There was no opportunity for public comment.
There was no news release.
The decision is final.
Actually, it’s subject to appeal. Refer to the documents in the project folder.
RELATED: Nuisance Roundup Coming to River’s Edge Golf Course?
Category: Range
On the range
Shackleford Herd Grew Slightly in 2024
There were 119 horses on Shackleford Banks at the end of 2024 according to an undated report by NPS, up from 117 at the end of 2023.
The AML is 120 to 130, a narrow range that implies a small growth rate, tiny breeding population and massive interference in nature’s way.
Fourteen foals were born in 2024, for a birth rate of twelve percent.
Eleven horses died, so the population should have increased by three not two.
Curiously, the report for 2023 is 404.
Two cases of failure to thrive were reported, a condition that may indicate inadequate genetic diversity.
The herd consisted of 61% females and 39% males.
The unusual sex ratio is a result of long-term use of PZP, an ovary-killing pesticide.
Eight mares who had recent foals were treated in 2024. They contributed to the gene pool, now they will be sterilized, a standard practice in fertility control programs.
The number of nonviable mares in the herd was not given.
Annual reports are posted to the Cape Lookout wildlife management page.
RELATED: Shackleford Herd Shrinks by Seven in 2023.
Murderer’s Creek Roundup Ends
The incident, prompted by the Rail Ridge Fire, concluded on February 18 with 410 horses captured, 400 shipped, none released and ten dead.
There were no unaccounted-for animals.
The death rate was 2.4%.
The average daily take was 5.0.
The capture total, based on the daily reports, includes 148 stallions, 164 mares and 98 foals. The gather page indicates 150, 166 and 94.
Foals represented 23.9% of the total, consistent with a herd growth rate of 19% per year.
Of the adults, 47.4% were male and 52.6% were female, no indication of an abnormal sex ratio in the population at large.
There were no plans to treat any of the mares with fertility control pesticides and return them to the range.
No decisions have made regarding the long-term disposition of captured horses.
The status of livestock grazing in the burned area is not known.
SB 2331 Lives?
The measure failed in the Senate but has been taken up by the House Transportation Committee, with a hearing set for March 6.
Written testimony will be accepted until 8 AM.
RELATED: SB 2331 Fails in Senate.
Canyonlands Roundup Begins
The incident started yesterday as scheduled, with 23 burros captured, none shipped, none released and no deaths.
RELATED: Canyonlands Wild Burro Roundup Announced.
Advocates Bawling About Loss of Salt River Filly?
They’re celebrating! They rely on predators, illness and other natural causes to take out any foals that slip through their darting program, the goal of which is to prove that mass sterilization is a practical alternative to motorized removal.
RELATED: Salt River Darting Program by the Numbers.
Bill Targets Colorado Wild Horse Working Group?
HB25-1283, introduced yesterday, would repeal the wild horse project and transfer statutory duties concerning wild horses to the Department of Agriculture according to the bill text.
The measure, based in part on the group’s Year One Report, was referred to the House Agriculture, Water & Natural Resources Committee.
New Foal in Pahrump
Nye County sheriff reminds everyone to give them their space.
Mustang Monday
On the Virginia Range with Jeff Martinez.
A Wild Horse Herd Might Be Imploding If…
You have to sift through thousands of trailcam photos to find one with a foal and the best one is at night.
His mom may have a faulty immune system. What about him?
This is what the advocates bring to the table.
RELATED: What Does Herd Implosion Look Like?
San Bernadino County Hits Pause on Reche Canyon Burro Removal
County officials have ended discussions with Peaceful Valley Donkey Rescue for wild burro rescue and relocation services according to a February 21 story by the San Bernadino Sun.
The county is now working with DonkeyLand for similar services.
For a quick tour of the area, refer to the February 10 edition of Mustang Monday.
Status of Murderer’s Creek Emergency Roundup?
Last update was February 12. The capture goal has been reached but the incident has not been marked complete.
Bullfrog EA Out for Review
The draft assessment has been copied to the project folder with nine appendices.
The proposed HMAP, discussed in Appendix D, is subordinate to the Tonopah RMP and will affirm management provisions therein.
The EA cites outdated registrations for GonaCon Equine in Section 2.3.2.2 and refers to the pesticide as a vaccine.
Comments will be accepted through March 24 according to the news release.
RELATED: Bullfrog Scoping Begins.
Rollins to Lead Agriculture
She was confirmed 72-28 on February 13 according to a story by The Hill.
She is responsible for wild horses managed by the Forest Service, among other things.
RELATED: Trump Nominates Rollins for Department of Agriculture.
SCR 4006 Introduced in House
The resolution was read the first time and referred to the Agriculture Committee according to the February 18 update.
RELATED: SCR 4006 Moves to House.
EPA Updates RUP Report
Key Indicators for New Wild Horse Preserves
Ideally, you’d like to see forage availability above 60 and the stocking rate exceed five, as discussed previously.
| Forage availability (AUMs per thousand public acres) | Rating | Stocking rate (Wild horses per thousand public acres) |
|---|---|---|
| Less than 36 | Poor | Less than 3 |
| 36 t0 60 | Fair | 3 to 5 |
| More than 60 | Good | More than 5 |
You also want a land ratio above three.
| Land ratio (public acres to deeded acres) | Percent public lands | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Zero | Zero | Unacceptable |
| 1:1 | 50 | Unacceptable |
| 2:1 | 67 | Unacceptable |
| 3:1 | 75 | Barely acceptable |
| 4:1 | 80 | Good |
| 5:1 | 83 | Better |
| 6:1 or more | 86 or more | Best |
Sanctuaries consisting of deeded acreage only (no public lands) represent victory for the ranchers and failure for the horses.
RELATED: Scoping Out a New Wild Horse Refuge.
Mustang Monday
Horses have the day off. At Lake Pleasant HMA with Deb Moye.
Suitability of Allotments for Wild Horse Preserves
A first-pass assessment can be carried out if you know the forage availability or stocking rate, both of which can be determined from the Allotment Master Report at RAS.
Forage availability = Active AUMs ÷ Public acres × 1,000
Stocking rate = Forage availability ÷ 12
| Forage availability (AUMs per thousand public acres) | Rating | Stocking rate (Wild horses per thousand public acres) |
|---|---|---|
| Less than 36 | Poor | Less than 3 |
| 36 t0 60 | Fair | 3 to 5 |
| More than 60 | Good | More than 5 |
For example, the Wallrock Allotment in Oregon offers 6,656 active AUMs on 100,167 public acres according to the report.
That’s 66.4 AUMs per thousand public acres or 5.5 wild horses per thousand public acres, putting it in the Good category.
If the base property tied to the allotment was on the market, you might want to take a closer look.
The allotment supports livestock equivalent to 555 wild horses, which would be the carrying capacity of the new refuge, assuming no on-site hay production.
RELATED: Scoping Out a New Wild Horse Refuge.
Nuisance Roundup Coming to River’s Edge Golf Course?
A new project has been created in ePlanning but no documents have been posted.
The facility is in Needles, CA and the target is probably burros.
