Month: July 2026

Tribe Attempts to Block Montgomery Pass Roundup

The Utu Utu Gwaitu Paiute Tribe of the Benton Paiute Reservation brought the case earlier this week according to a story by Native News Online.

The complaint alleges that the defendants, which include the BLM and Forest Service, did not complete the legally required government-to-government consultation, identifying sacred sites and cultural resources within the operation’s footprint, or assessing the impact of helicopter operations on Benton Paiute land.

The plaintiffs asked the court to vacate and set aside the 2025 Decision Record and halt the removal of wild horses from the project area, among other things.

PREVIOUS: BLM, Forest Service Announce Montgomery Pass Closures.

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

Advocates Opposed to Grazing Rule Changes?

Let’s see,

  • They’re beating the horse populations down in favor of livestock
  • Their sanctuaries are on deeded acreage
  • They think drillers and miners are the greatest threat to wild horses

In consideration of the foregoing body of evidence, the answer is No.

They want the ranchers to win.

PREVIOUS: BLM Posts Video of Grazing Rule Online Meeting.

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

► Search for other posts about grazing rule changes.

BLM Seeks Off-Range Pastures for 16,000 Wild Horses

The solicitation does not include a statement of work.

Scroll down to the Attachments section and click on the pdf.  Your download manager should ask you to open or save it.

Facilities should be located in Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma or Utah and have the capacity of at least 200 animals.

They are not intended to be public viewing areas but the agency may require access for public and/or media tours during the life of the contract, which is ten years.

Proposals are due by August 3.

The facilities report gives capacities and inventories of existing corrals and pastures.

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

BLM Closing Public Lands for Sand Wash Roundup

A new project was opened in ePlanning yesterday and two documents were uploaded.

There were no opportunities for public comment.

The agency will close public lands within a two-mile radius of active trapping locations and temporary holding facilities to all public entry for the duration of the roundup.

Observers escorted by BLM staff are exempt.

Attachment 1 in the Decision Record shows the location of the trap sites.

The gather area is easily five times larger than the HMA and contains numerous grazing allotments, not shown in the map.

The incident has not been announced but is on the schedule with a start date of September 10.

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

BLM, Forest Service Announce Montgomery Pass Closures

The BLM news release includes a link to its Decision Record which shows both areas on Map 3.

Only essential gather personnel and permitted personnel will be allowed at trap and holding sites during operations according to the Inyo news release.

Permitted personnel may correspond to observers escorted by the Forest Service.

The closure areas contain numerous grazing allotments, not shown on the maps.

RELATED: Montgomery Pass Roundup Announced.

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

Foal-Free Friday, Ending the Lull Edition

The moratorium on helicopter roundups concluded on July 1.

The idea is that foals born in the spring are now strong enough to endure forcible removal from their lawful homes (in favor of privately owned livestock).

The largest roundup of FY26 will occur at the Callaghan Complex starting on July 10.

At least 25% of the captured animals will need to be foals to support claims that the herd is growing at a rate of 20% per year.

The incident has not been announced and a gather page has not been created.

The advocates want to replace motorized removal with long-term use of fertility control, resulting in permanent infertility and herd collapse.

PREVIOUS: Foal-Free Friday, Reading the Tea Leaves Edition.

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

Saylor Creek Roundup Pending

The incident will begin on or about July 15.

The capture goal is 100 and the removal goal is 68.

The AML is 50 and the current population is thought to be 118.

A helicopter will push the horses into the traps.

Animals identified for removal will be taken to the Boise Off-Range Corrals.

Up to 16 mares will be treated with GonaCon-Equine and returned to the range with up to 16 stallions.

The HMA is subject to permitted grazing.

The news release said the roundup is open to public observation despite an order that closes all public lands within two miles of the trap sites.

PREVIOUS: BLM Issues Saylor Creek Final DNA and Closure Notice.

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

BLM Assessing NEPA Adequacy Ahead of Challis Roundup?

A new project has been created in ePlanning but no documents have been uploaded.

It’s not clear if public input will be invited or considered.

Announcements of such opportunities are becoming fewer and farther in between in the current administration.

The incident is on the schedule with a start date of September 10.

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

BLM Bans Public from Piceance and West Douglas Roundups

A new project in ePlanning authorizes the closure of public lands within a two-mile radius of active trapping locations and temporary holding facilities at the Piceance–East Douglas Herd Management Area, North Piceance Herd Area and West Douglas Herd Area to all public entry for the duration of the incidents.

Closures have also been announced at Saylor Creek and Moriah.

The Piceance roundups are set to begin on August 1 according to the schedule.

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

BLM Posts Video of Grazing Rule Online Meeting

The news release said the changes would give ranchers more flexibility, improve the health of rangelands and support rural communities across the West.

What they’re really trying to do is limit the use of allotments to animals approved by the ranching industry, not the preference holders, thwarting the creation of wild horse and burro refuges on public lands.

A special interest will control the way allotments are used, not the owners or lessors of the base properties attached to them.

You can comment against the proposal at the Federal Register.

PREVIOUS: Driver of Grazing Rule Changes.

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

► Search for other posts about grazing rule changes.

Loss of Water Spells End for Virginia Range Mustangs?

An in-depth report by Carson Now identifies two problems complicating the situation: Most of the land is private, subject to purchase and development, and NDA considers the horses to be estray livestock, even though they’re unclaimed and unbranded.

Western Horse Watchers disputes claims that development at the higher elevations, which is minor compared to growth in south Reno, is driving them out of the mountains and into foothills.

Why didn’t the writer question the mass sterilization program authorized by NDA and carried out by the Campaign Against America’s Wild Horses?

The article suggested that watering is unlawful.  The practice is discouraged in urban areas but it is not illegal.

Feeding is illegal.

Although the fat lady has yet to sing, you can be sure there are many players working to eradicate the herd, including those who claim to be its defenders.

RELATED: BLM Issues Decision on Virginia Range Fencing Project.

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