The Bureau of Land Management has been rounding up mustangs from public lands for decades, but this year climate change has been a key factor in determining the number of horses gathered. This years' controversial plan is to remove 16,797 horses from public lands, "which would represent the move ever in one year and a 43% jump from 2021".

"Bureau officials say wild horses, as well as burros, need to be removed from Nevada and other Western states because there are too many of them for the amount of grass and plants to feed on, supplies of which are shrinking due to drought." Ben Noyes, a wild horse specialist from the BLM explains that, "everyone wants to think it's roses out here for the horses, but it's tough country."

Advocates like Marie Milliman from a group called Wild Horse Education came to observe the roundup and take note of any mishandling of the horses. She and her organization argue that instead of removing wild horses, we should be removing cattle instead.