Western Horse Watchers Association
Exposing the Hypocrisy, Lies and Incompetence of the Wild Horse Advocates
On the range
Everybody uses Raid to get rid of their cherished ants and roaches.
What do the advocates use on their cherished wild horses?
PZP, an EPA-registered pesticide, sometimes referred to as the Montana Solution.
Symptoms include barren mares, confused stallions, shrinking herds, abnormal sex ratios, injuries, infections, disruption of natural order and subordination to livestock.
RELATED: Foal-Free Friday, No Turning Over of the Genetic Soil Edition.
The ranching advocacy group and signatory to the ill-advised Path Forward said today in a news release that the agency needs to overhaul the way that wild horse herds are managed on our public lands, not the way that public lands are managed.
Consider this example from the Warm Springs HMA in Oregon. The calculations were discussed in a previous post.
These figures signify nothing to the advocates because they are innumerate.
The BLM will collect $26,179 per year in grazing fees from ranching activity inside the HMA, while it spends $2,949,200 per year to care for the 1,616 wild horses displaced thereby.
The problem is permitted grazing but the advocates want to get rid of the horses!
That’s what Return to Freedom and its supporters are trying to protect.
RELATED: New Grants Available for Wild Horse and Burro Management.
An unofficial notice at the Federal Register, set to publish tomorrow, indicates vacancies in these categories for three-year terms:
The official notice will appear at this page.
In the original statute, the needs of wild horses and burros were to be balanced with those of wildlife, not privately owned livestock.
The Board has not met in a official capacity for over a year.
REL:ATED: WHBAB Offers New Slate of Anti-Horse Recommendations.
UPDATE: Refer to BLM news release dated August 15.
The incident began on July 17. Gather stats through August 10:
The figures above are based on the daily reports.
A mare died of a broken neck on Day 24. A foal died on Day 25 of colic and a mare was put down because of a broken leg.
The death rate is 1.9%.
The capture total includes 371 stallions, 507 mares and 165 foals.
Youngsters represented 15.8% of the animals gathered.
Of the adults, 42.3% were male and 57.7% 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 given.
The location of the trap was not disclosed.
The Complex and surrounding lands are subject to permitted grazing.
Day 25 ended with 97 unaccounted-for animals.
Mares treated with fertility control may be returned to the area at a later date.
Other statistics:
RELATED: Triple B Roundup, Day 23.
The incident began on August 1. Gather stats through August 10:
The figures above are based on the daily reports.
The capture goal for burros has been reached. The goal for horses will likely be achieved by the weekend.
A filly was put down on Day 9 because of a broken leg. Two fillies were put down on Day 10 due to hernias and a mare was euthanized because of a missing eye.
The horse death rate is 3.1% and the burro death rate is 1.2%.
The burro total includes 338 jacks, 405 jennies and 62 foals.
The horse total includes 50 stallions, 62 mares and 17 foals.
Youngsters represented 13.2% of the horses captured.
Of the adults, 44.6% were male and 55.4% were female.
The herd can’t be growing at a rate of 20% per year with a birth rate of 13% per year.
A better estimate would be 8% per year, assuming a death rate of 5% per year.
Land managers often use a growth rate of 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 HMAs in the Complex are subject to permitted grazing.
Day 10 ended with 58 unaccounted-for horses and 100 unaccounted-for burros.
No animals are to be returned to the area.
Other statistics:
RELATED: Blue Wing Roundup, Day 8.
The new version shows the same targets as the previous version.
The capture goal increased from 1,978 horses to 2,106 on August 8, as noted yesterday, and the removal goal jumped from 1,868 to 1,996.
The South Steens roundup has been moved from August 21 to September 10.
The incident began on July 23. Gather stats through August 9:
The figures above are based on the daily reports. They may differ from the totals at the gather page.
No burros have been taken since Day 8.
The gather and removal targets changed on August 8 as noted above.
One burro and 22 horses have been returned to the HMA but this was not documented in the daily reports.
Three horses were euthanized on Day 18 due to pre-existing conditions and two foals died in temporary holding, causes unknown.
The horse death rate is 1.3%.
The horse total includes 817 stallions, 942 mares and 350 foals.
Youngsters represented 16.6% of the horses captured.
Of the adults, 46.4% were male and 53.6% 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.
Body condition scores on Days 17 and 18 ranged from 4 to 5.
The trap is in the North Twin Peaks Home Range.
The HMA is subject to permitted grazing.
Day 18 ended with 176 unaccounted-for horses and no unaccounted-for burros.
The horse capture goal has been reached but the burro goal is only 11% achieved.
Mares treated with fertility control will be returned to the area at a later date.
Other statistics:
RELATED: Twin Peaks Roundup, Day 16.
The program, started last year, has been extended and projects ranging from $1,000 to $50,000 are eligible, according to today’s news release.
Proposals need not have a theme of “off the range” but those will likely receive highest consideration.
A darting program in Eastern Oregon was cited as an example.
Like HMAPs, your project must align with the priorities and goals of the land-use plans.
RELATED: Funding Available for WHB Protection Projects.
The incident began on August 7. Gather stats through August 9:
The figures above are based on the daily reports.
No animals were taken on Day 3.
The capture total includes 12 stallions, 13 mares and eight foals.
Youngsters represented 24.2% of the animals gathered.
Of the adults, 48.0% were male and 52.0% were female.
A birth rate of 24% is consistent with a growth rate of 19% per year, assuming a death rate of 5%. That figure will likely change as the incident continues.
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 3 ended with no unaccounted-for animals.
Mares treated with fertility control would be returned to the area at a later date.
Other statistics:
RELATED: Bible Springs Roundup Begins.
The incident started on August 7, according to the gather page, with eight horses captured, none shipped and no deaths.
The figures were not published until this morning.
The capture goal is 450 and the removal goal is 410.
Three HMAs and one HA are affected.
RELATED: Roundup Announced for Bible Springs Complex.
The incident began on July 17. Gather stats through August 8:
The figures above are based on the daily reports.
A mare was put down on Day 23 due to pre-existing conditions.
The death rate is 2.0%.
The capture total includes 305 stallions, 417 mares and 145 foals.
Youngsters represented 16.7% of the animals gathered.
Of the adults, 42.2% were male and 57.8% 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 given.
The location of the trap was not disclosed.
The Complex and surrounding lands are subject to permitted grazing.
Day 23 ended with 49 unaccounted-for animals.
Mares treated with fertility control may be returned to the area at a later date.
Other statistics:
RELATED: Triple B Roundup, Day 21.
The incident began on August 1. Gather stats through August 8:
The figures above are based on the daily reports.
No animals were gathered on Day 8.
Two jacks were put down on Day 7 due to pre-existing conditions, followed by a jack and jenny on Day 8.
The burro death rate is 1.2%.
The burro total includes 338 jacks, 405 jennies and 62 foals.
Youngsters represented 7.7% of the burros captured.
Of the adults, 45.5% were male and 54.5% were female.
The herd can’t be growing at a rate of 20% per year with a birth rate of 8% per year.
A better estimate would be 3% per year, assuming a death rate of 5% per year.
Low birth rates are often associated with the Montana Solution but the Blue Wing HMAs are not on the fertility control list in the latest schedule.
Body condition scores were not given.
The location of the trap was not disclosed.
The HMAs in the Complex are subject to permitted grazing.
Day 8 ended with no unaccounted-for horses and 255 unaccounted-for burros.
The capture goal for burros has been reached.
Other statistics:
RELATED: Blue Wing Roundup, Day 6.
The incident began on July 23. Gather stats through August 7:
The figures above are based on the daily reports. They may differ from the totals at the gather page.
No burros have been taken since Day 8.
A mare and filly were put down on Day 16 due to pre-existing conditions.
The horse death rate is 1.3%.
The horse total includes 722 stallions, 805 mares and 310 foals.
Youngsters represented 16.9% of the horses captured.
Of the adults, 47.3% were male and 52.7% 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.
Body condition scores on Days 14 through 16 ranged from 4 to 5.
The trap is in the North Twin Peaks Home Range.
The HMA is subject to permitted grazing.
Day 16 ended with 157 unaccounted-for horses and no unaccounted-for burros.
The horse capture goal is 93% complete but the burro goal is only 11% achieved.
Mares treated with fertility control will be returned to the area at a later date.
Other statistics:
RELATED: Twin Peaks Roundup, Day 13.
A WHB Specialist with the BLM Lakeview District pulled him out with a rope after his mom ran up to her truck then back to a ridge several times, according to a report by KTVL News of Medford, OR.
The incident could have been avoided by an aggressive darting program, which the advocates would be eager to provide, aided by safe and efficient helicopter roundups.
The HMA is in southern Oregon and lies within the Beaty Butte Allotment.
The AML is small relative to the available resources, with livestock receiving six times more forage than the horses.
The government collects around $25,000 per year in grazing fees from ranching activity inside the HMA while it spends about $2.9 million per year to care for the 1,583 horses displaced thereby.
Would you say that permitted grazing is a wise use of the public lands?
Are the advocates protecting the horses or the ranchers?
At or near South Steens HMA with TallSky Walker.
The incident began on July 17. Gather stats through August 6:
The figures above are based on the daily reports.
No horses were gathered on Day 21 due to heavy rains.
The death rate is 2.1%.
The capture total includes 263 stallions, 356 mares and 128 foals.
Youngsters represented 17.1% of the animals gathered.
Of the adults, 42.5% were male and 57.5% 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 given.
The location of the trap was not disclosed.
The Complex and surrounding lands are subject to permitted grazing.
Day 21 ended with 19 unaccounted-for animals.
Mares treated with fertility control may be returned to the area at a later date.
Other statistics:
RELATED: Triple B Roundup, Day 19.
The incident began on August 1. Gather stats through August 6:
The figures above are based on the daily reports.
No animals were gathered on Day 6.
Two jacks were put down on Day 5 due to pre-existing conditions.
The burro death rate is 0.9%.
The burro total includes 279 jacks, 358 jennies and 56 foals.
Youngsters represented 8.1% of the burros captured.
Of the adults, 43.8% were male and 56.2% were female.
The herd can’t be growing at a rate of 20% per year with a birth rate of 8% per year.
A better estimate would be 3% per year, assuming a death rate of 5% per year.
The observed percentages of jacks and jennies cannot be attributed to a simple random process centered at 50% males / 50% females.
Abnormal sex ratios and low birth rates are often associated with the Montana Solution but the Blue Wing HMAs are not on the fertility control list in the latest schedule.
Body condition scores were not given.
The location of the trap was not disclosed.
The five HMAs in the Complex are subject to permitted grazing.
Day 6 ended with no unaccounted-for horses and 249 unaccounted-for burros.
Other statistics:
RELATED: Blue Wing Roundup, Day 3.
Filmed on July 26, when 46 horses were captured, including six foals.
The description at the gather page said there were nine members of the public observing that day, including Joy Benedict, a reporter from KCBS TV, Los Angeles and her crew.
Benedict interviewed two BLM public affairs officers and the BLM Northern California District monitoring coordinator.
For an example of “Save a Horse, Hire a Cowboy,” and how the wranglers might handle the horses, watch the video in this post.
RELATED: Twin Peaks Roundup, Day 13.
Agency spokesman Eric Coulter told the ABC affiliate in Denver that maintaining the HMA is a balancing act because the land is used for wild horses, livestock, oil and gas, and recreation.
“That’s one of our big challenges as an agency. We have a multiple-use mission. You know, herd management area is a multiple use area, it’s not managed primarily for horses.”
Problem identified. Causes known.
The helicopter shown in the story, tail number N166MB, is registered to Helicopter Roundup Service LLC of Nephi, UT, according to information at FlightAware.
The listing at Dun & Bradstreet indicates the key principal is Dave Cattoor.
RELATED: Congress Sets AMLs?
The incident began on July 23. Gather stats through August 4:
Data quality is poor. The figures above are based on the daily reports. They may differ from the totals at the gather page.
No burros have been taken since Day 8.
A colt was put down on Day 12 due to a broken leg. Two more horses were euthanized on Day 13 because of pre-existing conditions.
The horse death rate is 1.4%.
The horse total includes 559 stallions, 648 mares and 251 foals.
Youngsters represented 17.2% of the horses captured.
Of the adults, 46.3% were male and 53.7% 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.
Body condition scores on Days 12 and 13 ranged from 4 to 5.
The trap is in the North Twin Peaks Home Range.
The HMA is subject to permitted grazing.
Day 13 ended with 179 unaccounted-for horses and no unaccounted-for burros.
Mares treated with fertility control will be returned to the area at a later date.
Other statistics:
RELATED: Twin Peaks Roundup, Day 11.
Western Horse Watchers Association 