Lake Havasu Roundup Begins

The incident started on August 7 with 42 burros captured, none shipped, none released and one dead.

Advocates Protest Virginia Range Roundup in Carson City

The event was organized by the Campaign Against America’s Wild Horses, whose representative said the removal of wild horses from a construction project in Reno was completely unnecessary, according to a report by Nevada Appeal.

Getting Rid of Wild Horses Is Our Job 10-14-23

Volunteers with CAAWH are trying to prove that mass sterilization is a practical alternative to motorized removal.

BLM Dispatches Mom-Baby Pair at Muddy Creek

They were stuck in mud at the bottom of a dried-up pond according to a story by ABC4 News of Salt Lake City.

The mom was so exhausted and dehydrated they killed her on the spot.

The baby was taken an unnamed corral where it was killed due to extreme dehydration.

A photo of the pond suggests it was man made, constructed perhaps by one or more of the permittees.

The following allotments overlap the HMA, with some land extending beyond its boundary:

Dry Wash
South Ferron
South Sid and Charley
Globe Link
Lone Tree
Red Canyon
Temple Mountain
McKay Flat
Hondo
Mussentuchit

All are in the Price Field Office except Mussentuchit, which is in the Richfield office.

The Authorization Use Reports (Price | Richfield) indicate that every authorization is currently in its off season, meaning there is no livestock grazing in the HMA.

So who cares if the pond goes dry?

The report did not indicate if it was filled by rainfall or if water was piped from a nearby spring or well.

Kicking Incident Puts Spotlight on Mount Charleston Horses

A story by KLAS News on August 6 says the family was getting ready for a photo shoot when a wild horse galloped by, kicking their three-year-old daughter in the head.

She is now recovering in a Las Vegas hospital.

A video report by KTNV News on August 7 shows the horse grazing nearby.

An advocate wants the horses moved to her ten-acre sanctuary near Pahrump according to an update by FOX5 News.

Western Horse Watchers has not seen a satisfactory explanation of the events leading to the incident nor any calls for the involvement of child protective services.

NDA Captures Virginia Range Mustangs in Construction Zone

They were bait-trapped, allowed into the area for water then the gate was shut behind them according to a story by KTVN News of Reno.

The person(s) responsible were not identified.

The horses were taken to an undisclosed location in Nevada.

No other details are available at this time.

BLM Finalizes New Rule for Temporary Closure Orders

The agency is changing the way it informs the public about temporary closures and restrictions on public lands, according to an August 6 news release.

Notices will no longer appear in the Federal Register but will be distributed via “widely available communication tools.”

The change will align current practices with those of the Park Service, Fish and Wildlife Service, and the Forest Service.

The new rule goes into effect on September 6 according to today’s announcement in the Federal Register.

Rachel Carson Filly Removed for Extreme Distress

She was taken yesterday to the North Carolina State College of Veterinary Medicine for observation and treatment according to a report by Carolina Coast Online.

The story did not indicate if the condition was related to Hurricane Debby and if the foal will be returned to the Reserve.

The news release by North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality does not offer any additional details.

Lake Havasu Roundup Legit?

The DNA published last week asserts that a 2008 EA fully covers bait trap removal set to begin this week.

For that to be true, the document must have a useful life of at least 16 years.

Some advocates have argued that a ten-year life, typical for wild horse and burro environmental assessments, is too long.

The EA was not copied to the project folder but Western Horse Watchers sent an email this morning asking for that.

Lake Havasu DNA Issued, Not Open for Public Review

The document asserts that a 2008 EA fully covers bait trap removal scheduled to begin this week.

Operations will occur in an area south of I-40, east of the Colorado River, west of State Route 95 and north of Lake Havasu City. Refer to Figure 1 on page eight.

The project was created in ePlanning on July 31.

BLM to Remove Burros Near Lake Havasu City

It’s on the July 31 schedule in the emergency/nuisance section and operations will begin this week according to today’s news release.

The capture and removal goals are 100 each.

Excess animals will be taken to the off-range corrals in Florence.

They are likely associated with the Havasu HMA.

The incident is not open to public observation.

The agency is developing a new management plan for the HMA and two others, known as the Three Rivers Complex.

UPDATE: The original gather page has been replaced by this one.

Mustang Monday

At the Ozark National Scenic Riverways with Tim Layton.

Debby Will Also Affect Grayson Highlands Ponies

The 8 PM advisory takes the center of the storm across northern Florida tomorrow and into Georgia on Tuesday where it will slow to a crawl.

Assateague Island is still outside the cone but Grayson Highlands is not.

RELATED: Debby to Drench Banker Horses?

Debby to Drench Banker Horses?

The 8 AM advisory takes the center of the storm into northern Florida where it will stall, bringing double-digit rainfall to some areas.

The Paynes Prairie horses near Gainesville will likely be affected along with the herds at Cumberland Island, Shackleford Banks and Corolla.

Assateague Island is not in the cone but that could change if the storm moves farther up the coast later in the week.

AIA Reports Nine New Foals on Assateague Island

This is their first update since January 3.

The new crop consists of five fillies and four colts.

Sadly, births have not kept up with deaths in recent years.

The darting program was shut off in 2016.

Mesa Verde Roundup Grinds On

A report by Montezuma Local News says 36 wild horses have been removed from the park since the process rolled out in 2019.

NPS has not given any updates in almost two years.

An overview by the National Mustang Association of Colorado says the Park Service wants to capture 35 to 40 animals this year.

BLM Updates Roundup Schedule

Sand Wash Basin and Little Book Cliffs have been added to the July 31 edition, with start dates of August 15 and September 11, respectively.

Triple B has been dropped, taking the overall capture and removal goals from 20,939 and 19,614 on the June 3 schedule to 18,526 and 17,266.

A preliminary schedule for FY25 has not been published.

Court Says Alpine Horse Auction Can Proceed

A federal judge lifted a temporary restraining order today, allowing the sale of 13 wild horses from the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest, according to a report by Courthouse News Service.

Advocates with the Salt River Wild Horse Darting Group said the Forest Service is shipping the animals to kill pens in Texas.

Court Rejects FOA’s Complaint Regarding Winnemucca Corrals

The BLM complied with applicable laws in its plan to ship wild horses to the privately owned feedlot according to a story by Bloomberg Law.

The facility held 3,099 wild horses as of July 21, most of them from the East Pershing roundup earlier this year.

Sand Wash Bait Trap Removal Set for Mid-August

It’s not on the June 3 schedule but will begin on or after August 12 according to today’s announcement.

The capture goal is 60. The removal goal was not specified.

The pre-gather population is 409.

Operations will probably not be open to public observation but this is not discussed in the news release.

The destination of captured animals was not given.

A link to the gather stats and daily reports was not provided.

The HMA, located in northwestern Colorado, is subject to permitted grazing.

The permanent trap site is a constant reminder that the horses are not a priority.

The incident will likely raise a few more eyebrows in the state legislature, whose members are already annoyed by the prospects of a roundup at Little Book Cliffs.

UPDATE: It’s on the July 31 schedule.