Railroad Valley Base Property on the Market for $14 Million

The listing on Redfin says the property, known as Cross L Ranch, covers 3,314 deeded acres in Nye County, NV, with access to 13,289 AUMs on BLM grazing allotments.

Cattle run on public lands most of the year, except for a few months when they retreat to the deeded acreage for the off season.

The ranch is offered with approximately 800 head of cattle plus equipment.

There are several pastures with water sources, six wells, 250 acres of alfalfa-grass under pivot and 40 acres of wheel line, visible in the following video.

The Operator Information Report at RAS ties the ranch to one grazing authorization and the Allotment Information Report links it to the Nyala and Red Bluff allotments, both in the Tonopah Field Office.

Nyala offers 13,255 active AUMs on 321,274 public acres and Red Bluff offers 34 active AUMs on 12,125 public acres, according to the Allotment Master Report, for a weighted average 39.9 AUMs per year per thousand public acres, enough to support 3.3 wild horses per thousand public acres.

The Authorization Use Report shows grazing seasons.

Both allotments are in the Improve category.

Nyala overlaps the Quinn and South Pancake Herd Areas, as shown in the National Data Viewer.  Red Bluff intersects Quinn.  Click on map to open in new tab.

Cross L Ranch Allotments 05-15-23

The forage assigned to livestock in the two allotments would support 1,100 wild horses.

A nonprofit with a solid donor base could purchase the property and petition the BLM for a change in livestock types and grazing seasons, allowing wild horses to graze on public lands, as American Prairie did for bison in Montana.

RELATED: Winnemucca Base Property Hits Market for $11.2 Million.

Pesticide Action Alert

The advocates use Zonastat-H and GonaCon Equine to control pests (wild horses and burros) that interfere with animal agriculture (permitted grazing), a purpose for which the pesticides were not registered.

Application must cease immediately, followed by investigation of those involved, public and private.

Both products appear on the same list as toxic chemicals.

Search for “Zona” and “Gona” (Ctrl+F).

RELATED: Multiple Use Applies to Public Lands, Not Registered Pesticides.

For Your Cherished Ants and Roaches Not Your Cherished Snails and Slugs 05-02-23

Coalition Files Suit to Block Rock Springs RMP Amendments

Petitioners have asked the court to set aside and remand the amendments, the Record of Decision and Final EIS pending BLM’s compliance with the Wild Horse and Burro Act, Federal Land Policy and Management Act, National Environmental Policy Act and the Administrative Procedures Act, according to the complaint.

The Animal Welfare Institute said in today’s news release that it has joined forces with the American Wild Horse Campaign, Western Watersheds Project, author and instructor Dr. Chad Hansen, and wildlife photographers Kimerlee Curyl and Carol Walker to defend the free-roaming horses of the Wyoming Checkerboard against the Rock Springs Grazing Association, instigator of the case.

RELATED: Rock Springs RMP Amendments Cleared for Implementation.

Placitas Wild Horse Feeding Ban Raised from Ashes

A new ordinance has been drafted, to be considered by Sandoval County commissioners at their May 24 meeting, according to a report dated May 9 by the Rio Rancho Observer.

The measure is accompanied by a resolution that would establish a permitting process for feeding the animals, and only 501(c)(3) nonprofits with demonstrated experience and knowledge in wild horse management and protection would be eligible.

Given the remarks about overpopulation in the preamble, applicants that poison mares with restricted-use pesticides, such as Zonastat-H and GonaCon Equine, would likely receive highest priority.

A public meeting to enable residents and others to share their opinions and suggestions has been set for May 17, as described in a county news release dated May 8.

RELATED: Commissioners Reject Placitas Feeding Ban.

New Billboard Promotes SB90?

Looks like it promotes the Montana Solution and the unlawful use thereof.

New Billboard Promotes SB90 05-10-23

Although hunters, trappers and ranchers who want wild horses eradicated from public lands have come out against the legislation, as stated in a new eBlurb from the Campaign Against America’s Wild Horses, they are not getting rid of any horses.

That role belongs CAAWH.  Hundreds every year, rivaling the largest of roundups.

The news flash appears on the propaganda page hosted by Lucky Three Ranch.

Apparently, repudiation of the Virginia Range darting program by Nevada senators has not dampened their enthusiasm for the bill, or at least the illusion of it.

SB90 Amended 04-05-23

If their followers understood their true intentions and loyalties, financial support would dry up overnight.

RELATED: SB90 Debuts in Assembly.

Rock Springs RMP Amendments Cleared for Implementation

The BLM published a Record of Decision and Approved RMP Amendment today, finalizing these changes:

  • The Rock Springs Field Office portion of the Adobe Town HMA will revert to HA status and be managed for zero wild horses.  In the Rawlins Field Office portion of the HMA, all checkerboard land and the portion of the HMA north of the existing Corson Springs southern allotment boundary fence will revert to HA status and be managed for zero wild horses.  The remaining lands (within the RFO) will be retained as an HMA and managed with an AML of 259 – 536.
  • The Great Divide Basin HMA will revert to HA status and be managed for zero wild horses.
  • The Salt Wells Creek HMA will revert to HA status and be managed for zero wild horses.
  • The White Mountain HMA will continue to be managed with an AML of 205 – 300, including checkerboard lands.

The agency received 26 letters from various individuals and organizations during the protest period and determined, after careful review, that none had merit, according to today’s news release.  Refer to the Protest Resolution Report for details.

Decisions are usually subject to a 30-day appeal period, but this was not indicated in the announcement.

For a history of the case, refer to Section 3.0.

The decision is discussed in Section 4.0.

The ROD and PRR were copied to the project folder with other related documents.

RELATED: Protest Period Begins for Rock Springs RMP Amendments.

Spirit of the Wild Horse HQ Destroyed by Fire?

An article dated April 26 by Taos News says the home was leveled by a fire, but founder Judy Barnes told Western Horse Watchers that insurance investigators believe it was an explosion.

A GoFundMe has been set up to help with rebuilding.

Barnes started the nonprofit in 2007 to care for the mustangs of Wild Horse Mesa.

RELATED: Explosion Spares Life of Spirit of the Wild Horse Director.

Assateague Pony Census, May 2023

The Assateague Island Alliance counted 79 horses on the Maryland side of the island in May, up from 77 in April.

Five foals have been born this year.

The number of deaths was not reported.

The ratio oF males to females is unknown.

The herd shows little if any growth since the safe, proven and reversible fertility control program was shut off in 2016.

RELATED: Assateague Pony Census, April 2023.

Trends in Assateague Population 04-28-23

Colorado Wild Horse Project Clears House

The measure passed its third reading on May 6 with no new amendments, according to the bill history.

In the current version, text with gray shading denotes House amendments, double underlining marks Senate amendments.

The bill will likely go back to the Senate for review and approval.

Section 1 notes that local volunteers undertake the majority of care and management of the state’s wild herds, but those groups have insufficient resources to meet the need and they often struggle to find and retain qualified volunteers to perform critical activities.

Who knows, the pool of donors and field workers may be going down as the risk of legal trouble goes up?

These hard-working individuals apply restricted-use pesticides in the state’s HMAs, all of which overlap or abut federal grazing allotments.

RELATED: Colorado Wild Horse Project Amended, Passed and Referred.

They're Using it for Pest Control 05-07-23

Multiple Use Applies to Public Lands, Not Registered Pesticides

The Environmental Protection Agency registers pesticides and their use on specific pests and under specific circumstances.

For example, a pesticide registered for use on apples may not be used legally on grapes, and an insecticide registered for outdoor use may not legally be used inside a building.

The advocates use Zonastat-H (the Montana Solution) to control pests (horses and burros) that interfere with animal agriculture (permitted grazing), a purpose for which the pesticide was not registered.

Some groups may not have Delegations of Authority or other such documents naming them as designated agents of state and federal governments, a violation of federal law.

Most the areas identified for horses and burros, shown in black on the following map, intersect or abut one or more allotments, shown in green, an indication of the potential for unlawful activity on America’s public lands.  Click on image to open in new tab.

RELATED: Immunocontraceptive Wish List.

Pesticides and Multiple Use 05-06-23

Why Are Grayson Highlands Foals Disappearing?

At least five have vanished recently and a spokesman for the Wilburn Ridge Pony Association told WSET News in a story posted yesterday that it could be a bear, mountain lion, or pack of coyotes.

Eventually the animal will run out of ponies, he warned.  “It’s only a matter of time before it’s someone’s pet or child.”

Hikers on the Appalachian Trail often pass through the park, posting videos of the ponies on YouTube.