Dear Jack, an emergency wild horse roundup is set to begin today in Nevada — and we want you to know that this is exactly why American Wild Horse Conservation exists.

From the very beginning, AWHC was founded to serve as a watchdog — to be the checks and balances when federal agencies move quickly or quietly, and to ensure the treatment of wild horses and burros is witnessed, documented, and held to account.

And our team is on the ground.

Because our team is prepared to respond on short notice, we were able to mobilize resources and place a trained observer at the roundup site to independently document what happens and provide oversight as this operation unfolds.

Here’s what we know so far:

Today, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) begins a multi-day emergency wild horse roundup in and around the Snowstorm Mountain and Little Humboldt Herd Management Areas (HMA) of Nevada. We learned of the operation late Friday, and because of the way it was announced, there was little public notice before it began.

What’s especially significant is that the BLM is proceeding with this roundup under “emergency” authority, claiming the horses are in poor body condition due to a fire that burned in the HMAs.

When agencies rely on emergency authority, transparency can disappear overnight. That makes independent monitoring more critical than ever.

A Fiscal Year 2026 roundup schedule has not been released yet so we don’t know how the West’s wild horses will be impacted, but we do know when we are on the ground at these removals, we are the eyes and the ears of the American public.  

As this operation continues, we’ll share updates from the field and keep you informed about what we’re seeing and what it means — not just for the horses in Nevada, but for wild horse policy nationwide.

Moments like this underscore how critical independent observation is. AWHC’s Observation Fund makes it possible for us to deploy trained observers on short notice — ensuring transparency, documentation, and accountability when wild horses are most vulnerable. 

If you’re able, please consider making a donation to our Observation Fund to ensure we can continue showing up wherever and whenever these operations occur.

As this roundup continues, we will keep you informed every step of the way.

With appreciation,
American Wild Horse Conservation