Contrary to what you read in this column by Tracy “You need to manage the numbers to fit what’s available for the horses” Wilson, field marshal for the Campaign Against America’s Wild Horses, the people of Nevada should tell their state representatives not to pass SB90 until the following language is removed:
No glorifying, legitimizing or ratifying the darting program and those involved, an affront to Velma’s legacy.
The allotment offers 3,325 AUMs per year on 186,083 public acres, as noted last week.
Is that good or bad?
Forage availability works out to 17.9 AUMs per year per thousand public acres, enough to support 1.5 cow/calf pairs, or 1.5 wild horses, per thousand public acres.
That’s not very much, when you realize the Virginia Range is carrying ten, or at least it did before the advocates got involved.
For comparison, the allotments in Sand Wash Basin HMA offer a weighted average 117.6 AUMs per year per thousand public acres, enough to support an additional 9.8 wild horses per thousand public acres, on top of the 2.4 wild horses allowed by plan.
This is what sinks the overpopulation narrative, repeated constantly by the advocates, not by what they say but by what they do.
The limited amount of forage on Majuba explains why the Antelope Range HA was zeroed out and why the doctrine of multiple use goes out the window in such cases.
The advocates are working with BLM staff at Palomino Valley to purchase 18 animals trapped last month in a nuisance roundup, according to a story on page 11 of the March edition of Horse Tales.
The studs will be cut and the mares may be sterile, thanks to the darting program.
Advocates with the Salt River Wild Horse Darting Group, an affiliate of the Campaign Against America’s Wild Horses, said on March 14 that “It’s never nice to disturb any wild animals, but to come in with gloves and lasso and pursue Salt River wild horses will get you in deep trouble here, because the Salt River wild horses are protected from harassment and interfering by State law.” Click on image to read the story.
There are no foals in the photos, because the advocates have poisoned the mares with a restricted-use pesticide.
Apparently, riding your horse on public lands is harassment, but stalking wild horses with phones, tablets and darting rifles, with the intent of destroying their ovaries, is not.
If PZP was taken off the market, the advocates would have nothing, no reason to exist.
Adoptions will be suspended for thirty days according to a BLM news release.
The announcement said the infection presents as nasal discharge, fever and swollen lymph nodes around the throat, and runs its course in two to four weeks, but did not indicate that 19 horses died from it last year at Wheatland.
The property covers 640 acres (one square mile) near Imlay, with spectacular views of Imlay Summit, Rye Patch Reservoir and sometimes wild horses and antelope, according to the listing on Redfin.
The National Data Viewer puts it inside the Antelope Range HA, the lawful home of wild horses, which lies within the Majuba Allotment.
To the west are the Kamma Mountains, Lava Beds and Seven Troughs HMAs, shown with orange borders in the following map. Click on image to open in new tab.
There were 172 horses in the HA last year, according to the HA/HMA Report.
The Allotment Master Report puts Majuba in the Improve category, with 3,325 active AUMs on 186,083 public acres. The subject parcel was likely counted among the 90,434 private acres contained in the allotment.
The preliminary EA and supporting documents were copied to the project folder today.
Comments will be accepted through April 14, according to the BLM news release.
Alternative 2, the Proposed Action, would try to achieve these goals:
Manage wild horses and resources to maintain a thriving natural ecological balance and multiple use relationship
Manage for healthy wild horses, maintain a level of genetic diversity that avoids inbreeding and maintain characteristics that are typical of Pryor Mountain horses of mixed ancestry including Colonial Spanish
Manage population growth using including gathers, fertility control, natural means, or a combination of these techniques
The AML would increase slightly, from the current 90-120 to 108-121.
The current population is thought to be around 200 wild horses.
The WHR is not subject to permitted grazing but is subject to the Montana Solution according to the February 7 resource enforcement schedule.
The action begins at 13:29 in the following video when Tracy “You need to manage the numbers to fit what’s available for the horses” Wilson, field marshal with the Campaign Against America’s Wild Horses, describes the poisoning of the Virginia Range mares as the world’s largest wild horse conservation program, humanely reducing the population without the need for removals.
Wilson notes that the measure is a designation, it does not seek protections, which is what the horses need—from her and her army of volunteers.
Why did they leave CAAWH? Or were they pushed out? Not radical enough?
At 27:35, Senator Hansen confronts Hendricks about the Virginia Range darting program. The question should have been put to Wilson.
“It’s been a miserable failure.”
“You obviously want to see the horse numbers reduced, have you guys got a number in your head as to what the proper herd management level should be in Storey County?”
Wilson takes up the response at 28:37, explaining that between the pesticide applications and foal predations, the population has declined by almost 20%, meaning the herd is now dying off, exactly what the bureaucrats and ranchers want.
This is what the advocates mean by “a better way.” Drive the birth rate to zero for maximum effect.
As for the big picture, Wilson is not just answering the Senator’s questions but signaling an interest in more such business from the bureaucrats and ranchers.
Hansen, a ranching sympathizer, was likely coached before the hearing and his target of 600 wild horses was probably suggested by bureaucrats at NDOW, NDA and/or the BLM, to bring the Virginia Range in line with targets on public lands that shift most of the resources to privately owned cattle and sheep.
As of today, it’s still an outlier that contradicts their narrative and they want it erased.
His claim at 30:25 that wild horses destroy the habitat of indigenous species conveniently ignores the presence and impact of non-native livestock across Nevada and the American west. This is why bighorn sheep, a native species, are on the decline.
Wilson doesn’t push back because CAAWH, like most advocacy groups, is their ally.
Senator Goicoechea, who runs cattle on the Mitchell Creek Allotment and pleaded for more control of wild horses at 41:04, should have recused himself, as his personal fortunes might be affected by the outcome of the debate.
Public comments in favor of the bill begin at 45:20.
Comments in opposition begin at 1:02:59.
Neutral testimony begins at 1:46:32.
Closing remarks begin at 1:51:00.
The hearing concludes with public comments not related to SB90, at least in theory.
Contrary to remarks in this news release by AEA, today she has few if any disciples.
Most of the advocates want the herds destroyed with their favorite pesticide.
As for the Virginia Range—referred to in the announcement as the hills of the Comstock Lode—supporters of SB90, including the Campaign Against America’s Wild Horses, want it remembered as one of the largest fertility control programs for wild mustangs, not the origin of her efforts to save them.
The agency shared the findings on socialist media.
The article did not indicate if the most noble and deserving non-native species on America’s public lands had been similarly affected. Perhaps it is still off season.
The grand total, including donations from GoFundMe, checks mailed and contributions at the museum’s web site, has passed $100,000, the first milestone according to today’s update.
The GoFundMe total, representing about two thirds of the grand total, has increased from $60,015 on Day 7.
The museum has 30 days to match the developer’s bid. Donations can be made here.
She has identified every water source in the HMA and has worked with stakeholders to ensure the water continues to flow.
She’s documented 65 bands, the largest with 13 members.
Bachelor stallions make up 16.3% of the population.
Almost one third of the horses are pintos.
But she doesn’t see any livestock.
The ratio of females to males is not given nor the percentage of foals.
The herd is subject to the Montana Solution according to the February 7 roundup schedule but she does not say if she’s involved.
She’s with the Campaign Against America’s Wild Horses, defender of the ranchers, and you can read her story on the propaganda page hosted by Lucky Three Ranch.
In this map from the National Data Viewer, the HA boundary is black, the HMA border is orange and the allotment boundaries are green. Click on image to open in new tab.
Western Horse Watchers Association 