Published 12:22 pm Monday, October 19, 2026

The Bureau of Land Management plans to begin gathering up to 140 wild horses Tuesday from the Riddle Mountain Herd Management Area in southeast Oregon, following a delay caused by litigation.

The emergency operation comes after the Bald Mountain Fire burned nearly half of the area, significantly reducing forage available for winter. Ongoing drought has compounded the shortages, threatening the herd’s health and survival, the BLM said in a statement.

A preliminary injunction issued last week by the U.S. District Court for the District of Oregon prevents the BLM from carrying out its originally planned gather but allows the agency to remove approximately one-third of the horses, leaving 278 on the range.

The BLM had postponed the operation last month after a judge issued a temporary restraining order.…