Oregon Public Broadcasting

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service starts a helicopter round-up of wild horses at Sheldon National Wildlife Refuge Monday. As Kristian Foden-Vencil reports, the population control measure has several animal rights groups incensed.

Sheldon is a half-million acres of sage brush -- just south of Lakeview, Oregon.

It’s home to about 1500 wild horses. The government plans to use helicopters to round-up about 340 for adoption. But Matt Rossell of ‘In Defense of Animals,’ says the government already has thousands of horses penned -- awaiting a home.

Matt Rossell: “It’s irresponsible and unethical for any government agency to be rounding up any wild horses at this time, when we know that we have 10’s of thousands of horses that could potentially be facing the bullet. There’s no adoption market right now.” 

The Fish and Wildlife Service says the herds damage sensitive habitat,  making it difficult for native species like pronghorn antelope and wild trout to survive.