U.S. land managers have begun efforts to capture about 50 percent more wild horses than originally planned this year because of severe drought across the U.S. West.That means they will capture about 6,000 additional animals, mostly in the western states of Nevada, Oregon and Colorado.The Bureau of Land Management, or BLM, said the emergency roundups, or mass capture, began Sunday in Oregon and Monday in Nevada.The BLM actions are centered on places where long-term overpopulation of the herds "already has stretched the available food and water to its limits."Nada Wolff Culver is the bureau's deputy director for policy and programs.She said, "As one of the agencies charged with the responsibility to protect and manage America's wild horses and burros,the BLM is prepared to take emergency action where we can in order to save the lives of these cherished animals."In announcing the effort Monday, Culver said the agency goal is "continuing our efforts to reduce overpopulation across the West."That means having healthy herd sizes that can live through severe conditions like long periods of drought.
