The Campaign Against America’s Wild Horses, a leader in nonmotorized removal, reported today that 178 mares received 183 doses of PZP during the month, 41 given as a primer and 142 as a booster.
Over the life of the program, which began in 2019, the advocates have pumped 9,514 doses of the pesticide into 2,046 mares, for an average of 4.7 doses per mare.
Since the beginning of the year, 132 foals have been born and 24 died.
The current population is thought to be 3,521, with 302 horses listed as missing, compared to 3,502 with 310 horses listed as missing in May.
The population was 3,519 with 370 listed as missing in April and 3,480 with 353 listed as missing in March.
The Year 6 agreement with NDA has not been posted to the darting resources page.
The Year 5 summary has not been posted to the monthly reports page.
A goal for July is to maximize booster treatments, shrink the herd (and pray for the older horses to die).
Another goal is to hold a darter certification class in Stagecoach, NV.
Not discussed:
- Long-term population goal
- Number of viable mares
- Size of breeding population
- Loss of genetic diversity
- Changes in death rate and sex ratio
- Unlawful use of pesticides
The herd on the Maryland side of Assateague Island, where the same pesticide was applied, is still shrinking eight years after the darting program was shut off.
The report will be submitted to the Nevada Department of Agriculture.
RELATED: Virginia Range Darting Update for May 2024.
Western Horse Watchers Association 