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No wild horse roundups in Colorado this summer

The U.S. Bureau of Land Management will not be gathering wild horses in Colorado this summer.
EUREKA, NV - JULY 8: A group of wild horses is rounded up during a gathering July 8, 2005 in Eureka, Nevada. The U.S. Bureau of Land Management wants to reduce herds in the American west, where an estimated 37,000 of the horses roam free, to 28,000 by the end of 2005. The U.S. periodically removes thousands of horses and donkeys in an attempt to ensure western rangelands have adequate food and water for the animals to survive. Those animals are either adopted out or housed indefinitely on government sanctuaries. Currently 24,000 horses and donkeys are housed in government-run facilities. Recently passed legislation allows for the sale for slaughter of wild horses and donkeys older than ten years old and animals that have been unsuccessfully offered for adoption at least three times, eliminating restrictions that had been in place since 1971 which prevented wild horses from being sold commercially.

GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. (AP) - The U.S. Bureau of Land Management will not be gathering wild horses in Colorado this summer.

The Denver Post reports that Colorado is close to its targeted population on public lands.

Colorado has about 780 wild horses in four Western Slope management areas. All are within the limits set for a sustainable herd size.

The BLM's recently released roundup schedule shows that 2,400 wild horses will be gathered in other western states this summer. The largest gathers will take place in Wyoming where 1,535 horses will be rounded up.

The BLM is removing fewer wild horses and burros this summer because of budget constraints and overflowing holding pens.

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Information from: The Denver Post, http://www.denverpost.com

(Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

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