The incident concluded on October 9 with 388 horses captured, 386 shipped, none released and two dead.

There were no unaccounted-for animals.

Operations were suspended for over two weeks due to helicopter problems.

The capture total included 146 stallions, 161 mares and 81 foals.

Youngsters represented 20.9% of the animals gathered.

Of the adults, 47.6% were male and 52.4% were female.

The death rate was 0.5%.  All deaths were intentional.

There were no plans to inhibit the mares with PZP and return them to the range.

The contractor was Cattoor and the obligated amount was $269,383.

The reduction in forage demand means the ranchers can enjoy more of what their allotments have to offer, even if their potential has been diminished by drought.

PREVIOUS: Barren Valley Emergency Roundup Announced.

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The incident started on September 4.  Results through October 8:

• FY: 2026
• Scope: Sheepshead/Heath Creek HMA
• Target: Horses
• AML: 302
• Pre-gather population: 1,200
• Type: Emergency
• Contractor: Cattoor
• Contract amount: $269,383
• Unit cost: $540
• Method: Helicopter
• Category: Cruel and costly (according to advocates)
• Better way: Destroy the breeding population with PZP (according to advocates)
• Capture goal: 499
• Removal goal: 499
• Captured: 387, up from 370 on Day 33
• Shipped: 355, up from 285 on Day 33
• Released: None
• Deaths: 2, no change from Day 33
• Average daily take: 11.1 (includes two-week lull for helicopter repairs)
• Unaccounted-for animals: 30
• Snippet from statute: It is the policy of Congress that wild free-roaming horses and burros shall be protected from capture, branding, harassment, or death
• Snippet from manual: To protect wild horses and burros from unauthorized capture, branding, harassment or death

The figures above are based on the daily reports.

Aerial operations have concluded but the incident can’t be marked complete with 30 unaccounted-for animals.

The death rate is 0.5%.

The capture total includes 145 stallions, 161 mares and 81 foals.

Youngsters represented 20.9% of the animals gathered, a sign of genetic diversity and large enough to support a herd growth rate of 15% per year.

Of the adults, 47.4% were male and 52.6% were female, no indication of an abnormal sex ratio (usually found in herds where the advocates are involved).

Body condition scores were not given.

The location of the trap site was not disclosed.

There are no plans to treat any of the mares with fertility control pesticides and return them to the range, which would prolong the genetic bottleneck created by the roundup.

The HMA is subject to permitted grazing.

The area is closed to the public with no allowance for observers or reporters.

PREVIOUS: Barren Valley Roundup, Day 33.

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Data from gather pages indicate that accidental deaths during roundups between July 1 and September 30, such as a mare crashing into a pipe panel and breaking her neck, accounted for a little more than a third of the total.

Intentional deaths, such as a stallion being euthanized for blindness or missing teeth, accounted for the remainder.

The advocates, interested in helping the ranchers and expanding their fertility control programs, argue that motorized removal must be stopped to prevent the fatalities.

But which ones?

In catch-treat-release, helicopters would be used to corral the herds, so no improvement there.

In field darting, deaths would be replaced by injuries and infections, and, over the long run, permanent infertility, loss of genetic diversity and herd collapse.

As for the intentional deaths, that effort goes on year around, not just during roundups.

If the advocates were successful, no foals would be born so there would be no deaths due to emaciation, blindness, club feet, etc.

The older horses would die and the ranchers would have all the resources to themselves.

PREVIOUS: Foal-Free Friday, Breaking the Mold Edition.

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The incident started on October 2.  Results through October 8:

• FY: 2027
• Scope: Sulphur HMA
• Target: Horses
• AML: 250
• Pre-gather population: 560
• Type: Planned
• Contractor: Cattoor
• Contract amount: $287,650
• Unit cost: $959
• Method: Helicopter
• Category: Cruel and costly (according to advocates)
• Better way: Beat the numbers down permanently with PZP (according to advocates)
• Capture goal: 300
• Removal goal: 300
• Captured: 167, up from 126 on Day 5
• Shipped: 118, up from 81 on Day 5
• Released: None
• Deaths: 2, no change from Day 5
• Average daily take: 23.9
• Unaccounted-for animals: 47
• Snippet from statute: It is the policy of Congress that wild free-roaming horses and burros shall be protected from capture, branding, harassment, or death
• Snippet from manual: To protect wild horses and burros from unauthorized capture, branding, harassment or death

The figures above are based on the daily reports.

The gather stats say 119 shipped.

The death rate is 1.2%.

The capture total includes 54 stallions, 81 mares and 32 foals.

Youngsters represented 19.2% of the animals gathered, large enough to support a herd growth rate of 13 to 14 percent per year.

Of the adults, 40.0% were male and 60.0% were female, no indication of an abnormal sex ratio.

Body condition scores were not given.

The location of the trap site was not disclosed.

There are no plans to treat any of the mares with fertility control and return them to the range, which would prolong the genetic bottleneck created by the roundup.

The HMA is subject to permitted grazing.  Resources liberated to date:

• Forage: 2,004 AUMs per year
• Water: 1,670 gallons per day

Public lands within two miles of active trapping locations and temporary holding facilities are closed to the public, with the exception of observers escorted by BLM staff.

PREVIOUS: Sulphur Roundup, Day 5.

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The obligated amount is $393,488 according to a report at USA Spending.

The incident is on the schedule with a start date of October 15.

The tentative capture and removal goals are 931 and 827, respectively.

Animals identified for removal will be taken to the off-range corrals at Rock Springs.

PREVIOUS: BLM Issues Red Desert Final Planning Documents.

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The incident started on September 4.  Results through October 6:

• FY: 2026
• Scope: Sheepshead/Heath Creek HMA
• Target: Horses
• AML: 302
• Pre-gather population: 1,200
• Type: Emergency
• Contractor: Cattoor
• Contract amount: $269,383
• Unit cost: $540
• Method: Helicopter
• Category: Cruel and costly (according to advocates)
• Better way: Sterilize the mares with PZP (according to advocates)
• Capture goal: 499
• Removal goal: 499
• Captured: 370, up from 314 on Day 31
• Shipped: 285, up from 249 on Day 31
• Released: None
• Deaths: 2, no change from Day 31
• Average daily take: 11.2 (includes two-week lull for helicopter repairs)
• Unaccounted-for animals: 83
• Snippet from statute: It is the policy of Congress that wild free-roaming horses and burros shall be protected from capture, branding, harassment, or death
• Snippet from manual: To protect wild horses and burros from unauthorized capture, branding, harassment or death

The figures above are based on the daily reports.

The death rate is 0.5%.

The capture total includes 137 stallions, 155 mares and 78 foals.

Youngsters represented 21.1% of the animals gathered, a sign of genetic diversity and large enough to support a herd growth rate of 15% per year.

Of the adults, 46.9% were male and 53.1% were female, no indication of an abnormal sex ratio (usually found in herds where the advocates are involved).

Body condition scores were not given.

The location of the trap site was not disclosed.

There are no plans to treat any of the mares with fertility control pesticides and return them to the range, which would prolong the genetic bottleneck created by the roundup.

The HMA is subject to permitted grazing.

The area is closed to the public with no allowance for observers or reporters.

PREVIOUS: Barren Valley Roundup, Day 31.

► Get the truth about wild horses and the wild horse advocates at westernhorsewatchers.com.

The incident started on October 2.  Results through October 6:

• FY: 2027
• Scope: Sulphur HMA
• Target: Horses
• AML: 250
• Pre-gather population: 560
• Type: Planned
• Contractor: Cattoor
• Contract amount: $287,650
• Unit cost: $959
• Method: Helicopter
• Category: Cruel and costly (according to advocates)
• Better way: Stop the transmission of life with PZP (according to advocates)
• Capture goal: 300
• Removal goal: 300
• Captured: 126, up from 73 on Day 3
• Shipped: 81, up from 42 on Day 3
• Released: None
• Deaths: 2, no change from Day 3
• Average daily take: 25.2
• Unaccounted-for animals: 43
• Snippet from statute: It is the policy of Congress that wild free-roaming horses and burros shall be protected from capture, branding, harassment, or death
• Snippet from manual: To protect wild horses and burros from unauthorized capture, branding, harassment or death

The figures above are based on the daily reports.

The death rate is 1.6%.

The capture total includes 45 stallions, 60 mares and 21 foals.

Youngsters represented 16.7% of the animals gathered, too low to support a herd growth rate of 15 to 20 percent per year.

Of the adults, 42.9% were male and 57.1% were female, no indication of an abnormal sex ratio.

Body condition scores were not given.

The location of the trap site was not disclosed.

There are no plans to treat any of the mares with fertility control and return them to the range, which would prolong the genetic bottleneck created by the roundup.

The HMA is subject to permitted grazing.  Resources liberated to date:

• Forage: 1,512 AUMs per year
• Water: 1,260 gallons per day

Public lands within two miles of active trapping locations and temporary holding facilities are closed to the public, with the exception of observers escorted by BLM staff.

PREVIOUS: Sulphur Roundup, Day 3.

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The liars and frauds on socialist media far outnumber the kayakers and paddleboarders on the river.

The only way to save the herd is to bring in mares from other areas, which will invalidate the $325,000 genetic study, now in the planning stages.

RELATED: Board of Regents Authorizes Salt River Genetic Research.

► Get the truth about wild horses and the wild horse advocates at westernhorsewatchers.com.

The incident started on September 4.  Results through October 4:

• FY: 2026
• Scope: Sheepshead/Heath Creek HMA
• Target: Horses
• AML: 302
• Pre-gather population: 1,200
• Type: Emergency
• Contractor: Cattoor
• Contract amount: $269,383
• Unit cost: $540
• Method: Helicopter
• Category: Cruel and costly (according to advocates)
• Better way: Beat the numbers down with PZP (according to advocates)
• Capture goal: 499
• Removal goal: 499
• Captured: 314, up from 277 on Day 29
• Shipped: 249, no change from Day 29
• Released: None
• Deaths: 2, no change from Day 29
• Average daily take: 10.1 (includes two-week lull for helicopter repairs)
• Unaccounted-for animals: 63
• Snippet from statute: It is the policy of Congress that wild free-roaming horses and burros shall be protected from capture, branding, harassment, or death
• Snippet from manual: To protect wild horses and burros from unauthorized capture, branding, harassment or death

The figures above are based on the daily reports.

The death rate is 0.6%.

The capture total includes 116 stallions, 130 mares and 68 foals.

Youngsters represented 21.7% of the animals gathered, a sign of genetic diversity and large enough to support a herd growth rate of fifteen to twenty percent per year.

Of the adults, 47.2% were male and 52.8% were female, no indication of an abnormal sex ratio (usually found in herds where the advocates are involved).

Body condition scores were not given.

The location of the trap site was not disclosed.

There are no plans to treat any of the mares with fertility control pesticides and return them to the range, which would prolong the genetic bottleneck created by the roundup.

The HMA is subject to permitted grazing.

The area is closed to the public with no allowance for observers and reporters.

PREVIOUS: Barren Valley Roundup, Day 29.

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At McCullough Peaks HMA with Linda Ghent.

The description did not indicate if the mom had a faulty immune system or was overlooked by the advocates, who are ruining the mares with PZP.

► Get the truth about wild horses and the wild horse advocates at westernhorsewatchers.com.

The incident started on October 2.  Results through October 4:

• FY: 2027
• Scope: Sulphur HMA
• Target: Horses
• AML: 250
• Pre-gather population: 560
• Type: Planned
• Contractor: Cattoor
• Contract amount: $287,650
• Unit cost: $959
• Method: Helicopter
• Category: Cruel and costly (according to advocates)
• Better way: Destroy the breeding population with PZP (according to advocates)
• Capture goal: 300
• Removal goal: 300
• Captured: 73, up from 23 on Day 1
• Shipped: 42, up from zero on Day 1
• Released: None
• Deaths: 2, up from zero on Day 1
• Average daily take: 24.3
• Unaccounted-for animals: 29
• Snippet from statute: It is the policy of Congress that wild free-roaming horses and burros shall be protected from capture, branding, harassment, or death
• Snippet from manual: To protect wild horses and burros from unauthorized capture, branding, harassment or death

The figures above are based on the daily reports.

Two horses died on Day 3, one was accidental and the other was intentional.

The death rate is 2.7%.

The capture total includes 30 stallions, 33 mares and 10 foals.

Youngsters represented 13.7% of the animals gathered, too low to support a herd growth rate of 15 to 20 percent per year.

Of the adults, 47.6% were male and 52.4% were female, no indication of an abnormal sex ratio.

Body condition scores were not given.

The location of the trap site was not disclosed.

There are no plans to treat any of the mares with fertility control and return them to the range, which would prolong the genetic bottleneck created by the roundup.

The HMA is subject to permitted grazing.  Resources liberated to date:

• Forage: 876 AUMs per year
• Water: 730 gallons per day

Public lands within two miles of active trapping locations and temporary holding facilities are closed to the public, with the exception of observers escorted by BLM staff.

PREVIOUS: Sulphur Roundup Begins.

► Get the truth about wild horses and the wild horse advocates at westernhorsewatchers.com.

The incident started on September 4.  Results through October 2:

• Scope: Sheepshead/Heath Creek HMA
• Target: Horses
• AML: 302
• Pre-gather population: 1,200
• Type: Emergency
• Contractor: Cattoor
• Contract amount: $269,383
• Unit cost: $540
• Method: Helicopter
• Category: Cruel and costly (according to advocates)
• Better way: Sterilize the mares with PZP (according to advocates)
• Capture goal: 499
• Removal goal: 499
• Captured: 277, up from 251 on Day 11
• Shipped: 249, up from 240 on Day 11
• Released: None
• Deaths: 2, no change from Day 11
• Average daily take: 9.6
• Unaccounted-for animals: 26
• Snippet from statute: It is the policy of Congress that wild free-roaming horses and burros shall be protected from capture, branding, harassment, or death
• Snippet from manual: To protect wild horses and burros from unauthorized capture, branding, harassment or death

The figures above are based on the daily reports.

Operations were delayed for two weeks due to problems with the helicopter.

The death rate is 0.7%.

The capture total includes 103 stallions, 116 mares and 58 foals.

Youngsters represented 20.9% of the animals gathered.

Of the adults, 47.0% were male and 53.0% were female.

Body condition scores were not given.

The location of the trap site was not disclosed.

There are no plans to treat any of the mares with fertility control pesticides and return them to the range.

The HMA is subject to permitted grazing.

PREVIOUS: Barren Valley Roundup, Day 11, Barren Valley Roundup Resumes.

► Get the truth about wild horses and the wild horse advocates at westernhorsewatchers.com.

The incident started on October 2 as scheduled with 23 horses captured, none shipped, none released and no deaths.

This is the first roundup of FY27, which began on October 1.

Funding was provided by a continuing resolution, not a full-year spending bill.

PREVIOUS: Sulphur Roundup Announced.

► Get the truth about wild horses and the wild horse advocates at westernhorsewatchers.com.

No new foals have been born since the pony swim and auction but the count increased from 88 to 89 at the end of September.

Last year’s record was 103.

You might think that genetic diversity is good but most of the foals are sold after the swim, leaving only a handful to replace the horses that died.

PREVIOUS: Chincoteague Pony Auction Falls Short of Last Year.

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The news release was published on the day the incident was set to begin.

The capture and removal goals are 300 each.

The target is horses.

The pre-gather population is thought to be 560.

A helicopter will push the horses into the traps.

The contractor is Cattoor and the contract amount is $287,650.

The unit cost is $959 per animal captured, at the high end of the pay scale.

The area will be closed to the public except for observers escorted by BLM staff.

Captured animals will be taken to the Sutherland off-range corrals.

There are no plans to treat any of the mares with fertility control and return them to the range, which would prolong the genetic bottleneck created by the roundup.

The HMA is subject to permitted grazing.

PREVIOUS: Sulphur Roundup Pending, Hola FY27.

► Get the truth about wild horses and the wild horse advocates at westernhorsewatchers.com.

Which option sterilizes the mares, destroys the breeding populations and stops genetic mixing?  Which one do the advocates prefer?  Hint: It’s a dead end for wild horses.

Why aren’t there any buttons for

• Managing HMAs principally for wild horses
• Restoring HAs and managing them principally for wild horses
• Purging the bureaucracies of ranchers and ranching sympathizers
• Purging the advocacy groups of ranchers and ranching sympathizers
• Zeroing out allotments and converting them to wild horse preserves
• Purchasing base properties and flipping the preference to wild horses

Stop listening to the broken record.  The advocates have nothing to offer America’s wild horses.

PREVIOUS: Foal-Free Friday, Indulging Their Obsession Edition.

► Get the truth about wild horses and the wild horse advocates at westernhorsewatchers.com.

That’s the allegation in a complaint filed on behalf of Skydog Sanctuary according to a story by KLAS News.

Two bands of wild horses identified in a kill pen were rescued days before they were set to ship out of state.

• A stallion and seven mares
• A stallion and two mares

No foals were reported.

The case was brought by the disgraced former leader of the Campaign Against America’s Wild Horses and kingpin of the Virginia Range darting program.

That’s why there are no foals.

How were they able to identify the horses?

Through their darting database.

The advocates want you to think they’re the good guys but nobody’s getting rid of more wild horses except for the federal government.

► Get the truth about wild horses and the wild horse advocates at westernhorsewatchers.com.