Piceance Roundup, Day 29

The incident started on August 2.  Results through August 30:

  • Scope: Piceance-East Douglas HMA, West Douglas HA
  • Target: Horses
  • AML: 235
  • Pre-gather population: 1,145
  • Type: Planned
  • Method: Helicopter
  • Category: Cruel and costly (according to advocates)
  • Better way: Stop genetic mixing with PZP (according to advocates)
  • Capture goal: 1,025
  • Removal goal: 1,011
  • Captured: 883, up from 859 on Day 27
  • Shipped: 792, no change from Day 27
  • Released: None
  • Deaths: 8, up from 7 on Day 27
  • Average daily take: 30.4
  • Unaccounted-for animals: 83
  • 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 was dispatched for a fractured left scapula on Day 29.

The death rate is 0.9%.

Excess animals have been hard to find.  The target completion date was September 1.

The capture total included 351 stallions, 364 mares and 168 foals.

Youngsters represented 19.0% of the animals gathered, enough to support a herd growth rate of 14% per year.

Of the adults, 49.1% were male and 50.9% were female, no indication of an abnormal sex ratio.

Body condition scores on Day 29 were 4+.

The location of the trap site was not disclosed.

The contractor is CD Warner and the contract amount is $679,249 according to a report at USA Spending.

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

  • Forage: 10,596 AUMs per year
  • Water: 8,830 gallons per day

The West Douglas HA is unfit for wild horses, supposedly, and has no AML.

PREVIOUS: Piceance Roundup, Day 27.

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

Confusion Roundup, Day 7

The incident started on August 24.  Results through August 30:

  • Scope: Confusion HMA
  • Target: Horses
  • AML: 115
  • Pre-gather population: Not given, probably over 400
  • Type: Planned
  • Method: Helicopter
  • Category: Costly and inhumane (according to advocates)
  • Better way: Sterilize the mares with PZP (according to advocates)
  • Capture goal: 360
  • Removal goal: 360
  • Captured: 260, up from 193 on Day 5
  • Shipped: 221, up from 135 on Day 5
  • Released: 1, up from zero on Day 5
  • Deaths: 1, up from zero on Day 5
  • Average daily take: 37.1
  • Unaccounted-for animals: 37
  • 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 stallion was released (escaped from trap?) on Day 7.

A mare died of a fractured neck on Day 7.

The death rate is 0.4%.

The capture total includes 110 stallions, 114 mares and 36 foals.

Youngsters represented 13.8% of the animals gathered, enough to support a herd growth rate of 8% per year.

Of the adults, 49.1% were male and 50.9% were female, no indication of an abnormal sex ratio.

Body condition scores were not given.

The location of the trap site was not disclosed.

The contractor is Sampson and the contract amount is $235,536 according to a report at USA Spending.

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: 3,108 AUMs per year
  • Water: 2,590 gallons per day

The project area may be larger than the HMA.

PREVIOUS: Confusion Roundup, Day 5.

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

Barren Valley Emergency Roundup Pending?

The incident has not been announced but Cattoor has been selected to carry it out according to a report at USA Spending.

The capture goal is 499 and the contract amount is $269,383, for an average cost of $540 per animal taken.

The DNA worksheet said the target was horses in the Sheepshead/Heath Creek HMA.

No word on the status of livestock grazing in the project area.

PREVIOUS: BLM Assessing NEPA Adequacy Ahead of Barren Valley Roundup.

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

Advocates Launch Naming Contest for Salt River Colt

They’re proposing Khan, Thunder and Hobbs according to a story by ABC15 News.

Western Horse Watchers suggests

  • Defiance – Because he defied the advocates and their mass sterilization program
  • Pesty – Because they tried to prevent his existence with fertility control pesticides
  • Omega – Because the last thing the advocates want to see at the Salt River is a foal

The report did not indicate if his mom had a faulty immune system and if she was in the first group of 25 to be removed.

If the foal was female, a good choice would be Ruthie, for ruthless pursuit of permanent infertility by the advocates.

RELATED: Governor Suspends Salt River Wild Horse Removals.

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

BLM Closing Public Lands for Challis Roundup

All forms of public access and entry will be controlled within two miles of trap locations and public viewing areas according to the Decision Record, which was copied to the project folder in ePlanning with two other documents.

The exception is contractor personnel and observers escorted by BLM staff.

The incident, set to begin on September 9, will be carried out by Cattoor.

The capture and removal goals are 281 and 146 respectively.

The contract amount is $171,690, for an average cost of $611 per animal taken.

Mares returned to the HMA will probably be treated with PZP, complementing the work of Wild Love Preserve.

PREVIOUS: BLM Seeks Vet Services Ahead of Challis Roundup.

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

Confusion Roundup, Day 5

The incident started on August 24.  Results through August 28:

  • Scope: Confusion HMA
  • Target: Horses
  • AML: 115
  • Pre-gather population: Not given, probably over 400
  • Type: Planned
  • Method: Helicopter
  • Category: Costly and inhumane (according to advocates)
  • Better way: Eliminate genetic mixing with PZP (according to advocates)
  • Capture goal: 360
  • Removal goal: 360
  • Captured: 193, up from 125 on Day 3
  • Shipped: 135, up from 47 on Day 3
  • Released: None
  • Deaths: None
  • Average daily take: 38.6
  • Unaccounted-for animals: 58
  • 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.

The capture total includes 82 stallions, 84 mares and 27 foals.

Youngsters represented 14.0% of the animals gathered, enough to support a herd growth rate of 9% per year.

Of the adults, 49.4% were male and 50.6% were female, no indication of an abnormal sex ratio.

Body condition scores were not given.

The location of the trap site was not disclosed.

The contractor is Sampson and the contract amount is $235,536 according to a report at USA Spending.

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: 2,316 AUMs per year
  • Water: 1,930 gallons per day

The project area may be larger than the HMA.

PREVIOUS: Confusion Roundup, Day 3.

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

Piceance Roundup, Day 27

The incident started on August 2.  Results through August 28:

  • Scope: Piceance-East Douglas HMA, West Douglas HA
  • Target: Horses
  • AML: 235
  • Pre-gather population: 1,145
  • Type: Planned
  • Method: Helicopter
  • Category: Cruel and costly (according to advocates)
  • Better way: Destroy the breeding population with PZP (according to advocates)
  • Capture goal: 1,025
  • Removal goal: 1,011
  • Captured: 859, up from 844 on Day 25
  • Shipped: 792, up from 791 on Day 25
  • Released: None
  • Deaths: 7, no change from Day 25
  • Average daily take: 31.8
  • Unaccounted-for animals: 60
  • 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.

The death rate is 0.8%.

Productivity hit a new low on Day 27 with no horses captured.

The capture total included 343 stallions, 353 mares and 163 foals.

Youngsters represented 19.0% of the animals gathered, enough to support a herd growth rate of 14% per year.

Of the adults, 49.3% were male and 50.7% were female, no indication of an abnormal sex ratio.

Body condition scores on Day 26 were 4.

The location of the trap site was not disclosed.

The contractor is CD Warner and the contract amount is $679,249 according to a report at USA Spending.

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

  • Forage: 10,308 AUMs per year
  • Water: 8,590 gallons per day

The West Douglas HA is unfit for wild horses, supposedly, and has no AML.

PREVIOUS: Piceance Roundup, Day 25.

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

Foal-Free Friday, Evil Beyond Imagination Edition

The advocates continue to lie about the reversibility of their favorite pesticide, evident in the public comments for the Stone Cabin EA.  Refer to item 20 in Appendix K of the final planning documents.

The trend chart for the Maryland side of Assateague Island tells a different story.

If PZP was reversible, and the sperm-blocking theory was true, the herd should have quadrupled in the ten years since the darting program was shut off.

The chart shows little if any growth.

The Salt River and Virginia Range herds are following the same trajectory, with the only difference being the darting programs haven’t been shut off.

If the advocates were honest, they’d tell you they’re sterilizing the mares, destroying the breeding populations and ending genetic mixing.

How much more evidence do you need that they’re not playing for the home team?

PREVIOUS: Foal-Free Friday, Worse Than Helicopters Edition.

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

Confusion Roundup, Day 3

The incident started on August 24.  Results through August 26:

  • Scope: Confusion HMA
  • Target: Horses
  • AML: 115
  • Pre-gather population: Not given, probably over 400
  • Type: Planned
  • Method: Helicopter
  • Category: Costly and inhumane (according to advocates)
  • Better way: Beat the numbers down with PZP (according to advocates)
  • Capture goal: 360
  • Removal goal: 360
  • Captured: 125, up from 35 on Day 1
  • Shipped: 47, up from zero on Day 1
  • Released: None
  • Deaths: None
  • Average daily take: 41.7
  • Unaccounted-for animals: 78
  • 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.

The capture total includes 54 stallions, 53 mares and 18 foals.

Youngsters represented 14.4% of the animals gathered.

Of the adults, 50.5% were male and 49.5% were female.

Body condition scores were not given.

The location of the trap site was not disclosed.

The contractor is Sampson and the contract amount is $235,536 according to a report at USA Spending.

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: 1,500 AUMs per year
  • Water: 1,250 gallons per day

The project area may be larger than the HMA.

PREVIOUS: Confusion Roundup in Progress.

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

Piceance Roundup, Day 25

The incident started on August 2.  Results through August 26:

  • Scope: Piceance-East Douglas HMA, West Douglas HA
  • Target: Horses
  • AML: 235
  • Pre-gather population: 1,145
  • Type: Planned
  • Method: Helicopter
  • Category: Cruel and costly (according to advocates)
  • Better way: Poison the mares with PZP (according to advocates)
  • Capture goal: 1,025
  • Removal goal: 1,011
  • Captured: 844, up from 835 on Day 23
  • Shipped: 791, no change from Day 23
  • Released: None
  • Deaths: 7, no change from Day 23
  • Average daily take: 33.8
  • 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

The figures above are based on the daily reports.

The death rate is 0.8%.

Productivity hit a new low on Day 25 with two horses captured.

The capture total includes 334 stallions, 349 mares and 161 foals.

Youngsters represented 19.1% of the animals gathered, enough to support a herd growth rate of 14% per year.

Of the adults, 48.9% were male and 51.1% were female, no indication of an abnormal sex ratio.

Body condition scores on Days 24 and 25 were 4.

The location of the trap site was not disclosed.

The contractor is CD Warner and the contract amount is $679,249 according to a report at USA Spending.

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

  • Forage: 10,128 AUMs per year
  • Water: 8,440 gallons per day

The West Douglas HA is unfit for wild horses, supposedly, and has no AML.

PREVIOUS: Piceance Roundup, Day 23.

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

Commissioners Approve Miller Creek Horse Resolution

The Board takes up the issue at 1:50 in the following video.

The resolution passed on a voice vote.

Sadly, it has a provision for fertility control.

The county’s horse page is now closed to public comments.

PREVIOUS: Commissioners to Consider Miller Creek Horse Resolution.

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

Fifteenmile Roundup Getting Closer

The incident has not been announced but it’s on the schedule with a start date of September 15.

The contractor is Sampson and the contract amount is $198,732 according to a report at USA Spending.

The roundup will leave around 100 wild horses to repopulate the HMA, a necessary condition for genetic diversity.

The advocates want permanent change, to be achieved through permanent infertility, sometimes referred to as destroying the breeding population with PZP.

Comment from Stone Cabin EA.

If the BLM took them seriously, we wouldn’t have any wild horses.

You should be grateful for that.

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

Piceance Roundup, Day 23

The incident started on August 2.  Results through August 24:

  • Scope: Piceance-East Douglas HMA, West Douglas HA
  • Target: Horses
  • AML: 235
  • Pre-gather population: 1,145
  • Type: Planned
  • Method: Helicopter
  • Category: Cruel and costly (according to advocates)
  • Better way: Snuff out new life with PZP (according to advocates)
  • Capture goal: 1,025
  • Removal goal: 1,011
  • Captured: 835, up from 808 on Day 21
  • Shipped: 791, up from 712 on Day 21
  • Released: None
  • Deaths: 7, up from 5 on Day 21
  • Average daily take: 36.3
  • Unaccounted-for animals: 37
  • 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.

On Day 22 a colt was found dead at temporary holding.

On Day 23, a stallion was dispatched for a neck injury that did not heal properly.

The death rate is 0.8%.

The capture total includes 331 stallions, 344 mares and 160 foals.

Youngsters represented 19.2% of the animals gathered, enough to support a herd growth rate of 14% per year.

Of the adults, 49.0% were male and 51.0% were female, no indication of an abnormal sex ratio.

Body condition scores on Days 22 and 23 were 4.

The location of the trap site was not disclosed.

The contractor is CD Warner and the contract amount is $679,249 according to a report at USA Spending.

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

  • Forage: 10,020 AUMs per year
  • Water: 8,350 gallons per day

The West Douglas HA is unfit for wild horses, supposedly, and has no AML.

The average daily take continues to decline.

For the first 11 days of the roundup it was 53.5.

For the last 12 days it was 20.5.

How much longer can the contractor tolerate low productivity and lackluster results?

PREVIOUS: Piceance Roundup, Day 21.

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

BLM Sending Wild Horses and Burros to Slaughter?

That’s the allegation in an August 20 news release by Skydog Sanctuary, which appeared on the same day as a report by The New York Times.

Drudge had a link to the unlocked article but you still had to sign in to read it.

Sale of “excess animals” was not allowed in the original Act but was authorized in the Burns Amendment.

The agency states at its sales page that it does not sell or send any wild horses or burros to slaughter.

The FAQs indicate that the Bill of Sale includes language requiring purchasers to certify they will not knowingly, recklessly, or negligently sell or transfer a horse or burro purchased from the BLM to any individual or organization that intends to process the animal, or its remains, into commercial products, or to facilitate such processing.

Titles are not issued.

The agency does not track the animals after they are sold.

They are private property and no longer eligible for federal oversight or protection.

If an animal is found in a kill pen or otherwise demonstrated to have been sold to slaughter, the agency will assess whether the purchaser violated federal law and refer the matter to Law Enforcement.

At least in theory.

Sadly, nobody’s looking upstream in the management process and asking why the animals were removed from their lawful homes.

Nobody’s asking if there are other options for keeping them on the public lands.

Fertility control, a darling of the advocates, is a dead end, eventually leading to permanent infertility, loss of genetic diversity and herd collapse.

One thing is clear: Nothing will improve until the bureaucracies have been purged of ranchers and ranching sympathizers, top to bottom.

RELATED: More Wild Horses Land in Kill Pens as Sales Rise Sharply.

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