BLM removes hundreds of wild horses from Challis Range amid overpopulation concerns

The following is a news release from the U.S. Bureau of Land Management.

CHALLIS – The Bureau of Land Management held a wild horse gather earlier this month in the Challis Herd Management Area, about 20 miles south of Challis.

The gather was necessary to protect the health of the wild horses that depend on the area’s rangelands, particularly during the winter, which have been heavily strained by long-term overpopulation and drought conditions.

Without active management, wild horse populations can grow rapidly and may double in size every four to five years. When populations exceed the Appropriate Management Level, forage and water become increasingly scarce. Horses might travel outside the Herd Management Area in search of resources, creating safety concerns and potential conflicts with private property. Overpopulation also increases the risk of horses experiencing starvation, thirst and injuries as they compete for limited forage and water. Continued overpopulation can result in habitat degradation, reduced forage availability for wildlife and livestock, and long-term damage to rangeland resources.

Scientific analysis estimates the Challis Herd Management Area can adequately support 185 to 253 wild horses. The estimated 2026 post-foaling population is about 330 horses, which is above the number range needed to maintain a healthy and sustainable herd and protect the rangeland resources. Due to overpopulation, the BLM removed about 281 wild horses and about 146 animals to stabilize conditions on the range.

Fertility control is also an important tool for managing wild horse populations. By limiting reproduction, fertility control helps balance herd numbers and can reduce the need for frequent, large-scale removals. During the gather, BLM treated about 54 mares with fertility control and returned them to the range.

BLM staff and contractors will conduct drive-trap gather operations in accordance with the Comprehensive Animal Welfare Program, which establishes science-based, humane handling requirements designed to protect wild horse health and safety. During gather operations, helicopter pilots and ground crews use controlled approaches to keep horses together and moving at a safe pace. Horses are not pushed to exhaustion, and special care is taken with animals that may be more vulnerable, including foals and older horses. Nationwide, more than 99% of wild horses and burros are gathered safely without a severe incident.

The Challis Herd Management Area encompasses nearly 164,720 acres, consisting primarily of BLM-managed land intermingled with State of Idaho and private lands. The Herd Management Area supports wild horses as well as native wildlife, livestock grazing and other authorized uses.

Following the gather, horses were taken to the Challis Wild Horse Off-Range Corrals, where they received veterinary evaluation and care. As appropriate, horses were prepared for placement into private care through the BLM’s Adoption and Sales programs or into long-term contracted pastures.