Spring Mountains Trapping Ends

The incident concluded on June 19 with these results:

Horses

  • 97 captured, 97 shipped, none released and no deaths
  • 0 unaccounted-for animals
  • 57 stallions, 31 mares, 9 foals
  • 9.3% of total was foals
  • 64.8% of adults were male, 35.2% were female

Burros

  • 425 captured, 424 shipped, none released and one dead
  • 0 unaccounted-for animals
  • 237 jacks, 155 jennies and 33 foals
  • 7.8% of total was foals
  • 60.5% of adults were male, 39.5% were female

The overall death rate was very low.

Foal proportions do not correspond to herd growth rates of 15 to 20 percent per year.

There is some evidence of an abnormal sex ratio in the horse population but not enough to supply a basis for action.

There were no plans to treat any of the mares or jennies with PZP and return them to the range, a huge disappointment to the advocates.

They’re evil beyond imagination.

The operation liberated 3,714 AUMs per year for other mandated uses of public lands.

RELATED: BLM Announces Spring Mountains Bait Trap Roundup.

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

Lake Pleasant Trapping Ends

The incident concluded on June 8 with 868 burros captured, 867 shipped, none released and one dead.

There were no unaccounted-for animals.

The capture total included 400 jacks, 413 jennies and 55 foals.

Youngsters represented 6.3% of the animals gathered.

Of the adults, 49.2% were male and 50.8% were female.

There were no plans to treat any of the jennies with PZP and return them to the range, a huge disappointment to the advocates.

The operation liberated 5,208 AUMs per year for other mandated uses of public lands.

RELATED: BLM Announces Lake Pleasant Bait Trap Roundup.

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

Chincoteague’s Top Producer on Father’s Day

The total climbed to 73 on June 21, up from 65 on June 6.

Thunderbolt came out on top, producing eight foals.

Hoppy and Twist were tied for second place with seven apiece.

Colts led the fillies 38 to 35.

Refer to this spreadsheet for a ranking of sires.

The herd has been engineered for maximum production and revenues, despite a limit of 150 horses in the refuge.

The pony swim will occur on July 29 according to the guide, followed by the auction on July 30.

The events nowadays resemble those in the 1961 film but with more fanfare.

The Museum of Chincoteague Island purchased the Beebe Ranch three years ago.

PREVIOUS: Chincoteague Foal Production Sputtering Along.

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

Jeopardy! for Wild Horses

A. 12 AUMs per year.

Q. What’s the forage requirement of a wild horse?

A. Multiply by 12.

Q. How do you convert an AML to AUMs?

A. An ovary-killing pesticide.

Q. What is PZP?

A. It’s safe, proven and reversible.

Q. What’s the top-selling lie about PZP?

A. They want the ranchers to win.

Q. Why are the advocates so dishonest?

Why are you still giving them money?

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

BLM Issues Saylor Creek Final DNA and Closure Notice

The incident, not yet announced but on the schedule with a start date of July 10, will not be open to public observation according to documents in a new project folder.

The order applies to all public lands within two miles of the trap sites.

The Final DNA and DR were copied to the original project folder on June 18.

The decision authorizes these actions:

  • Force up to 100 wild horses into the traps with a helicopter
  • Remove up to 68 following selective removal criteria
  • Treat mares returned to the HMA with GonaCon Equine
  • Introduce two mares from different HMAs to boost genetic diversity
  • Establish a 50:50 male-to-female sex ratio
  • Offer removed animals for adoption in accordance with current policy

The schedule calls for the capture of 150, removal of 105 and treatment of 22.

PREVIOUS: BLM Evaluates NEPA Adequacy Ahead of Saylor Creek Roundup.

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

Would Mass Sterilization Qualify as Low-Stress Removal?

If so, the Campaign Against America’s Wild Horses and the Salt River Wild Horse Darting Group, its partner in Arizona, should respond to the ASNF RFI.

The Park Service has been using low-stress techniques at Mesa Verde and the Forest Service probably knows about it, but would they accept humane disposal, sometimes referred to as wild horse conservation, as a legitimate method?

It’s a chance for the advocates to break into the big leagues and prove their worthiness to the hunters and ranchers.

RELATED: Forest Service Gathers Info for Wild Horse Removal in ASNF.

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

RTF Recruits Ed Harris to Mislead Public, Draw Attention to Itself

Their video begins with a remark about competition for resources on public lands, followed by an image of a hydrocarbon processing plant, not hundreds of cattle strewn across an area identified for wild horses.

Their news release says “At the center of protecting these iconic animals is RTF – a national nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving the freedom, welfare, and future of America’s wild horses and burros through humane, science-based solutions,” a reference to fertility control and its disastrous consequences.

They are phonies, eager to do the will of the hunters and ranchers, and don’t deserve a penny of your support.

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

Foal-Free Friday, Moving the Goalposts Edition

The AML for the Pryor Mountain HMA did not increase in the updated management plan but the interval between high and low decreased, suggesting the birth rate will be going down and the death rate will be going up (as the age of the herd increases).

The range between the endpoints is usually based on a doubling of herd size every four to five years, which might make sense in areas where nature is allowed to run its course.

For example, at the Fifteenmile HMA in Wyoming, the AML is 100 to 230.

What about HMAs where the advocates are involved?

At Stewart Creek, where WYWHIP poisons the mares with PZP, the range is 125 to 175.

The closer the endpoints the lower the growth rate.

The previous AML at Pryor, 90 to 120, yields a growth rate of roughly 5.9% per year for five years.

The new AML, 107 to 120, yields a growth rate of 2.3% per year over the same period.

You can determine the growth rate by solving this relationship for GR, where AMLH is upper endpoint, AMLL is the lower endpoint, GR is the growth rate in percent and n is the period in years.

AMLH=AMLL(1+GR/100)nAML_H = AML_L (1 + GR/100)^n

Or you can use this spreadsheet.

You can check the calculation by plugging the results into the formula.

107(1+2.3/100)5=120107(1 + 2.3/100)^5 = 120

How will the new AML be achieved?

Long-term use of PZP, much to the delight of the advocates, with the inevitable result of permanent infertility and herd collapse.

HOMEWORK: What are the expected growth rates at Fifteenmile and Stewart Creek?

EXTRA CREDIT: Stop giving the advocates money.

PREVIOUS: Foal-Free Friday, Casting a Wider Net Edition.

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

Forest Service Gathers Info for Wild Horse Removal in ASNF

The agency posted a request for information on SAM to identify qualified contractors capable of capturing and removing up to 2,000 animals from the Black Mesa and Lakeside Ranger Districts using low-stress methods such as bait and water trapping.

The solicitation does not constitute a Request for Proposal or a promise to issue an RFP in the future.

Refer to the scope of work for more information.

Contractors will be responsible for transportation, delivery and sale of the horses.

Sale barns must be located within 900 miles of Overgaard, AZ.

Would that reach Texas?

Jackie Hughes, please pick up the white courtesy phone.

RELATED: OUTDOOR LIFE Interviews Jackie Hughes.

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

Virginia Range Fence Q&A

Q. How many mares will it sterilize?

A. None, the advocates are doing that.

Q. Will it drive the breeding population to zero?

A. No, the advocates are doing that.

Q. Will it compromise genetic diversity?

A. No, the advocates are doing that.

Q. Will it skew the sex ratio in favor of females?

A. No, the advocates are doing that.

Q. Will it inflict injuries and infections?

A. No, the advocates are doing that.

RELATED: BLM Issues Decision on Virginia Range Fencing Project.

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

Antelope-Triple B Trapping Ends

The incident concluded on June 13 with 1,001 horses captured, 985 shipped, none released and 16 dead.

There were no unaccounted-for animals.

The death rate was 1.6%.

Eleven deaths were intentional.

Youngsters represented 16.3% of the animals gathered.

Of the adults, 54.9% were male and 45.1% were female.

Body condition scores were not given.

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

The roundup liberated 12,012 AUMs per year for other mandated uses of public lands.

The news release said it protected habitat for other wildlife species such as sage grouse, pronghorn antelope and mule deer.

RELATED: BLM Announces Antelope and Triple B Bait Trap Roundups.

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

Marietta Grazing Plan Back on the Table

Last year the BLM posted land health assessments for five vacant allotments to a new project folder with little if any fanfare.

Last week a preliminary environmental assessment appeared along with several appendices.

Western Horse Watchers was unable to find an announcement in the BLM news releases or requests for public input seeking comments.

Under Alternative 1, the Proposed Action, the allotments would be merged into one and the agency would issue a ten-year grazing permit.

The original allotments would become pastures.

The parcels do not appear in the Vacant Allotment Finder.

Section 1.2 indicates that grazing applications have already been received.

The new allotment would overlap the Garfield Flat, Marietta and Montgomery Pass HMAs.

There are no authorized AUMs for livestock in Marietta, which is managed principally for burros.

Grazing could not occur in the HMA until the agency updates the land-use plans to reduce the AML and allocate forage to livestock?

Comments on the EA will be accepted through July 22.

PREVIOUS: BLM Cancels Marietta Grazing EA.

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

BLM Issues Final Planning Docs for Pryor HMAP and AML

The Decision Record authorizes two components of Alternative 2, the Proposed Action, discussed in section 2.3 of the updated Environmental Assessment.

The AML would be set at 107 to 120 horses, excluding foals.

The news release says 90 to 120, which matches the population target in the 2026 population dataset.

The narrow range suggests heavy use of fertility control, with disastrous results expected in the long run (such as permanent infertility and herd collapse).

That may explain why the gather component was deferred.

The advocates and other wild horse detractors will find much to like in the new plan.

The DR and EA were uploaded to the project folder yesterday.

RELATED: BLM Releases Pryor Mountain Final Planning Documents.

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

Currituck Herd Loses Stallion

His injuries were consistent with a kick from another horse according to a report by The Charlotte Observer.

The herd manager and PZP darter, who not only tried to control nature but to thwart it, said “We can’t control nature.”

RELATED: Advocates Issue Memorial Day Warning for Currituck Herd.

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

How Bad Are Things in Antelope Hills?

The HMA overlaps about 51% of the allotment according to Table 6 in the new EA for rancher protection in the Red Desert Complex.

The allotment master report puts it in the Improve category, with 47.7% of the permitted use in the suspended column.

The 8,365 active AUMs support livestock equivalent to 697 wild horses on 178,253 public acres, or 3.9 wild horses per thousand public acres.

The management plan allows 0.5 wild horses per thousand public acres in the HMA.

Keeping the population below that limit means healthy horses on healthy rangelands, according to your faithful public servants, while they allow eight times that many in the allotment.

If the suspended AUMs were restored, for a total of 15,993 in the active column, the allotment would support livestock equivalent to 1,333 wild horses, or 7.5 wild horses per thousand public acres.

That may be an unstated goal of the new HMAP, which the advocates will endorse regardless of what’s in it (because they’re hooked on HMAPs), and would explain the management actions therein.

If every wild horse was removed from the area where the HMA and allotment intersect, the land would still be at 8X AML because of livestock.

RELATED: Red Desert EA Out for Review.

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

Montgomery Pass Roundup Getting Closer?

The incident has not been announced at the Inyo news page.

The tentative start date, according to the Scope of Work at the updated solicitation page, was July 8.

Animals identified for removal will be taken to the Double Devil Corrals in Alturas.

A keyword search of the document yielded these results:

  • Fertility – No occurrences
  • PZP – 0
  • Zonastat – 0
  • Advocate – 0
  • Gunshot – 4
  • Humane – 27
  • Humanely – 5
  • Grazing – 0
  • Allotment – 0

Remember the East Pershing Sleighride, where the wranglers dragged a captured horse on a skid, amid claims of abuse?

It may have been in the contract.  See items 4 – 7 under Roping (page 7).

PREVIOUS: Forest Service Selects CD Warner for Montgomery Pass Roundup.

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

Red Desert EA Out for Review

Alternative A, discussed in section 2.1, would implement a revised HMAP, implement a gather plan to achieve low AML and implement a fertility control strategy as defined in the HMAP.

It’s not billed as the Proposed Action but probably is.

The HMAP, discussed in Appendix C, features immunocontraceptive vaccines, sex ratio skewing and gelding (of stallions).

If genetic monitoring indicates a problem, exchange young viable females between HMAs or outside the Complex.

A map in Appendix F based on a 2025 aerial survey shows almost no wild horses in the Lost Creek HMA and many in the Arapahoe HA.

Section 3.10 discusses impacts on permitted grazing.

Comments will be accepted through July 13 according to the news release.

The EA was copied to the project folder in ePlanning.

PREVIOUS: Scoping Begins for Red Desert HMAP and Enforcement Plan.

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