Mustangs | Spirit of the Shrinking West, National Geographic magazine: Confused Horses Panic When Captured

Previous Image Next Image

Panic and confusion set in as wild horses in the herd are driven into a trap and confront fences for the first time. Dust flies as the horses storm the corral.  A herding animal, horses have a “flight or fight” instinct when they sense danger.

The Bureau of Land Management hired contractors to capture the mustangs to reduce numbers on the land outside Winnemucca, Nevada. They believed that dry conditions and fire created a desperate situation so the horses had so little forage and water; the health of this herd was at risk.

Radio triggered remote cameras captured the low angle of the horses as they ran into the trap.