Category: Range

On the range

Rangeland Conditions In Horse-Free Areas

There are no HMAs, HAs or WHTs on land administered by the Bruneau Field Office, part of BLM’s Boise District in Idaho.

Bruneau FO Map

Wild horses may move into or through the area from other HMAs.

If you’re a free-roaming horse and can’t access critical resources because of permitted grazing, or other reasons, you go elsewhere to survive.  That might include private property and lands managed almost exclusively for livestock—where you probably won’t be welcomed.

The allotment information report for the Bruneau Field Office, created by the Rangeland Administration System, shows many areas in the Improve category.

Bruneau FO Allotment Report 01-09-21

RAS does not explain the status categories but ‘Improve’ may mean that the allotment does not meet one or more standards for rangeland health.  If so, how much of the shortfall can be attributed to wild horses?  How much to drilling and mining?

The allotment master report for the Bruneau Field Office shows the pastures and permittees for each area and the authorization use report shows livestock types and grazing seasons.

Another Attack On Heber Wild Horses?

The White Mountain Independent reported last night that a foal and other horses had been shot, according to information on socialist media, but the case has not been confirmed by the Forest Service.

More than two dozen wild horses have been lost to gunfire since October 2018 and the incidents are still under investigation.

RELATED: Forest Service Trying to Bury Heber Wild Horse Shootings?

UPDATE: Added video by ABC15 Arizona.

Desatoya Comment Period Ends This Weekend

The project can not address the underlying problem.  It can only ensure that it goes on for another ten years.  The HMA is managed primarily for livestock.

Concerns about resource allocations and management priorities, although valid, should not be submitted.

According to Paragraph 2 in Section 2.3 in the Draft EA, reducing or eliminating livestock grazing “is contrary to previous decisions which allocated forage for livestock use and would not be in conformance with the existing land use plan nor does it achieve the purpose and need for this EA.”

Shifting forage to wild horses “would not be in conformance with the CRMP [Consolidated Resource Management Plan] and is contrary to the BLM’s multiple-use mission as outlined in the 1976 FLPMA.”

Section 1702 of FLPMA defines ‘multiple use’ as the management of public lands and their resources in a way that best meets the present and future needs of the American people, not a select few.

The EA gives you the impression that the RMP—approved in 2001—can never be changed, but that’s what needs to happen.

RELATED: Commenting On the Desatoya EA.

Hunter/Jumper Prospect?

Filmed near Santa Elena Canyon in Big Bend National Park by Navarre Marshall.  A bit unusual to see an unattached youngster in the wild.  Is there more to the story?

The canyon description ends with this notice: “Illegal border crossings are known to occur in this area.  If you encounter anything that appears illegal, suspicious, or out of place, please do not approach or intervene.  Note the location, description, time, direction of travel, and call 911 as soon as possible.”

Fish Creek Roundup Day 5

The incident began on December 29.  Gather stats through January 2:

  • Horses captured: 198
  • Goal: 195
  • Returned: 0
  • Deaths: 0
  • Shipped: 80

Foals accounted for 18.2% of the horses gathered.  Roughly 54% of captured adults were males and 46% were females.

Body condition scores are not known.

No horses shipped on Days 1, 2, 3 and 5, according to the daily figures.

The number of unaccounted-for animals is 118.  They are probably being held on site, pending the return of 60 horses to the HMA, including 30 mares treated with PZP-22.

Although the target has been reached, the page does not say if gather operations are complete.

RELATED: Fish Creek Roundup Day 3.

Fish Creek Roundup Day 3

The incident began on December 29.  Gather stats through December 31:

  • Horses captured: 140
  • Goal: 195
  • Returned: 0
  • Deaths: 0
  • Shipped: 41

Foals accounted for 18.6% of the horses gathered.  Roughly 52% of captured adults were males and 48% were females.

Body condition scores are not known.

No horses have been shipped according to the daily figures.

The number of unaccounted-for animals is 99.  The contractor is probably holding them on site.

Sixty horses will be returned to the HMA, including 30 mares treated with PZP-22.

The operation will likely conclude in another day or two.

RELATED: Fish Creek Roundup Day 1.

Another Eagle Roundup In the Works

BLM said today that approximately 1,100 wild horses will be removed from the Eagle Complex, starting on or about January 6.  The operation will restore a thriving ecological balance and improve rangeland health, according to the news release.

Three HMAs are affected: Eagle, Chokecherry and Mount Elinor.

The roundup will be carried out with helicopters and will be open to public observation.

Fifty mares will be treated with contraceptives and returned to the range.

The Complex includes 743,000 acres along the Utah-Nevada state line.  The combined AML is 265 and the aimed-at stocking rate is 0.4 wild horses per thousand acres.  The average stocking rate across all HMAs is about one wild horse per thousand acres.

The current population is thought to be around 1,400 horses, including this year’s foals.

Eagle Complex Map Revised

All three HMAs are subject to permitted livestock grazing, as discussed in Section 3.3.5 of the Final EA for resource enforcement actions in the Complex.

Captured animals will be taken to off-range corrals in Sutherland, UT and Sparks, NV.

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

The event follows the removal of over 1,600 wild horses less than year ago.

RELATED: Eagle Wild Horses Get Short End of Stick.

Thriving Ecological Balance-3