Rep. Neguse and Gov. Polis Call for an Immediate Cease to Wild Horse Helicopter Roundups in Colorado

September 3, 2026 Press Release Lafayette, CO — Today, Congressman Joe Neguse and Governor Jared Polis called on the Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to immediately halt wild horse helicopter roundups in Colorado. Their letter comes on the heels of public reports that in the month of August alone 800 wild horses were captured and hauled away from public lands in the northwestern part of the state. This is part of a costly federal plan to thin the state’s herds, with the next roundup in the region scheduled to begin as soon as September 10th, 2026. In their letter, Neguse and Polis labeled the use of helicopters in herd management inhumane and unnecessary. Six horses have died so far during the helicopter roundups in other parts of the state. BLM has been responsible for protecting and managing wild horse herds for decades, however, under the Trump administration there’s been a troubling uptick in the U.S. government’s sale of these animals. According to records reviewed by The New York Times , in 2025, sales of wild horses more than doubled and traders are using a legal loophole to increase profits when selling them for slaughter. They lawmakers echoed pleas from Coloradans across the state who are deeply concerned about the safety and well-being of these horses. The letter is co-signed by Representatives Brittany Pettersen (CO-07), Dianna DeGette (CO-01), and Jason Crow (CO-06). The full letter is available HERE and below: September 3, 2026 Secretary Burgum and Deputy Director Heinlein, We write with grave concern regarding recent wild horse helicopter roundups in Northwest Colorado and urge your agencies to implement an immediate freeze on upcoming roundups. Our wild horses provide significant benefit to the region and State of Colorado and should be treated with care. This month, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has captured around 800 wild horses in the Piceance-East Douglas Herd Management Area, six of which died during the roundups. Another roundup in the Sand Wash Basin Herd Management Area (HMA) is scheduled for early September, which will reduce the size of the herd by more than 60 percent. While we understand the need to reduce the size of these herds in accordance with the level that can be sustained on the land, the current methods being used by your agencies, including helicopter roundups, are inhumane and unnecessary. Helicopter roundups are known to cause extreme panic, exhaustion, and frequent and severe injuries to the animals. Coloradans themselves have voiced deep concern over the safety and well-being of these horses, whose risks only multiply during roundups of this scale and continue long after the gathering ends. We would encourage you to consider postponing the scheduled roundups in order to have a more thorough and robust stakeholder and community engagement process, and work with local and state partners – such as the state’s Wild Horse Advisory Committee – to craft a solution for the long-term wellbeing of these horses. We also request any evidence your agencies may have that supports the need for continued use of helicopter roundups as a more effective means for horse control against other more humane methods. We look forward to hearing from you. Sincerely, ###