Feds planning to remove 14,000 wild horses from the West in controversial helicopter round-ups due to drought and wildfire concerns

Wild horses being rounded up by helicopter in Nevada. Federal land managers plan to round up and remove over 14,000 wild horses throughout the Western U.S. this summer and fall, citing concerns that drought and wildfires have left little to forage for the animals - (Getty Images)

More than 14,000 wild horses are to be removed throughout the West this summer by federal agents using controversial helicopter round-ups.

The planned removal, by the Bureau of Land Management, is due to increasing threats of drought and wildfire in western states, leaving little food and water for the wild animals. The agency plans to use helicopters to drive mustangs from above and push wild horses into corrals.