"Across the U.S. West this summer, helicopters buzz low, herding thousands of wild horses into gated areas.
The roundups, made necessary by the devastating effects of wildfire and drought, show how climate change is endangering the iconic wild horses, livestock and other wildlife, according to ranchers, activists and the U.S. government.
The dire situation on Western lands has led to unprecedented dialogue between horse rights activists, the cattle industry and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), which is charged with providing federal protection for wild horses.
Horse defenders have long hated the helicopter-led roundups, where wild horses are herded into corrals and then brought to long-term grazing facilities, mostly in the Midwest. A smaller number are put up for adoption. But, faced with dwindling water and plant resources, some rights activists have accepted the roundups as a necessary evil when faced with climate change."
Ned Parker and Lisa Lewnes report for Reuters September 1, 2021.
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