Another wild horse round-up is underway in Colorado.

According to a press release from the Bureau of Land Management, a bait and trap wild horse round-up started in the Sand Wash Basin Herd Management Area on July 7. This is located in northwest Colorado’s Moffat County near Maybell.

The purpose of the round-up is for increased fertility control, with overpopulation considered to be a risk for the herd as this can limit food and water resources.

It’s currently estimated that 487 wild horses are found inside and outside of the Sand Wash Basin Herd Management Area, making up a large portion of Colorado’s estimated total population of 1,516 wild horses. The largest herd in Colorado, however, is that of Piceance-East Douglas Creek, with an estimated 678 members of that population. As far as the current Sand Wash Basin round-up goes, up to 60 horses are approved to be captured.

In the past, wild horse round-ups in Colorado have been met with controversy, with those opposed to the process generally citing injuries that can occur as a concern.

It’s worth noting, however, that the bait-trap method of round-up is a means of avoiding a large-scale gather.

More information about this round-up can be found here.

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