Author: Western Horse Watchers

Heber Objection Period Begins

The Forest Service copied the following documents to the project folder on August 29:

  • Final environmental assessment
  • Final territory management plan
  • Draft decision notice

Scroll down to the Project Summary, expand the Project Documents section and click on the AdminReview folder.

Only those who participated in the planning process are eligible to object.

The DN would authorize Alternative 2, the Proposed Action, discussed on page 18 of the EA (page 24 in the pdf) and beyond.

Horses currently occupy an area much larger than the 19,700-acre WHT so initial management actions will be directed at achieving AML within the designated space.

Active AUMs and acreages of surrounding allotments should be reviewed to determine if the proposed AML (104) and stocking rate (5.3 wild horses per thousand acres) are reasonable.

Surgical sterilization was dropped from the analysis.

Chemical sterilization, via PZP and GonaCon, is on the table.

Expanding the territory, increasing the AML and reducing livestock grazing didn’t make the cut.

The WHT lies within the Heber and Black Canyon Allotments.  Figure 6 in the EA shows the overlapping pastures.

RELATED: Status of Heber Wild Horse Management Plan?

Eighth Annual Devil’s Garden Roundup, Day 10

The incident started on August 27.

The Forest Service has added deaths to the daily reports.

Shipping data are not provided.

Deceased animals are not included in the daily breakdowns.  For example, two horses were put down for unspecified conditions on September 3 but you don’t know if they were stallions, mares or foals.

The daily totals should match the daily breakdowns.

The documented capture total is 68, including 28 stallions, 34 mares and six foals.

Youngsters represented 8.8% of the sample.

Of the adults, 45.2% were male and 54.8% were female.

The average daily take is 6.8.

The death rate, based on a capture total of 72, is 6.9%.

The operation supports three tenets of rangeland management.

RELATED: Eighth Annual Devil’s Garden Roundup Off to an Early Start.

BLM Issues Blue Wing Final Planning Documents

The Decision Record authorizes Alternative A, the Proposed Action, discussed in Section 2.4 of the Environmental Assessment.

It is the only option calling for a nonreproducing segment in the population, to be achieved by “minimally invasive sterilization” of mares and stallions.

Other features of the plan include:

  • Forcible removal of excess animals to low AML
  • Application of fertility control pesticides
  • Alteration of sex ratios to favor males
  • Development of a new a new water source
  • Monitoring of genetic diversity

Commenting in support of the plan was Return to Normal (Before WHB Act).  Refer to item 2 in Appendix XVII of the EA.

The project is subject to a 30-day appeal period but that was not mentioned in the news release.

RELATED: Blue Wing Preliminary Planning Documents Out for Review.

BLM Moving Ahead with Rock Springs Roundups?

Despite a July 15 appeals court ruling, the agency plans to proceed with permanent removal of wild horses from the Salt Wells Creek and Adobe Town Herd Areas, starting on or about October 13, according to a report by WyoFile.

Referring to them as herd areas, a sign of bureaucratic arrogance, implies validity of the RMP amendments.

The move was met with another lawsuit by Friends of Animals.

As of today, the BLM has not published a roundup schedule for FY26, which begins on October 1.

As for funding, Congress has not passed, and the President has not signed, a bill or bills for spending in FY26.

Political Rally at Palomino Valley Off-Range Corrals?

The flyer says wild horses are a living symbol of America’s spirit of freedom, but career politicians and bureaucrats in Washington have sold them out to special interests.

What special interests?

If the speakers don’t talk about livestock, forage allocations and the way your public lands are managed, shake the dust from your sandals and leave.

The event starts at 10 AM on September 20 at the BLM adoption center.

The organizer, who served eight months in prison for wire fraud, is trying to unseat Dina Titus, a left-wing kook, co-founder of the Pesticide Caucus and close supporter of the Campaign Against America’s Wild Horses, from Nevada’s 1st congressional district.

Unlawful to Feed or Water Virginia Range Mustangs?

The herd falls under NRS 569 according to the presentation by NDA at the August 26 Washoe County Board of Commissioners meeting.

Slide 5 says it’s illegal to feed or water the horses.

NRS 569.040 says it’s illegal to feed them.

Signs posted in the area refer to feeding and harassing but not watering.

The warning may apply to herds protected by the WHB Act, which does not include the Virginia Range “estrays.”

RELATED: NDA Gives Virginia Range Fencing Update.

Chincoteague Herd Produces One More Foal in 2025?

A palomino filly has been added to the list of foals by DSC Photography, boosting this year’s birth record to 102.

She was first seen on August 26.

The Saltwater Cowboys have turned the island into a puppy mill for wild horses by skewing the sex ratio in favor of females, lifting revenues from auctions into record territory as well.

RELATED: Chincoteague Herd Sets New Birth Record.