On the Mogollon Rim with TDWM Outdoors. Association with Heber WHT unknown.
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.
Foal-Free Friday, Casting Your Pearls to the Swine Edition
Do you give money to the wild horse advocates?
McDowell Commissioners to Hear Plan for Salt River Horses
The meeting begins tonight at 5 PM according to an article by the Scottsdale Progress.
RELATED: Salt River Horses Won’t Survive at McDowell Sonoran Preserve?
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.
Eighth Annual Devil’s Garden Roundup Off to an Early Start
The incident started on August 27 according to the Modoc home page.
The capture total as of September 2 was 37.
Figures for shipments, releases and deaths were not given.
Activity Tapers Off in Latest Roundup Schedule
The capture and removal goals in the September 2 edition are 8,279 and 7,838, respectively, compared to 10,757 and 10,289 in the August 5 edition.
Bait trapping at Saylor Creek is gone.
It’s probably the last update for FY25.
FY26 begins on October 1.
RELATED: Salt Wells Roundup Marked ‘TBA’ in Latest Schedule.
Can’t Access NDA Website?
State servers were involved in a ransomware attack on August 24.
Recovery is in progress but some systems are still offline.
If you’re trying to find the next Board of Agriculture meeting or access the Virginia Range Estray FAQ, you’ll get error messages.
City, County Install ‘Do Not Feed’ Signs in Pahrump
Supporters with Southwestern Wilds claimed the warnings would be more effective if they were backed by state law, so the new ones have a reference to NRS 569.040.
Photos in this report by the Pahrump Valley Times.
Volunteers Needed for Spencer Hot Springs Cleanup
The event runs from 9 AM to 3 PM on September 27.
The announcement did not mention the Hickison HMA or Simpson Park Allotment, which overlap the site.
One of the reviews on The Dyrt, a camping directory, said there were no toilets, water or trash, and no trees.
RELATED: Wild Burros Reported at Spencer Hot Springs?
Chincoteague Herd Loses Mare
She earned her keep by producing a buckskin colt, first seen on May 27 according to the 2025 list of foals.
But the saltwater cowboys were unable to save her.
The long-term effect is negligible.
The outlook for next year is excellent.
There are still 5.5 females for every male.
Pine Nut Advocates Launching DWHASM?
They protect ranchers not wild horses.
Now they’re trying to save themselves from oblivion.
PNWHA is an affiliate of the Campaign Against America’s Wild Horses, a leader in nonmotorized removal, fierce opponent of principal use and instigator of the largest attempted eradication of wild horses in Nevada.
Why are you still giving them money?
Mustang Monday
Along the Truckee River, northern edge of Virginia Range, with Capture Nevada.
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.
NDA Gives Virginia Range Fencing Update
Director JJ Goicoechea spoke about the project at the August 26 Washoe County Board of Commissioners meeting according to a report by KOLO News.
To view the presentation, scroll down and click on item 6.C.1. in the lower left corner of the screen. Then hit Go.
Foal-Free Friday, Barefoot and Pregnant Edition
Most wild horse advocates are female, which means most are liberal.
Have you seen any that are pregnant?
What does that tell you about their obsession with fertility control for wild horses?
RELATED: Foal-Free Friday, the Company You Keep Edition.
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.
