RENO, Nev. (AP) — Federal land managers are under fire from animal welfare activists for seeking extra holding space for wild horses removed from Western rangelands.

With current facilities nearing capacity, the U.S. Bureau of Land Management is accepting bids until Aug. 29 from contractors interested in either operating short-term corrals in 31 states in the Midwest and East or long-term pastures.

After removing horses from the range, the bureau places them in short-term facilities until they're either adopted or shipped to pastures in the Midwest where they spend the rest of their lives. The bureau routinely thins what it calls overpopulated herds.

But horse advocates say the agency continues to "stockpile" horses at a growing cost to taxpayers with about as many mustangs now living in holding facilities as on the range.

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