Jack,

This is Amelia Perrin with American Wild Horse Conservation. I’m reaching out because we need your help. The Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 roundup season has just begun, and already we’re seeing some disturbing trends that point to a lack of transparency and accountability. The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has announced plans to capture more than 10,000 wild horses this year — but from what we’ve observed so far, the federal government is shielding much of this action from public view.

The ongoing federal roundup conducted by the United States Forest Service in Devils Garden Wild Horse Territory in California is a prime example of this. Here are a few recently documented observations from our on-the-ground volunteers: 

October 29: 
The trap site (place set up to capture wild horses) was hidden under thick tree cover, making it impossible for the public to observe.

November 1:
No public access to view the trap site or the horses being loaded up and transported out of their habitat in the public land area.

November 6:
Observers were placed behind the loading area, with a hill blocking crucial sightlines to the trap site and other roundup action.

Jack, these are just a few snapshots of what’s been happening in the field. Helicopter roundups are taking place in our public lands, and yet public access is being blocked. When the lives of federally protected wild horses are at stake, transparency cannot be an afterthought.

We’re calling on the BLM to put cameras on helicopters and wranglers, ensuring the whole operation is visible to the public. When these roundups go dark, it’s more than a lack of transparency — it’s a breach of public trust.

Photo of helicopter roundup at Devil’s Garden by Steve Paige

The stakes are high: While we're working to end roudups for good, we need to ensure wild horses are treated humanely by ensuring transparency to the public.

Will you join us in urging the BLM to keep roundups in plain sight this year? Click below to take action today and make sure we all have eyes on these operations.

Together in pursuit of keeping wild horses wild,

Amelia Perrin
American Wild Horse Conservation