As of Saturday, July 16, the Bureau of Land Management had rounded up 235 wild horses from the Piceance-East Douglas management area in western Colorado.

So far, the BLM’s cull includes 106 mares, 87 stallions and 42 foals, according to the agency. The BLM’s White River Field Office began rounding up the wild horses with helicopters on Friday, July 15.

The Bureau of Land Management started gathering wild horses in the Piceance-East Douglas Herd Management Area on, June 16, aiming to remove as many as 1,250 horses.

The latest wild horse roundup, which is forecast to become the largest in state history, has been divided into two stages. Bait and water trap operations began in mid-June and removed 18 wild horses. Drive-trap gather operations, which use horseback riders before the helicopters, started up late last week.

According to the BLM, the roundup will help slow population growth, maintain population size within the BLM’s appropriate management level, which the agency has put between 135 and 235 horses.

The agency says that by reducing the number of wild horses, it will help sustain a healthy population, which can be expected to grow by approximately 20% each year.

The BLM has reported one death among the horses due to a pre-existing or chronic condition. Horse advocates have criticized the wild horse roundups, especially after more than 140 horses died in a BLM holding facility in Cañon City earlier this year.

Horses removed from the Piceance-East Douglas management area will be made available for adoption once they’ve been processed.

Wild horses up for adoption are listed online at WildHorsesOnline.BLM.gov, which offers opportunities to purchase the animals and have them delivered to a location near the buyer.