horses, as well as public health and safety. BLM will notify the public about the duration and location of temporary closures in accordance with 43 CFR 8364.1.

The BLM's Wild Horse and Burro Program is grounded in science, law, and humane-care standards and adheres completely to the Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act and other federal laws. The BLM does not send wild horses or burros to slaughter, and no loophole exists that would legally allow people who adopt or buy wild horses to ever sell animals directly or to middlemen for slaughter.

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.