Wild horses and burros still crowd federal lands but the overpopulation numbers continue to drop, the Bureau of Land Management reports in its latest assessment.
BLM estimates there were approximately 73,520 wild horses and burros on lands it manages as of March 1. This was 9,363 fewer animals than had been estimated in 2023, and it marks the third year of decline since 2020.
“Protecting and managing wild horses and burros on public lands is a responsibility that the BLM takes extremely seriously,” BLM Director Tracy Stone-Manning said in a statement.
Stone-Manning added that “by addressing overpopulation, we are not only ensuring the long-term well-being of wild horses and burros but also safeguarding the delicate balance of our ecosystems for the benefit of all wildlife and the health of our public lands.”
