Federal government thins the herds of wild horses in Colorado

U.S. officials say the ever-growing population of wild horses that roam federal lands in Colorado is depleting natural resources. But some activists say efforts to remove the horses are inhumane.

<img src='https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/2036x1358+0+0/resize/2036x1358!/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F81%2F2b%2Fb7755b624c5ba688d6e311cb89e9%2F260805-blm-wild-horse-round-up-rio-blanc-county-colo-mckenzielange-10.jpg' alt='A trailer of wild mustangs is transported to a temporary holding facility during the federal Bureau of Land Management's wild mustang roundup in the Piceance-East Douglas Herd Management Area in Rio Blanco County, Colo., on Aug. 5.'/><p>U.S. officials say the ever-growing population of wild horses that roam federal lands in Colorado is depleting natural resources. But some activists say efforts to remove the horses are inhumane.</p><p>(Image credit: McKenzie Lange)</p><img src='https://media.npr.org/include/images/tracking/npr-rss-pixel.png?story=nx-s1-5920407' />