A helicopter roundup of wild horses in Wyoming’s Red Desert has drawn national attention after three horses, including a nursing foal, were killed. The federal agency that manages the herds says the animals were blind and were euthanized for that reason. A sanctuary and other critics question that conclusion and are calling for independent veterinary examinations. Here is what has been reported, and what remains in dispute.
A Herd Seen Weeks Earlier
Weeks before the roundup, photographer Chas Hanson and his wife had watched a herd in the Red Desert that included five cremello horses, which are recognizable by their cream coats and blue eyes. They nicknamed one mare Moonstone and her nursing foal Saffron. Saffron’s two-year-old sister was also in the herd. According to the photographers, the horses appeared healthy.
The Roundup
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) used helicopters to gather the herd into pens. During the operation, a gray stallion was euthanized because of a broken knee. Saffron, her sister and another foal were also killed by gunshot.
The BLM told Newsweek that the three young horses were put down because they were blind. A spokesperson said their coloring was not a factor and that they had been assessed in the field and found to be completely blind, showing no response to visual stimuli.
The Sanctuary’s Challenge
Skydog Sanctuary, a refuge for wild mustangs and burros in Oregon, disputes the agency’s account. Its founder, Clare Staples, told Newsweek that she keeps blind and partially sighted horses at her sanctuary and knows how they behave, and that she saw no signs of blindness in Saffron in the video she watched. The sanctuary says it would have taken in blind or special-needs horses rather than see them killed, and that it has repeatedly asked BLM facilities to release such animals to it but has been refused.
Staples has started a petition calling for an investigation and for veterinary examinations before decisions about euthanasia are made. She has also offered to take in the surviving members of Saffron’s family that were captured.
Why BLM Rounds Up Wild Horses
The BLM manages wild horse and burro herds on public lands under federal law. The agency says it gathers horses to keep populations at levels that rangelands can support, since overpopulation can damage the land and lead to starvation of horses and wildlife. Critics, including many horse advocates, say helicopter roundups are stressful and dangerous for the animals, separate families and result in injuries, and they urge alternatives such as fertility control. These disagreements are long-standing, and polls and public opinion on wild horse management are divided.
What We Don’t Know
Several key points aren’t settled:
- No independent veterinary findings about the horses have been published in the reports, so the question of whether they were blind is disputed.
- Where the horses’ remains were examined, and what records exist, hasn’t been made clear.
- It isn’t clear whether any investigation is under way, or what became of the petition.
- The accounts of the photographers and the sanctuary reflect what they saw in videos and in the wild, which can’t confirm a horse’s eyesight.
Wild Horses in the American West
Wild horses, often called mustangs, are descendants of animals brought to North America centuries ago. They are protected under federal law and have become symbols of the American West, while also being the subject of ongoing debate about how many the land can support. The Red Desert in Wyoming is one of the places where large herds live.
Seeing Wild Horses Responsibly
Visitors who want to see mustangs in the wild can do so from a respectful distance, using binoculars or a long lens, and without feeding or approaching them. Many wildlife lovers compare wild horse viewing tours and Wyoming wildlife tours, invest in binoculars and a wildlife photography camera with a telephoto lens, and add travel insurance for remote trips. Others support the animals through wild horse sanctuary donations, wildlife conservation donations or by exploring wild horse adoption programs.
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened during the roundup? BLM helicopters gathered a herd in Wyoming’s Red Desert. Three young horses, including a nursing foal, were killed, along with a stallion that was euthanized for a broken knee.
Why does BLM say they were killed? The agency says the three young horses were found to be completely blind after a field assessment.
Who disputes that? Skydog Sanctuary’s founder says she saw no signs of blindness in video footage and wants veterinary exams before euthanasia decisions.
Why are wild horses rounded up? BLM says it manages herd sizes to protect rangelands. Critics argue that helicopter roundups are harmful and favor alternatives.
Sources: Newsweek, Bureau of Land Management, Skydog Sanctuary
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