The Decision Record, which authorizes the Proposed Action with modifications, was copied to the project folder today along with the FONSI and Final EA.

The BLM will gather and remove excess horses in and around the HMA, suppress population growth with one or more fertility control vaccines and equip some animals with GPS tracking devices over a ten-year period.

The initial roundup may occur by the end of the year, which was not mentioned in the news release.

RELATED: New Resource Enforcement Plan for Cedar Mountain Announced.

The incident began on July 17.  Gather stats through August 17:

• Target: Horses
• Type: Planned
• Method: Helicopter
• Category: Cruel and costly
• Captured: 1,287, up from 1,189 on Day 30
• Average daily take: 40.2
• Capture goal: 1,900
• Removal goal: 1,800
• Returned: None
• Deaths: 20, no change from Day 30
• Shipped: 1,211, up from 1,168 on Day 30

The figures above are based on the daily reports, not the totals posted by the BLM.

Gather ops resumed on Day 31 after a three-day hiatus.

The death rate is 1.6%.

The capture total includes 451 stallions, 624 mares and 212 foals.

Youngsters represented 16.5% of the animals gathered.

Of the adults, 42.0% were male and 58.0% were female.

The herd can’t be growing at a rate of 20% per year with a birth rate of 17% per year.

A better estimate would be 12% per year, assuming a death rate of 5% per year.

The observed percentages of stallions and mares cannot be attributed to a simple random process centered at 50% males / 50% females.

Abnormal sex ratios are often found in herds subject to the Montana Solution but not double-digit birth rates.

Body condition scores were not provided.

The location of the trap was not disclosed.

The Complex and surrounding lands are subject to permitted grazing.

Day 32 ended with 56 unaccounted-for animals.

Mares treated with fertility control may be returned to the area at a later date.

Other statistics:

• Horses allowed by plan (AML): 821
• Forage assigned to horses: 9,852 AUMs per year
• Pre-gather population: 3,475
• Forage liberated to date: 15,444 AUMs per year
• Water liberated to date: 12,870 gallons per day
• Forage assigned to livestock: 49,188 AUMs per year (estimated)
• Horses displaced from Complex by permitted grazing: 4,099
• True AML: 4,911
• Stocking rate at new AML: 3.0 horses per thousand acres
• Horses displaced from Complex by drilling and mining: Ask the advocates

RELATED: Triple B Roundup, Day 30.

The August 16 announcement stated that the agency planned to remove 1,869 horses and 339 burros from the HMA.

The August 17 update says 1,996 horses and 339 burros will be removed, acknowledging the larger capture and removal targets for horses noted in the daily report for August 8.

The roundup schedule still shows the original values.

RELATED: Twin Peaks Roundup Ends.

Friends of Animals filed suit in U.S. District Court yesterday alleging that the BLM illegally approved plans for the facility, to be built by JS Livestock, according to a report posted this evening by AP News.

The complaint said the 2022 roundup schedule was based on the availability of the new feedlot, to be built on private land north of Winnemucca, NV.

RELATED: Winnemucca CAFO Approved.

UPDATE: The FOA news release includes a link to the complaint, which claims in paragraph 77 that JS Livestock does not have any experience in the containment, feeding and care of wild horses and burros.

The incident will begin on or around September 10, as noted in today’s news release.

The capture goal is 400 and the removal goal is 350, according to the latest schedule.

Horses will be pushed into the traps by helicopters and operations will be open to public observation.

Up to 25 mares will be treated with the Montana Solution and returned to the range, along with 25 stallions.

The HMA covers about 134,000 acres in southeastern Oregon.

The 304 horses allowed by plan require 3,648 AUMs per year.

The stocking rate allowed by plan is 2.3 horses per thousand acres.

The current population is thought to be 1,370 including foals.

Most of the HMA is subject to permitted grazing.  Livestock receive an estimated 10,299 AUMs per year, enough to support 858 wild horses.

The BLM will collect $13,904 in grazing fees from ranching operations inside the HMA, while it spends about $1.6 million per year to care for the 858 horses displaced thereby.

Captured animals will be taken to the off-range corrals in Hines.

Gather stats and daily reports will be posted to this page.

RELATED: South Steens Wild Horses Get Short End of Stick.

The BLM has offered a $5,000 reward for tips leading to the arrest and conviction of the person(s) responsible for shooting five wild horses in November 2021, according to a news release dated August 17.

The incident occurred about 30 miles west of Ely, NV, which puts it on the east side of the Pancake HMA and south side of Triple B, near Highway 50.

This story has been going around for several days but now it’s on Drudge.

The link pointed to a story on MSN that was lifted from The Atlantic.

The incident concluded on August 15, according to a statement at the gather page, with 2,111 horses captured, 2,075 shipped, 27 released and 31 dead.

More horses were processed than captured.

The totals, based on the daily reports, were 2,111 horses captured, 2,076 shipped, none released and 31 dead, leaving four unaccounted-for animals.

The death rate was 1.5%.

The operation also took 339 burros off the HMA, according to the gather page, with 339 shipped, one released and none dead.

More burros were processed than captured.

The totals, based on the daily reports, were 339 burros captured, 236 shipped, none released and no deaths, with 103 unaccounted-for animals.

The unaccounted-for burros likely correspond to those gathered on August 11, when no shipments were reported.

Foals represented 16.6% of the horses gathered and 10.6% of the burros, considerably less than the 25% needed for herd growth rates of 20% per year.

Data quality was poor.

The capture goal for horses increased from 1,978 to 2,106 on August 8.

The removal goal increased from 1,868 to 1,996.

The capture and removal goals for burros were unchanged at 339.

A CBS film crew documented the action on July 26.

The BLM news release, posted today, omits most of these details.

RELATED: Twin Peaks Roundup Announced.

The incident began on August 6, according to the gather page, with 30 burros captured, none shipped and no deaths.

As of August 14, 61 animals have been trapped, 49 have been shipped and no deaths have been reported.

The capture total includes 24 jacks, 28 jennies and nine foals.

Youngsters represented 14.8% of the animals gathered.

Of the adults, 46.2% were male and 53.8% were female.

The location of the trap site is not known but the burros are associated with the Cibola-Trigo HMA, which overlaps the Yuma Proving Ground.

Day 9 ended with 12 unaccounted-for animals.

The capture and removal goals are 80 each according to the latest schedule.

The roundup was not announced at the BLM news site.

RELATED: BLM to Remove Wild Burros from Yuma Proving Ground?

The incident began on August 7.  Gather stats through August 15:

• Target: Horses
• Type: Planned
• Method: Helicopter
• Category: Cruel and costly
• Captured: 224, up from 184 on Day 7
• Average daily take: 24.9
• Capture goal: 450
• Removal goal: 410
• Returned: None
• Deaths: 1, no change from Day 7
• Shipped: 153, up from 110 on Day 7

The figures above are based on the daily reports, not the totals posted by the BLM.

The death rate is 0.4%.

The capture total includes 71 stallions, 105 mares and 48 foals.

Youngsters represented 21.4% of the animals gathered.

Of the adults, 40.3% were male and 59.7% were female.

A birth rate of 21% is consistent with a growth rate of 16% per year, assuming a death rate of 5% per year.  Land managers often use 20% per year to predict herd sizes and justify resource enforcement actions.

Body condition scores were not given.

The location of the trap was not disclosed.

The Complex and surrounding lands are subject to permitted grazing.

Day 9 ended with 70 unaccounted-for animals.

Mares treated with fertility control would be returned to the area at a later date.

Other statistics:

• Horses allowed by plan (AML): 170
• Forage assigned to horses: 2,040 AUMs per year
• Pre-gather population: 831
• Forage liberated to date: 2,688 AUMs per year
• Water liberated to date: 2,240 gallons per day
• Forage assigned to livestock: 9,890 AUMs per year (estimated)
• Horses displaced from Complex by permitted grazing: 817
• True AML: 987
• Stocking rate at new AML: 4.6 horses per thousand acres
• Horses displaced from Complex by drilling and mining: Ask the advocates

RELATED: Bible Springs Roundup, Day 7.

The incident began on July 17.  Gather stats through August 15:

• Target: Horses
• Type: Planned
• Method: Helicopter
• Category: Cruel and costly
• Captured: 1,189, no change from Day 27
• Average daily take: 39.6
• Capture goal: 1,900
• Removal goal: 1,800
• Returned: None
• Deaths: 20, no change from Day 27
• Shipped: 1,168, up from 1,092 on Day 27

The figures above are based on the daily reports, not the totals posted by the BLM.

Helicopters did not fly on Days 28 to 30.  No explanation was given.

The death rate is 1.7%.

The capture total includes 420 stallions, 577 mares and 192 foals.

Youngsters represented 16.1% of the animals gathered.

Of the adults, 42.1% were male and 57.9% were female.

The herd can’t be growing at a rate of 20% per year with a birth rate of 16% per year.

A better estimate would be 11% per year, assuming a death rate of 5% per year.

The observed percentages of stallions and mares cannot be attributed to a simple random process centered at 50% males / 50% females.

Abnormal sex ratios are often found in herds subject to the Montana Solution but not double-digit birth rates.

Body condition scores were not provided.

The location of the trap was not disclosed.

The Complex and surrounding lands are subject to permitted grazing.

Day 30 ended with one unaccounted-for animal.

Mares treated with fertility control may be returned to the area at a later date.

Other statistics:

• Horses allowed by plan (AML): 821
• Forage assigned to horses: 9,852 AUMs per year
• Pre-gather population: 3,475
• Forage liberated to date: 14,268 AUMs per year
• Water liberated to date: 11,890 gallons per day
• Forage assigned to livestock: 49,188 AUMs per year (estimated)
• Horses displaced from Complex by permitted grazing: 4,099
• True AML: 4,911
• Stocking rate at new AML: 3.0 horses per thousand acres
• Horses displaced from Complex by drilling and mining: Ask the advocates

RELATED: Triple B Roundup, Day 27.

The incident began on July 23.  Gather stats through August 14:

• Target: Horses and burros
• Type: Planned
• Method: Helicopter
• Category: Cruel and costly
• Horses captured: 2,111, up from 2,110 on Day 21
• Burros captured: 292, up from 200 on Day 21
• Average daily take: 91.8 horses, 12.7 burros
• Capture goal: 1,978 horses, 339 burros, horses increased to 2,106 on Day 17
• Removal goal: 1,868 horses, 339 burros, horses increased to 1,996 on Day 17
• Horses returned: None
• Burros returned: None
• Horse deaths: 31, no change from Day 21
• Burro deaths: None
• Horses shipped: 2,076, up from 2,075 on Day 21
• Burros shipped: 189, up from 97 on Day 21

The figures above are based on the daily reports, not the totals posted by the BLM.

The trap was moved on Day 22 or 23.

One burro and 27 horses have been returned to the HMA but this has not been documented in the daily reports.

The horse death rate is 1.5%.

The horse total includes 819 stallions, 942 mares and 350 foals.

Youngsters represented 16.6% of the horses captured.

Of the adults, 46.5% were male and 53.5% were female.

The burro total includes 149 jacks, 113 jennies and 30 foals.

Youngsters represented 10.3% of the burros gathered.

Of the adults, 56.9% were male and 43.1% were female.

The herd can’t be growing at a rate of 20% per year with a birth rate of 10%.

A better estimate would be 5% per year, assuming a death rate of 5% per year.

Body condition scores on Days 22 and 23 ranged from 4 to 5.

The trap is in the Dry Valley Home Range.

The HMA is subject to permitted grazing.

Day 23 ended with four unaccounted-for horses and 103 unaccounted-for burros.

The horse capture goal has been reached and the burro goal is 86% complete.

Mares treated with fertility control will be returned to the area at a later date.

Other statistics:

• AML: 758 horses and 116 burros, equivalent to 816 horses
• Forage assigned to horses and burros: 9,792 AUMs per year
• Pre-gather population: 3,316 horses and 401 burros, equivalent to 3,516 horses
• Forage liberated to date: 27,084 AUMs per year
• Water liberated to date: 22,570 gallons per day
• Forage assigned to livestock: 27,178 AUMs per year (estimated)
• Animals displaced from HMA by permitted grazing: 2,264 horses
• True AML: 3,022 horses and 116 burros, equivalent to 3,080 horses
• Stocking rate at new AML: 4.1 horses per thousand acres
• Horses displaced from HMA by drilling and mining: Ask the advocates

RELATED: Twin Peaks Roundup, Day 21.

A new project has been created in ePlanning and a Categorical Exclusion has been posted with no opportunities for public comment.

The document includes a signed Decision Memorandum on page 17, suggesting the process is now in the appeal stage.

The Proposed Action would utilize bait traps to capture and remove approximately 275 nuisance burros outside the Chemehuevi HA and HMA, on tribal lands within the Chemehuevi Indian Reservation, Colorado River Indian Tribe lands and Metropolitan Water District private property.

The HMA occupies about one third of the HA, with 108 burros allowed by plan.

The maps in Attachment 1 show the arrangement.

The current population is thought to be 764, with burros drifting into populated areas causing disturbance within the Chemehuevi Indian Reservation, creating hazardous conditions to the public near highways and public health and safety issues on private property, according to the discussion in Section A of the CX.

A Chemehuevi roundup does not appear in the latest schedule.

At the 2022 Pony Penning with The Wild Horse Preserve at Grayce Wynds Farm.

The incident began on August 7.  Gather stats through August 13:

• Target: Horses
• Type: Planned
• Method: Helicopter
• Category: Cruel and costly
• Captured: 184, up from 121 on Day 5
• Average daily take: 26.3
• Capture goal: 450
• Removal goal: 410
• Returned: None
• Deaths: 1, no change from Day 5
• Shipped: 110, up from 69 on Day 5

The figures above are based on the daily reports, not the totals posted by the BLM.

The death rate is 0.5%.

The capture total includes 59 stallions, 86 mares and 39 foals.

Youngsters represented 21.2% of the animals gathered.

Of the adults, 40.7% were male and 59.3% were female.

A birth rate of 21% is consistent with a growth rate of 16% per year, assuming a death rate of 5% per year.  Land managers often use 20% per year to predict herd sizes and justify resource enforcement actions.

Body condition scores were not given.

The location of the trap was not disclosed.

The Complex and surrounding lands are subject to permitted grazing.

Day 7 ended with 73 unaccounted-for animals.

Mares treated with fertility control would be returned to the area at a later date.

Other statistics:

• Horses allowed by plan (AML): 170
• Forage assigned to horses: 2,040 AUMs per year
• Pre-gather population: 831
• Forage liberated to date: 2,208 AUMs per year
• Water liberated to date: 1,840 gallons per day
• Forage assigned to livestock: 9,890 AUMs per year (estimated)
• Horses displaced from Complex by permitted grazing: 817
• True AML: 987
• Stocking rate at new AML: 4.6 horses per thousand acres
• Horses displaced from Complex by drilling and mining: Ask the advocates

RELATED: Bible Springs Roundup, Day 5.

The advocates seems to be saying “Yes,” as they are determined to make privately owned livestock the primary consumers of resources in areas set aside for horses and burros.

The BLM collects $936,600 per year in grazing fees from ranching activity that displaces the 58,000 wild horses in off-range holding, while it spends around $60 million per year to care for them.  But you’re not supposed to know that.

RELATED: Rorschach Test for Advocates.

Refer to this handout for proposed changes to livestock grazing regulations.

The BLM authorizes around twelve million AUMs per year for livestock (page 11) on 155 million acres (page 1), enough to support one million wild horses, or, if you prefer, one million cow/calf pairs on a 12-month grazing season.

The agency also authorizes about 27,000 wild horses and burros on 27 million acres.

Assume it’s all horses.

The resource requirements of wild horses are said to be equivalent to those of cow/calf pairs, according to this 2016 infographic.

Livestock can access 5.7 times more land than the horses, but the number of animals allowed by plan is 37 times higher.

Land is always more productive, from a resource viewpoint, and has a much higher carrying capacity, when it’s designated for livestock.  In some cases, it’s the same land.

The stocking rate allowed by plan in HMAs is one wild horse per thousand acres but the target rate in allotments is 6.5 wild horses (or cow/calf pairs) per thousand acres.

If there was no dietary overlap, livestock would not thrive inside the HMAs and the horses would die beyond them.

Neither is true.

The BLM will collect $936,600 in grazing fees from ranching activity that displaces the 58,000 wild horses in off-range holding, while it spends around $60 million per year to care for them.

Would you say that permitted grazing is a wise use of the public lands?

What do you see in these data from the Warm Springs HMA in Oregon?

a) A wild horse problem.

b) A resource management problem.

c) What data?

d) I only know how much adjuvant to add to the PZP.

e) We’re changing the way wild horse herds are managed not their land.