Piceance Roundup Announced

The incident will begin on or about August 1 according to the news release.

The capture goal is 1,025 and the removal goal is 1,011.

A helicopter will push the horses into the traps.

Animals identified for removal will be taken to an undisclosed location.

Of the 14 horses selected for return to the range, 10 will be treated with a fertility control pesticide, probably GonaCon Equine.

Public lands around the traps and holding pens will be closed to public entry except for observers escorted by BLM personnel.

The project area is subject to permitted grazing.

PREVIOUS: BLM Bans Public from Piceance and West Douglas Roundups.

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Saylor Creek Aftermath

The incident hasn’t been marked complete.

Unknown:

  • Number of horses shipped
  • Number of mares treated with GonaCon
  • Number of doses per mare
  • Number of animals returned to range

No activity has been reported since July 15.

The EPA reduced the interval between GonaCon treatments from 90 days to seven days in January 2025.

PREVIOUS: Saylor Creek Roundup Ends?

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Moriah Roundup, Day 3

The incident started on July 20.  Results through July 22:

  • Scope: Moriah HA
  • Target: Horses
  • AML: Zero
  • Pre-gather population: 608
  • Type: Planned
  • Method: Helicopter
  • Category: Cruel and costly (according to advocates)
  • Better way: Sterilize the mares with PZP (according to advocates)
  • Capture goal: 500
  • Removal goal: 500
  • Captured: 94, up from 3 on Day 1
  • Shipped: None
  • Released: None
  • Deaths: 3, up from zero on Day 1
  • Average daily take: 31.3
  • Unaccounted-for animals: 91
  • Snippet from statute: It is the policy of Congress that wild free-roaming horses and burros shall be protected from capture, branding, harassment, or death
  • Snippet from manual: To protect wild horses and burros from unauthorized capture, branding, harassment or death

The figures above are based on the daily reports.

Two horses were dispatched on Day 2 followed by a third on Day 3.

The death rate is 3.2%.

The capture total includes 33 stallions, 37 mares and 24 foals.

Youngsters represented 25.5% of the animals gathered, consistent with a herd growth rate of 20% per year.

Of the adults, 47.1% were male and 52.9% were female.

Body condition scores on Days 2 and 3 ranged from 3 to 4.  Overpopulation means more horses than allowed by plan, not necessarily more horses than the land can support.

The location of the trap site is not known.

The name of the contractor was not specified.

There are no plans to treat any of the mares with fertility control pesticides and return them to the range.

The HA is managed principally for livestock.  Resources liberated to date:

  • Forage: 1,128 AUMs per year
  • Water: 940 gallons per day

The project area extends beyond the HA.

PREVIOUS: Moriah Roundup in Progress.

► Get the truth about wild horses and the wild horse advocates at westernhorsewatchers.com.

Lahontan Roundup, Day 3

The incident started on July 20.  Results through July 22:

  • Scope: Lahontan HMA
  • Target: Horses
  • AML: 10
  • Pre-gather population: 809
  • Type: Planned
  • Method: Helicopter
  • Category: Cruel and costly (according to advocates)
  • Better way: Beat the numbers down with PZP (according to advocates)
  • Capture goal: 700
  • Removal goal: 700
  • Captured: 467, up from 170 on Day 1
  • Shipped: 389, up from 123 on Day 1
  • Released: None
  • Deaths: 1, up from zero on Day 1
  • Average daily take: 155.7
  • Unaccounted-for animals: 77
  • Snippet from statute: It is the policy of Congress that wild free-roaming horses and burros shall be protected from capture, branding, harassment, or death
  • Snippet from manual: To protect wild horses and burros from unauthorized capture, branding, harassment or death

The figures above are based on the daily reports.

A mare died of a neck fracture on Day 3.

The death rate is 0.2%.

The capture total includes 200 stallions, 214 mares and 53 foals.

Youngsters represented 11.3% of the animals gathered, too low to support a herd growth rate of 20% per year.

Of the adults, 48.3% were male and 51.7% were female.

Body condition scores on Days 2 and 3 ranged from 2 to 4.

The location of the trap site is not known.

The name of the contractor was not specified.

There are no plans to treat any of the mares with fertility control pesticides and return them to the range.

The HMA is subject to permitted grazing.  Resources liberated to date:

  • Forage: 5,604 AUMs per year
  • Water: 4,670 gallons per day

The project area extends well beyond the HMA and includes lands managed by the Bureau of Reclamation, Nevada State Parks and Department of Defense.

PREVIOUS: Lahontan Roundup in Progress.

► Get the truth about wild horses and the wild horse advocates at westernhorsewatchers.com.

Callaghan Roundup, Day 13

The incident started on July 10.  Results through July 22:

  • Scope: Callaghan, South Shoshone, Bald Mountain, Hickison HMAs
  • Target: Horses
  • AML: 552
  • Pre-gather population: Over 4,500
  • Type: Planned
  • Method: Helicopter
  • Category: Costly and inhumane (according to advocates)
  • Better way: Stop transmission of life with PZP (according to advocates)
  • Capture goal: 2,000
  • Removal goal: 2,000
  • Captured: 1,866, up from 1,560 on Day 11
  • Shipped: 1,673, up from 1,507 on Day 11
  • Released: None
  • Deaths: 10, up from 7 on Day 11
  • Average daily take: 143.5
  • Unaccounted-for animals: 183
  • Snippet from statute: It is the policy of Congress that wild free-roaming horses and burros shall be protected from capture, branding, harassment, or death
  • Snippet from manual: To protect wild horses and burros from unauthorized capture, branding, harassment or death

These figures are based on the daily reports.  The sidebar says 1,869 horses captured.

A filly died of unspecified causes on Day 12.

A mare died of a traumatic head injury on Day 13 and another mare was lost to unknown causes.

The death rate is 0.5%.

The capture total includes 763 stallions, 766 mares and 337 foals.  The sidebar says 753, 760 and 356.

Youngsters represented 18.1% of the animals gathered, consistent with a herd growth rate of twelve to thirteen percent per year.

Of the adults, 49.9% were male and 50.1% were female.

Body condition scores on Days 12 and 13 ranged from 3 to 5.

The location of the trap site is not known.

The name of the contractor was not provided.

There are no plans to treat any of the mares with fertility control pesticides and return them to the range, a huge disappointment to the advocates.

The Complex is subject to permitted grazing.  Resources liberated to date:

  • Forage: 22,392 AUMs per year
  • Water: 18,660 gallons per day

The project area covers 1,145,515 acres.

PREVIOUS: Callaghan Roundup, Day 11.

► Get the truth about wild horses and the wild horse advocates at westernhorsewatchers.com.

Callaghan Roundup, Day 11

The incident started on July 10.  Results through July 20:

  • Scope: Callaghan, South Shoshone, Bald Mountain, Hickison HMAs
  • Target: Horses
  • AML: 552
  • Pre-gather population: Over 4,500
  • Type: Planned
  • Method: Helicopter
  • Category: Costly and inhumane (according to advocates)
  • Better way: Drive breeding population to zero with PZP (according to advocates)
  • Capture goal: 2,000
  • Removal goal: 2,000
  • Captured: 1,560, up from 1,441 on Day 9
  • Shipped: 1,507, up from 1,297 on Day 9
  • Released: None
  • Deaths: 7, up from 6 on Day 9
  • Average daily take: 141.8
  • Unaccounted-for animals: 46
  • Snippet from statute: It is the policy of Congress that wild free-roaming horses and burros shall be protected from capture, branding, harassment, or death
  • Snippet from manual: To protect wild horses and burros from unauthorized capture, branding, harassment or death

These figures are based on the daily reports.  The sidebar says 1,563 horses captured.

A filly died of unspecified causes on Day 10.

The death rate is 0.4%.

The capture total includes 643 stallions, 637 mares and 280 foals.  The sidebar says 633/631/299.

Youngsters represented 17.9% of the animals gathered, too low to support a herd growth rate of 20% per year.

Of the adults, 50.2% were male and 49.8% were female.

Body condition scores on Days 10 and 11 ranged from 2 to 5.

The location of the trap site is not known.

The name of the contractor was not provided.

There are no plans to treat any of the mares with fertility control pesticides and return them to the range, a huge disappointment to the advocates.

The Complex is subject to permitted grazing.  Resources liberated to date:

  • Forage: 18,720 AUMs per year
  • Water: 15,600 gallons per day

The project area covers 1,145,515 acres.

PREVIOUS: Callaghan Roundup, Day 9.

► Get the truth about wild horses and the wild horse advocates at westernhorsewatchers.com.

Media Should Put Salt River Advocates Under Microscope

The writer of a column in the Arizona Capitol Times argues that decisions affecting public resources, such as wild horses, should be supported by transparent data and sound science, not by consensus or a show of hands.

The piece contains misleading information about herd size and genetic health while ignoring facts about long-term use of PZP.  That information is in the ISPMB report, starting on page 30.

Not really, only the science that doesn’t incriminate us.

Here’s the money quote:

Through fertility control and natural attrition, the population has fallen from approximately 450 horses five years ago to about 271 today — a reduction of more than 40% without mass removals.

Except the time frame is closer to eight years.  A reduction of that magnitude would require a death rate of about 10% per year, twice the normal rate.

If science and transparency had a role, the author would have told you that you can’t use PZP to shrink a herd by 40% without sterilizing the mares.

The population will continue to decline, even if the darting program is stopped.

Where does that leave the debate?

PREVIOUS: Rally Announced as Salt River Debate Drags On.

► Get the truth about wild horses and the wild horse advocates at westernhorsewatchers.com.

Callaghan Roundup, Day 9

The incident started on July 10.  Results through July 18:

  • Scope: Callaghan, South Shoshone, Bald Mountain, Hickison HMAs
  • Target: Horses
  • AML: 552
  • Pre-gather population: Over 4,500
  • Type: Planned
  • Method: Helicopter
  • Category: Costly and inhumane (according to advocates)
  • Better way: Beat the numbers down with PZP (according to advocates)
  • Capture goal: 2,000
  • Removal goal: 2,000
  • Captured: 1,441, up from 1,240 on Day 7
  • Shipped: 1,297, up from 1,050 on Day 7
  • Released: None
  • Deaths: 6, up from 5 on Day 7
  • Average daily take: 160.1
  • Unaccounted-for animals: 138
  • Snippet from statute: It is the policy of Congress that wild free-roaming horses and burros shall be protected from capture, branding, harassment, or death
  • Snippet from manual: To protect wild horses and burros from unauthorized capture, branding, harassment or death

The figures above are based on the daily reports.

A filly was dispatched on Day 8 for a respiratory infection.

The death rate is 0.4%.

The capture total includes 603 stallions, 581 mares and 257 foals.

Youngsters represented 17.8% of the animals gathered, too low to support a herd growth rate of 20% per year.

Of the adults, 50.9% were male and 49.1% were female.

Body condition scores on Days 8 and 9 ranged from 2 to 5.

The location of the trap site is not known.

The name of the contractor was not specified.

There are no plans to treat any of the mares with fertility control pesticides and return them to the range.

The Complex is subject to permitted grazing.  Resources liberated to date:

  • Forage: 17,292 AUMs per year
  • Water: 14,410 gallons per day

The project area covers 1,145,515 acres.

PREVIOUS: Callaghan Roundup, Day 7.

► Get the truth about wild horses and the wild horse advocates at westernhorsewatchers.com.

Lahontan Roundup to Snag Virginia Range Mustangs?

Two bands have migrated into the Lahontan area according to the writer of a guest column in Carson Now and they might be captured and processed as BLM horses.

How would she know this?

She’s the Director of Conservation with the Campaign Against America’s Wild Horses, instigator of the mass sterilization program in their home range.

Her volunteers will chase the mares to the ends of the earth for an opportunity to hit them with pesticide-laced darts.

The column is a sales pitch for nonmotorized removal, a service that CAAWH provides.

Starting tomorrow, wild horses “will lose their freedom forever.  Not because science says they must go but because our federal management system has failed to keep pace with modern conservation,” codewords for long-term use of PZP, with the inevitable result of permanent infertility and herd collapse.

Describing current management practices as a broken system, the writer notes that, after a roundup, populations are allowed to grow beyond levels deemed appropriate, which is how nature provides for genetic diversity and long-term viability.

What she proposes is a dead-end for wild horses, the greater of two evils.

RELATED: Roundup Season: Boon to Pesticide Salesmen.

Barren on the Virginia Range.  No foals, no families, no future.

► Get the truth about wild horses and the wild horse advocates at westernhorsewatchers.com.