Triple B Roundup, Day 25

The incident began on July 17. Gather stats through August 10:

Target: Horses
Type: Planned
Method: Helicopter
Category: Cruel and costly
Captured: 1,043, up from 867 on Day 23
Average daily take: 41.7
Capture goal: 1,900
Removal goal: 1,800
Returned: None
Deaths: 20, up from 17 on Day 23
Shipped: 926, up from 801 on Day 23

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:

Horses allowed by plan (AML): 821
Forage assigned to horses: 9,852 AUMs per year
Pre-gather population: 3,475
Forage liberated to date: 12,516 AUMs per year
Water liberated to date: 10,430 gallons per day
Forage assigned to livestock: 49,188 AUMs per year (estimated)
Horses displaced from Complex by permitted grazing: 4,099
True AML: 4,911
Stocking rate at new AML: 3.0 horses per thousand acres
Horses displaced from Complex by drilling and mining: Ask the advocates

RELATED: Triple B Roundup, Day 23.

Blue Wing Roundup, Day 10

The incident began on August 1. Gather stats through August 10:

Target: Horses and burros
Type: Planned
Method: Helicopter
Category: Cruel and costly
Horses captured: 129, up from zero on Day 8
Burros captured: 805, no change from Day 8
Average daily take: 12.9 horses, 80.5 burros
Capture goal: 200 horses, 800 burros
Removal goal: 200 horses, 800 burros
Horses returned: None
Burros returned: None
Horse deaths: 4, up from zero on Day 8
Burro deaths: 10, no change from Day 8
Horses shipped: 67, up from zero on Day 8
Burros shipped: 695, up from 540 on Day 8

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:

AML: 553 horses and 90 burros, equivalent to 598 horses
Forage assigned to horses and burros: 7,176 AUMs per year
Pre-gather population: 1,695 horses and 1,327 burros, equivalent to 2,359 horses
Forage liberated to date: 6,378 AUMs per year
Water liberated to date: 5,315 gallons per day
Forage assigned to livestock: 9,631 AUMs per year (estimated)
Animals displaced from Complex by permitted grazing: 802 horses
True AML: 1,355 horses and 90 burros, equivalent to 1,400 horses
Stocking rate at new AML: 1.2 horses per thousand acres
Animals displaced from Complex by drilling and mining: Ask the advocates

RELATED: Blue Wing Roundup, Day 8.

Latest Roundup Schedule Omits Twin Peaks Increases

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.

Twin Peaks Roundup, Day 18

The incident began on July 23. Gather stats through August 9:

Target: Horses and burros
Type: Planned
Method: Helicopter
Category: Cruel and costly
Horses captured: 2,109, up from 1,837 on Day 16
Burros captured: 38, no change from Day 16
Average daily take: 117.2 horses, 2.1 burros
Capture goal: 1,978 horses, 339 burros, horses increased to 2,106 on Day 17
Removal goal: 1,868 horses, 339 burros, horses increased to 1,996 on Day 17
Horses returned: None
Burros returned: None
Horse deaths: 28, up from 23 on Day 16
Burro deaths: None
Horses shipped: 1,905, up from 1,657 on Day 16
Burros shipped: 38, no change from Day 16

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:

AML: 758 horses and 116 burros, equivalent to 816 horses
Forage assigned to horses and burros: 9,792 AUMs per year
Pre-gather population: 3,316 horses and 401 burros, equivalent to 3,516 horses
Forage liberated to date: 25,536 AUMs per year
Water liberated to date: 21,280 gallons per day
Forage assigned to livestock: 27,178 AUMs per year (estimated)
Animals displaced from HMA by permitted grazing: 2,264 horses
True AML: 3,022 horses and 116 burros, equivalent to 3,080 horses
Stocking rate at new AML: 4.1 horses per thousand acres
Horses displaced from HMA by drilling and mining: Ask the advocates

RELATED: Twin Peaks Roundup, Day 16.

New Grants Available for Wild Horse and Burro Management

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.

Pancake Gather Plan

Bible Springs Roundup, Day 3

The incident began on August 7. Gather stats through August 9:

Target: Horses
Type: Planned
Method: Helicopter
Category: Cruel and costly
Captured: 33, up from 8 on Day 1
Average daily take: 11.0
Capture goal: 450
Removal goal: 410
Returned: None
Deaths: None
Shipped: 33, up from zero on Day 1

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:

Horses allowed by plan (AML): 170
Forage assigned to horses: 2,040 AUMs per year
Pre-gather population: 831
Forage liberated to date: 396 AUMs per year
Water liberated to date: 330 gallons per day
Forage assigned to livestock: 9,890 AUMs per year (estimated)
Horses displaced from Complex by permitted grazing: 817
True AML: 987
Stocking rate at new AML: 4.6 horses per thousand acres
Horses displaced from Complex by drilling and mining: Ask the advocates

RELATED: Bible Springs Roundup Begins.

OPB Looks at Fertility Control Research for Wild Horses

The discussion in this 19-minute audio segment goes off the rails in the second half when the advocate rambles on about drought, mineral extraction and climate change.

Instead of building on the dialogue of the first half, which focused on the way public lands are managed, she’s worried about saving the planet.

This is why our horses are in trouble. Those who claim to be their voice are detached from reality and unmoored from the truth. Men can be women and water flows uphill.

Warm Springs AUM Summary-1

The data above, from the Warm Springs HMA in Oregon, identify the problem and explain why the wild horse and burro program operates like a pest control program.

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.

Triple B Roundup, Day 23

The incident began on July 17. Gather stats through August 8:

Target: Horses
Type: Planned
Method: Helicopter
Category: Cruel and costly
Captured: 867, up from 747 on Day 21
Average daily take: 37.7
Capture goal: 1,900
Removal goal: 1,800
Returned: None
Deaths: 17, up from 16 on Day 21
Shipped: 801, up from 712 on Day 21

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:

Horses allowed by plan (AML): 821
Forage assigned to horses: 9,852 AUMs per year
Pre-gather population: 3,475
Forage liberated to date: 10,404 AUMs per year
Water liberated to date: 8,670 gallons per day
Forage assigned to livestock: 49,188 AUMs per year (estimated)
Horses displaced from Complex by permitted grazing: 4,099
True AML: 4,911
Stocking rate at new AML: 3.0 horses per thousand acres
Horses displaced from Complex by drilling and mining: Ask the advocates

RELATED: Triple B Roundup, Day 21.

Blue Wing Roundup, Day 8

The incident began on August 1. Gather stats through August 8:

Target: Horses and burros
Type: Planned
Method: Helicopter
Category: Cruel and costly
Horses captured: None
Burros captured: 805, up from 693 on Day 6
Average daily take: 0.0 horses, 100.6 burros
Capture goal: 200 horses, 800 burros
Removal goal: 200 horses, 800 burros
Horses returned: None
Burros returned: None
Horse deaths: None
Burro deaths: 10, up from 6 on Day 6
Horses shipped: None
Burros shipped: 540, up from 438 on Day 6

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:

AML: 553 horses and 90 burros, equivalent to 598 horses
Forage assigned to horses and burros: 7,176 AUMs per year
Pre-gather population: 1,695 horses and 1,327 burros, equivalent to 2,359 horses
Forage liberated to date: 4,830 AUMs per year
Water liberated to date: 4,025 gallons per day
Forage assigned to livestock: 9,631 AUMs per year (estimated)
Animals displaced from Complex by permitted grazing: 802 horses
True AML: 1,355 horses and 90 burros, equivalent to 1,400 horses
Stocking rate at new AML: 1.2 horses per thousand acres
Horses displaced from Complex by drilling and mining: Ask the advocates

RELATED: Blue Wing Roundup, Day 6.

Twin Peaks Roundup, Day 16

The incident began on July 23. Gather stats through August 7:

Target: Horses and burros
Type: Planned
Method: Helicopter
Category: Cruel and costly
Horses captured: 1,837, up from 1,458 on Day 13
Burros captured: 38, no change from Day 13
Average daily take: 114.8 horses, 2.4 burros
Capture goal: 1,978 horses, 339 burros
Removal goal: 1,868 horses, 339 burros
Horses returned: None, no change from Day 13
Burros returned: None, no change from Day 13
Horse deaths: 23, up from 21 on Day 13
Burro deaths: None, no change from Day 13
Horses shipped: 1,657, up from 1,258 on Day 13
Burros shipped: 38, no change from Day 13

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:

AML: 758 horses and 116 burros, equivalent to 816 horses
Forage assigned to horses and burros: 9,792 AUMs per year
Pre-gather population: 3,316 horses and 401 burros, equivalent to 3,516 horses
Forage liberated to date: 22,272 AUMs per year
Water liberated to date: 18,560 gallons per day
Forage assigned to livestock: 27,178 AUMs per year (estimated)
Animals displaced from HMA by permitted grazing: 2,264 horses
True AML: 3,022 horses and 116 burros, equivalent to 3,080 horses
Stocking rate at new AML: 4.1 horses per thousand acres
Animals displaced from HMA by drilling and mining: Ask the advocates

RELATED: Twin Peaks Roundup, Day 13.

Foal Rescued from Mud at Beatys Butte HMA

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?

‘Wild Horse Fire Brigade’ Means Victory for Permittees

The proposal has been in the news recently, including a report by ABC15 News, a podcast by NPR, an article by The Hill and a column in the Pagosa Daily Post.

Wild horses would be moved from areas where they’re not wanted (by public-lands ranchers) to remote wilderness areas not particularly suited to livestock grazing.

The plan was developed by a rancher.

How would it be put into practice?

They would be forced from their lawful home by helicopters, crammed into trailers and hauled to places nobody can access, where they would devour forage that propagates wildfires, supposedly.

McKinney Fire 08-08-22

How does that differ from what you see today at Piceance, Triple B and Twin Peaks?

The means by which they’d stop lightning, smokers and arsonists is a detail that hasn’t been worked out.

Boosting their appetite for conifers is another problem but they’re working on it.

Once the horses are gone, the ranchers will be able to enjoy everything their allotments have to offer, a goal they almost achieved in the “fast disappearing” days before the WHB Act.

Batteries to Be Produced from Gibellini Vanadium?

In 2018, vanadium was designated as a critical material by the U.S. government due to its importance to the defense and energy storage sectors, with no domestic production and all supplies imported, mostly from Russia, China and South Africa.

A vanadium shortage is expected by 2025, according to Nevada Vanadium, with the rising popularity of the vanadium redox flow battery, a mature technology that is scalable to hundreds of megawatt-hours of storage.

Battery life is projected to be at least 20 years with no degradation of the vanadium or charge density.

However, a story by NPR indicates there are few if any companies making the batteries in the U.S. and the top producer is in China.

The NVV flow diagram suggests the mine’s output is intended for batteries.

NVV Process Flow Diagram 08-08-22

Why won’t the government license the technology to American manufacturers?

The metal will be pulled from American soil and processed with American resources.

As with the Keystone Pipeline, enriching our enemies seems to be a top priority of the one-horse pony and his illicit administration.

The Draft EIS for the Gibellini Mine only mentions vanadium redox flow batteries in Section 2.3, the Renewable Energy Alternative to the Proposed Action.

Mustang Monday

At or near South Steens HMA with TallSky Walker.

Triple B Roundup, Day 21

The incident began on July 17. Gather stats through August 6:

Target: Horses
Type: Planned
Method: Helicopter
Category: Cruel and costly
Captured: 747, up from 735 on Day 19
Average daily take: 35.6
Capture goal: 1,900
Removal goal: 1,800
Returned: None, no change from Day 19
Deaths: 16, no change from Day 19
Shipped: 712, up from 674 on Day 19

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:

Horses allowed by plan (AML): 821
Forage assigned to horses: 9,852 AUMs per year
Pre-gather population: 3,475
Forage liberated to date: 8,964 AUMs per year
Water liberated to date: 7,470 gallons per day
Forage assigned to livestock: 49,188 AUMs per year (estimated)
Horses displaced from Complex by permitted grazing: 4,099
True AML: 4,911
Stocking rate at new AML: 3.0 horses per thousand acres
Horses displaced from Complex by drilling and mining: Ask the advocates

RELATED: Triple B Roundup, Day 19.

Blue Wing Roundup, Day 6

The incident began on August 1. Gather stats through August 6:

Target: Horses and burros
Type: Planned
Method: Helicopter
Category: Cruel and costly
Horses captured: None
Burros captured: 693, up from 378 on Day 3
Average daily take: 0.0 horses, 115.5 burros
Capture goal: 200 horses, 800 burros
Removal goal: 200 horses, 800 burros
Horses returned: None
Burros returned: None
Horse deaths: None
Burro deaths: 6, up from 4 on Day 3
Horses shipped: None
Burros shipped: 438, up from 108 on Day 3

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:

AML: 553 horses and 90 burros, equivalent to 598 horses
Forage assigned to horses and burros: 7,176 AUMs per year
Pre-gather population: 1,695 horses and 1,327 burros, equivalent to 2,359 horses
Forage liberated to date: 4,158 AUMs per year
Water liberated to date: 3,465 gallons per day
Forage assigned to livestock: 9,631 AUMs per year (estimated)
Animals displaced from Complex by permitted grazing: 802 horses
True AML: 1,355 horses and 90 burros, equivalent to 1,400 horses
Stocking rate at new AML: 1.2 horses per thousand acres
Horses displaced from Complex by drilling and mining: Ask the advocates

RELATED: Blue Wing Roundup, Day 3.

CBS Mornings Looks at Twin Peaks Roundup

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.

BLM Admits Piceance HMA Not Managed Primarily for Horses!

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.

Piceance Helicopter 08-06-22