Predators are an essential part of PZP darting programs, as they take out any foals born to immunocompromised mares or those missed by the field workers.

The latest example occurred at the Salt River in Arizona.

The safety net is not as effective in areas subject to permitted grazing, where predators have been depopulated, mostly at the state level, to protect livestock.

A workaround is to create state-sponsored groups that recruit more volunteers and help them buy more pesticides.

Do not be deceived by the advocates and their celebrity spokesmen.

They are wiping out entire herds with mass sterilization and peddling the effort as wild horse conservation.

RELATED: Foal-Free Friday, Making Their Heads Explode Edition.

The incident started on February 24.  Results through February 26:

• Scope: Canyonlands HMA
• Target: Burros
• AML: 100
• Pre-gather population: 208
• Type: Planned
• Method: Helicopter
• Goals: Capture 100, remove 100
• Captured: 52, up from 23 on Day 1
• Shipped: 49, up from zero on Day 1
• Released: None
• Deaths: 3, up from zero on Day 1
• Average daily take: 17.3
• Unaccounted-for animals: None
• 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 jacks were dispatched on Day 2 because of tumors, followed by another on Day 3 for a missing eye, lifting the death rate to 5.8%.

The capture total includes 30 jacks, 21 jennies and 1 foal.

Youngsters represented 1.9% of the animals gathered.

Of the adults, 58.8% were male and 41.2% were female.

The location of the trap site is not known.

The name of the contractor was not provided.

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

RELATED: Canyonlands Roundup Begins.

There was no opportunity for public comment.

There was no news release.

The decision is final.

Actually, it’s subject to appeal.  Refer to the documents in the project folder.

RELATED: Nuisance Roundup Coming to River’s Edge Golf Course?

There were 119 horses on Shackleford Banks at the end of 2024 according to an undated report by NPS, up from 117 at the end of 2023.

The AML is 120 to 130, a narrow range that implies a small growth rate, tiny breeding population and massive interference in nature’s way.

Fourteen foals were born in 2024, for a birth rate of twelve percent.

Eleven horses died, so the population should have increased by three not two.

Curiously, the report for 2023 is 404.

Two cases of failure to thrive were reported, a condition that may indicate inadequate genetic diversity.

The herd consisted of 61% females and 39% males.

The unusual sex ratio is a result of long-term use of PZP, an ovary-killing pesticide.

Eight mares who had recent foals were treated in 2024.  They contributed to the gene pool, now they will be sterilized, a standard practice in fertility control programs.

The number of nonviable mares in the herd was not given.

Annual reports are posted to the Cape Lookout wildlife management page.

RELATED: Shackleford Herd Shrinks by Seven in 2023.

The incident, prompted by the Rail Ridge Fire, concluded on February 18 with 410 horses captured, 400 shipped, none released and ten dead.

There were no unaccounted-for animals.

The death rate was 2.4%.

The average daily take was 5.0.

The capture total, based on the daily reports, includes 148 stallions, 164 mares and 98 foals.  The gather page indicates 150, 166 and 94.

Foals represented 23.9% of the total, consistent with a herd growth rate of 19% per year.

Of the adults, 47.4% were male and 52.6% were female, no indication of an abnormal sex ratio in the population at large.

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

No decisions have made regarding the long-term disposition of captured horses.

The status of livestock grazing in the burned area is not known.

RELATED: Murderer’s Creek Emergency Roundup Announced.

The measure failed in the Senate but has been taken up by the House Transportation Committee, with a hearing set for March 6.

Written testimony will be accepted until 8 AM.

RELATED: SB 2331 Fails in Senate.

The incident started yesterday as scheduled, with 23 burros captured, none shipped, none released and no deaths.

RELATED: Canyonlands Wild Burro Roundup Announced.

They’re celebrating!  They rely on predators, illness and other natural causes to take out any foals that slip through their darting program, the goal of which is to prove that mass sterilization is a practical alternative to motorized removal.

RELATED: Salt River Darting Program by the Numbers.

HB25-1283, introduced yesterday, would repeal the wild horse project and transfer statutory duties concerning wild horses to the Department of Agriculture according to the bill text.

The measure, based in part on the group’s Year One Report, was referred to the House Agriculture, Water & Natural Resources Committee.

Nye County sheriff reminds everyone to give them their space.

On the Virginia Range with Jeff Martinez.

You have to sift through thousands of trailcam photos to find one with a foal and the best one is at night.

His mom may have a faulty immune system.  What about him?

This is what the advocates bring to the table.

RELATED: What Does Herd Implosion Look Like?

County officials have ended discussions with Peaceful Valley Donkey Rescue for wild burro rescue and relocation services according to a February 21 story by the San Bernadino Sun.

The county is now working with DonkeyLand for similar services.

For a quick tour of the area, refer to the February 10 edition of Mustang Monday.

RELATED: San Bernadino County Removing Reche Canyon Burros.

Last update was February 12.  The capture goal has been reached but the incident has not been marked complete.

The draft assessment has been copied to the project folder with nine appendices.

The proposed HMAP, discussed in Appendix D, is subordinate to the Tonopah RMP and will affirm management provisions therein.

The EA cites outdated registrations for GonaCon Equine in Section 2.3.2.2 and refers to the pesticide as a vaccine.

Comments will be accepted through March 24 according to the news release.

RELATED: Bullfrog Scoping Begins.