Plans to remove the entire population of wild horses in the West Douglas Herd Area in
Rio Blanco County Colorado is moving forward. The Bureau of Land Management plans
to begin the wild horse gather on September 1st and it is estimated there are 122 wild
horses needing to be removed. “The West Douglas Herd Area is not managed for wild
horses due to limited food and water, which causes the horses to stray into private lands,”
shares White River Field Office Manager Bill Mills. “The removal of excess wild horses
will protect the rangelands and reduce impacts to sensitive animal species and adjoining
private properties.” Since 1975, the BLM White River Field Office determined the West
Douglas Herd Area was not suitable for the management of wild horses. The BLM will
conduct gathering operations using drive trapping. The BLM has established the West
Douglas Herd Area phone line at (720) 432-9689 for the public to receive updates on the
next day’s gather activities, meeting times, and locations. For information about the West
Douglas Herd Area Gather, visit www.blm.gov/23-west-douglas.
