The Palomino Buttes Herd Management Area (HMA) is made up of 74,000 acres in Oregon. As of June 2021, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) estimates there were about 427 wild horses in the HMA. However, the BLM’s unscientifically low Appropriate Management Level (AML) for the HMA – the number of horses the agency claims that the range can sustainably support in conjunction with other animals and resource uses – is 32-64 horses. 

While the BLM notes that there is currently not enough forage and water in the HMA to sustain the wild horse population, at the same time the BLM authorizes hundreds of livestock to graze in the HMA. 

It is time for the BLM to manage wild horse habitat for the wild horses. 

This roundup cost the taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars to just roundup these 253 beloved horses from inside and outside the HMA. The removal will also bring along with it the lifetime cost to house the horses for the remainder of their lives in government holding corrals. 

On top of that, the taxpayer foots the bill for federally subsidized livestock grazing on public lands as well. The federal grazing fee remains at its historic low of $1.35 per animal per month. That’s a steep discount, thanks to the taxpayer subsidies that prop up this federal entitlement program. (Estimates indicate that the overall cost to taxpayers for the federal grazing program could be as much as $500 million annually.

Total Removed: 253

Total Deaths: 1

Tuesday, August 31, 2021: 103 wild horses removed

Today was the last day of the operation. The BLM removed 103 wild horses: 49 stallions, 36 mares, and 18 foals.

Monday, August 30, 2021: 150 wild horses removed

Today was the first day of the operation. The BLM removed 150 wild horses: 46 stallions, 67 mares, and 37 foals.

One 13-year-old stallion was killed because he was missing an eye.