This just came across our desk, but it’s an issue we’ve been tracking—and worried about—for years. The feral horse and burro situation across the West has spun out of control, and it’s doing real harm to the landscapes we love. From overgrazed riparian zones to sage grouse lekking meadows trampled bare, the impacts are visible right here in our neck of the woods. If we want to restore our rangelands and protect native wildlife, we need real action—not more delays.
Now Congress is moving on the FY26 Interior Appropriations bill, and a dangerous “sale-ban” rider in the legislation would block the Bureau of Land Management from using the tools it needs to bring populations back into balance. If we want to see real conservation on the range, (and obviously, we do) we need that rider removed.
Feral Horse Overpopulation
Here’s the situation:
- There are more than 73,000 wild horses and burros on Western ranges—almost three times what’s considered sustainable.
- An additional 67,000 animals sit in holding facilities, consuming over 70% of the program’s annual budget.
- These bloated populations overgraze critical habitat, damage riparian zones, and push out native wildlife—from mule deer to sage grouse.
If you have some time, take a look at this brief documentary that illustrates the reality in ground zero for feral horse overpopulation:
The Solution
What is being proposed by the Howl For Wildlife action is the following, centered around removing a “sales-ban” rider to the FY26 Interior Bill that prevents the sale of horses and burros that have been gathered during management actions. Other salient points include:
- Remove the aforementioned rider and restore the BLM’s full authority under the Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act.
- Fund meaningful gathers (around 20,000 animals per year) to reach appropriate management levels.
- Use a combination of adoption, sale, and targeted fertility control—with humane euthanasia only as a last resort.
This is one of the best chances we’ve had in recent memory to bring balance back to The Force the Western landscape and take one small step to restore our rangelands. Howl For Wildlife is consistently on the front lines of every major battle hook-and-bullet conservationists fight, and you can take action via their website by clicking on the button below:
There are quite a few other important conservation issues that are working their way through various processes now, including grizzly bear delisting, renewable energy development, and public land sales. Check back here for updates, as we track these important conservation initiatives as they happen.
