The news release covered the Confusion and Bible Springs roundups but gave few details.

The capture and removal goals are 360 each according to the gather page.

The start date is August 23.

A helicopter will push the horses into the traps.

The area will be closed to public entry with the exception of observers escorted by BLM staff.

Animals identified for removal will be taken to the Sutherland off-range corrals.

There are no plans to treat any of the mares with fertility control pesticides and return them to the range, a huge disappointment to the advocates.

The HMA is subject to permitted grazing.

Overpopulation means more horses than allowed by plan, not necessarily more horses than the land can support.

RELATED: BLM Closing Public Lands for Confusion Roundup?

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On the Virginia side of Assateague Island with the Chincoteague Chamber of Commerce.

The event is not about population control, which would be true if nature was allowed to run its course in the refuge, but to monetize a herd that was popularized in a 1947 novel.

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The incident started today with 19 horses captured. none shipped, none released and no deaths.

Body condition scores were not given.

RELATED: Bible Springs Roundup Starts Tomorrow?

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The incident started today with 96 horses captured. none shipped, none released and no deaths.

Body condition scores ranged from 3 to 4.

RELATED: Piceance Roundup Announced.

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It’s on the schedule with a start date of August 1 but there has been no announcement at the BLM news site.

The gather page says August 2.

The capture and removal goals are 800 each.

There are no plans to treat any of the mares with fertility control, which is incompatible with genetic health.

PREVIOUS: BLM Closing Public Lands for Bible Springs Roundup.

UPDATE: The BLM news release does not give a start date or destination of captured animals.

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The Decision Record authorizes Alternative A, the Proposed Action, discussed in section 2.2 of the Final EA.

That option includes forcible removal to low AML and application of fertility control pesticides.

The news release put the current population at 369, compared to an AML of 101 to 157.

Section 2.5 covers alternatives considered but dropped from the analysis.

Section 3.5 addresses livestock grazing.

The DR, EA and other supporting documents were copied to the project folder today.

The Complex includes the Dogskin Mountains, Flanigan and Granite Peak HMAs.

A roundup does not appear on the FY26 schedule.

PREVIOUS: Planning Documents for North Complex Out for Review.

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Thunderbolt was the top producer going into today’s event, credited with ten foals, but Ace was the top earner, generating $70,600 for the fire company.  A disputed foal may also be his, which would add another $50,000.

Colts outnumbered fillies 46 to 42 in this year’s foal crop, but fillies attracted $361,100 in bids compared to $274,500 for colts.

The total paid was $635,600, compared to over $1 million in 2025.

Of the 88 foals born in the refuge, 80 were offered for sale.

The seven buybacks averaged $33,886 per head, compared to $5,458 per head for the others.

The highest bid went to Tuney, one of the buybacks, for $60,000.

Six of the buybacks were female, setting the stage for more production and greater income in 2027.

Auction results provided by Superior Livestock Auction.

Refer to this spreadsheet for a ranking of sires.

List of foals by DSC Photography.

Comments on 2025 auction.

PREVIOUS: Chincoteague Pony Auction in Progress.

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

A roundup is on the schedule with a start date of August 23.

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

A new project has been created in ePlanning and two documents have been uploaded.

The Decision Record states that public lands within a two-mile radius of active trapping locations and temporary holding facilities will be closed to all public entry for the duration of the incident except for essential gather operation personnel and any public observers escorted by BLM staff.

The map on page 4 of the DR shows the affected area.

The roundup has not been announced but it’s on the schedule with a start date of August 1.

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The BLM issued a vague news release on July 27 asking the public to avoid the Hines off-range corrals so firefighting crews could work safely and effectively.

But it did not identify the threat.

The map at Inciweb shows the Second Flat fire a few miles to the north.

The July 28 update said that firefighters were trying to improve containment lines on the eastern and southern edges of the fire impacting communities in Hines and Burns.

The fire covered 86,504 acres as of yesterday with 5% containment.

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

Her remains were discovered yesterday according to a report by Shore Daily News.

Her name does appear in this year’s list of foals.

The cause of death was not announced.

The swim occurs tomorrow.

RELATED: Chincoteague Foal Population Still Growing.

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The incident continued through the weekend with a total of 257 horses captured, 250 shipped, one released and five dead.

There was one unaccounted-for animal.

257 – 250 – 1 – 5 = 1

The capture goal was 500.

The news release said there was not enough water to support the number of animals in the region.

The death rate was 1.9%.

The capture total included 86 stallions, 112 mares and 59 foals.

The average daily take was approximately 37.

The percentage of foals was large enough to support a herd growth rate of 18% per year.

There was no indication of an abnormal sex ratio in the adults.

Fertility control was not in the project scope.

The operation lasted seven days and liberated an estimated 3,000 AUMs per year.

RELATED: Moriah Roundup Announced.

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The incident continued through the weekend with a total of 703 horses captured, 698 shipped, one released and four dead.

The capture goal was 700.

A news release has not been published but the sum of the animals shipped, released and killed matches the number captured so it’s probably over.

The death rate was 0.6%.

One of the deaths was intentional.

The capture total included 291 stallions, 333 mares and 79 foals.

The average daily take was approximately 100.

There were no unaccounted-for animals.

The percentage of foals was not large enough to support a herd growth rate of 20% per year.

There was no indication of an abnormal sex ratio in the adults.

Fertility control was not in the project scope.

The operation lasted for 7 days and liberated an estimated 8,400 AUMs per year.

RELATED: Lahontan Roundup Announced.

UPDATE: It’s official—the news release says it’s over.

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