Hundreds of wild horses straying outside a swath of territory spanning California and Nevada are set to be rounded up starting Wednesday, July 8. While officials say it’s necessary to remove the excess horses in part to protect habitats and for public safety, one tribe based in California has sought to block an operation they say will cause harm, including to the animals.
The Inyo National Forest plans to gather 450 wild horses from outside the Montgomery Pass Wild Horse Territory, according to a news release on June 22. The territory is an approximately 200,000-acre stretch of land in California and Nevada and with a portion of it in the Inyo National Forest, according to the Inyo National Forest.
Areas temporarily closed for the horse operation include near Mono Lake and to its east, according to maps shared online by the U.S. Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management.
These wild horses will be evaluated by a veterinarian and be prepared for adoption programs, according to Inyo National Forest.
While the roundup is planned for one to two weeks, it may end sooner depending on the number of horses gathered each day, according to the agency.
Here’s what to know:
Why officials say they need to remove the horses
The Inyo National Forest said there are at least 694 wild horses, with the bulk of these animals located outside the territory boundaries. However, the Montgomery Pass Wild Horse Territory is managed for a wild horse population of 138 to 230 animals, according to Inyo National Forest.
“Rangeland, hydrologic and wildlife habitat conditions are deteriorating” on federal, state and private lands outside of the territory “due to horse presence,” Inyo National Forest said, citing “trampling and manure damage to international migratory bird nesting areas” or to rock formations at Mono Lake, among other areas.
Officials also said these horses pose safety concerns for motorists and cyclists, and that overpopulation of wild horses increases competition for limited resources.
11 destinations where you can see wild horses
Theodore Roosevelt National Park, North Dakota. A herd of wild horses lives in the badlands of North Dakota. This park is one of the many beautiful National Parks where visitors can observe wildlife and iconic scenery.