As the operation at the Pancake Complex began yesterday, we published a report. We did not have time to publish the landing page that we will update throughout the operation. This will stand as the collective operation update page and link to longer reports from the field/court etc. This page will update often.
Overview on wild horses/burros as 2022 begins HERE.
Our underlying case against this operation (and additional issues arising at the operation) has jumped into federal court HERE.
Charlie. His band, his herd, gone forever. (run by chopper on 1/12/22)
On January 6, BLM announced a roundup of 2030 wild horses to begin on January 11. (You can read more about the fight that continues in the original filing against this plan at Pancake HERE) Note: BLM could do a Herd Management Area Plan (HMAP, an actual management plan for each HMA in the complex or the complex as a whole. BLM has not done either option. They cut your voice out of planning and went right to the removal plan.
BLM appears to be not only ignoring certain stakeholders completely in process, but even under direct questioning on simple subjects. We have asked BLM directly which form of the multiple “fertility control” options they approved in the decision will they be using; BLM basically answered us “fertility control.” Other orgs are reporting “PZP.” BLM did not state pzp in their press release, nor on their website. The agency plans to release only 30 of the captives back to the range. (On day 4 of the operation it was finally confirmed that BLM will be using PZP-22)
This area is known for an early foaling season that begins in earnest at the end of January. BLM has not answered our inquires as to how they plan to handle the early season.
BLM is shipping the bulk of these wild horses to off-limits-to-public-view facilities (Sutherland in Utah and Broken Arrow on Indian Lakes Rd in Fallon, NV) and a few will go to Palomino Valley north of Reno. (Note: It appears BLM will ship the most unique genetics, from the best ranges and HMAs, that could have a much larger AML if they actually created a management plan, into off-limits facilities. It appears, they plan to ship the horses from the the HMAs managed in severely cow-bashed territory into Palomino Valley Center that you can get a glimpse of.)
Daily reports will appear with the newest at the top. Scroll down for earlier reports. (Note: After the report on day 1, people asked how to contact BLM, we copied from the BLM website for you HERE)
Updates after week 2 can be found HERE.
Below are updates from the first 2 weeks.
Cumulative totals
Total captured: 1,048 Wild Horses (442 Stallions, 469 Mares, and 137 Foals)
Shipped: 956 Wild Horses (402 Stallions, 430 Mares, and 124 Foals)
Released: 4 mares treated with PZP-22
Deaths: 11
7 year old Bay Mare put down BLM said due to chronic pre-existing condition (Break); Bay Foal was died due to acute injury (Break); 3 year old Bay Stallion died unexpectedly due to pre-existing condition; 3 year old Bay Mare was “euthanized in accordance with IM 2021-007 due to acute condition (Undiagnosed)” and BLM is claiming this is not roundup related (even though both could have been a heart attack); 3 year old Bay Mare was “euthanized due to pre-existing condition (Congenital Sway back);” 20+ year old Bay Mare was “euthanized due to pre-existing condition (Body Condition unable to maintain or improve);” 8 year old Bay Stallion “due to pre-existing condition (Break);” 4 year old Bay Mare “due to pre-existing condition (Blind);” 20+ year old Black Mare was “due to pre-existing condition (Body Condition unable to maintain or improve);” 6 year old Bay Mare was euthanized “in accordance with IM 2021-007 due to pre-existing condition (Blind missing an eye);” 20 year old bay stallion BLM said had a previously broken leg.
Note: We know a stallion who would be about 8 years old now. 4 years ago he broke a leg in a fight for mares. Even with the break, he kept 5 of his mares. Now, he is gone.
BLM claims only 2 of the deaths are “roundup related.”
Our team is working very hard to push forward our underlying case and add additional factors. BLM only gave 108 hours notice right before a weekend and then a holiday weekend. We know all of you have been standing with us for this herd for years. We will keep working for this beloved herd.
Updates continue starting on Day 15 on a new page HERE.
01-24-22, Day 14
After a long delay BLM captured 38 (15 Stallions, 14 Mares, and 4 Foals) wild horses from a new trap-site on the western side of the complex. The unusually short day ended with a very brief tour of the holding corral.
01-23-22, Day 13
17 (5 Stallions, 7 Mares, and 5 Foals) captured at Jakes Wash including 4 younger foals. Our observers were not permitted to go to holding to assess condition after one of the youngsters did appear to show distress. Video below shows the distance to trap.
Our teams are working multiple channels and we are continuing to load/edit video of previous days at this operation as time allows.
(Edited: documents filed in federal court on Friday and an action joined by AWA and CANA, are now public knowledge. The orgs have filed more documents today. HERE)
Screen grabs above will be replaced with video as time allows
01-22-22, Day 12
80 wild horses captured.
One death was reported: 20 year old Bay Stallion was “euthanized in accordance with IM 2021-007 due to pre-existing condition (Previously broken leg).” BLM does not consider the death related to the roundup.
The area contains both resident and transient populations. The horses are coming in demonstrating a good body condition.
The day was a rapidly paced as BLM pushes toward the target and very little (if any) time between capture and loading was documented.
Our team is very busy and additional actions have been taken. We will update you soon.
01-21-22, Day 11
No fly day, wind and snow.
01-20-22, Day 10
The BLM webpage is wonky. They have deleted the update from the 19th and have not published the 20th.
Our on-site observer said that about 37 were captured. She was told there would be no visibility at trap and she could go to holding. At holding all she could see were horses coming in on a semi-trick (meaning BLM loaded from stock trailers into a semi, keeping horses on the semi until the load was full). Then, she had to try to peek through the equipment parked on the side she was told to stand.
We have no update on deaths.
Our teams continue to be in field and pushing behind the scenes to get some action against this atrocity.
Trap moves tomorrow.
Images above are screen grabs from video: day 8 and day 9. The grabs show that heavy mares (pregnant) are being driven as we hit foaling season at this rushed removal operation. The barbed wire fence that turns into a “wing.” (Video edits in progress that will show the distance our observer is documenting from and more, soon.)
01-19-22, Day 9
29 (10 Stallions, 17 Mares, and 2 Foals) captured. The day ended early. We wish we could say because BLM was stopping due to the thawing range. Trap is moving.
01-18-22, Day 8
73 (30 Stallions, 33 Mares, and 10 Foals) captured in another long day. BLM appears to be using barbed wire as a wing of the trap.
Deaths: 6 year old Bay Mare was “euthanized in accordance with IM 2021-007 due to pre-existing condition (Blind missing an eye).”
More on the BLM euthanasia policy HERE.
This wild horse was pursued for over an hour, the last horse captured for the day after the sun had dropped behind the mountains.
01-17-22, Day 7
BLM continued the operation at the Pancake complex with 85 (34 Stallions, 39 Mares, and 12 Foals) wild horses captured. The operation went all day; until dark.
You can access a public action item HERE.
We are still processing the days operation in photo and video. Our teams are working hard for this herd that means so much to us at WHE. It is always hard to get attention to herds like Pancake. The roundup is gaining the attention that may stop the madness for this amazingly diverse herd.
01-16-22, Day 6
85 (49 Stallions, 48 Mares, and 17 Foals) wild horses captured on another muddy mess of a day.
59 (26 Stallions, 33 Mares, and 0 Foals) shipped.
As our teams get the pieces set to take the legal fight up the food chain in this rapidly executed roundups and holiday weekends, we have a public action item coming later today.
01-15-22, Day 5
Our observer showed up for loading in the morning and could not see the capacity of the wild horses in the temporary holding corrals. BLM shipped 132 (86 Stallions, 30 Mares, and 16 Foals) to Sutherland. The corrals still had a substantial number of wild horses after shipping. (Capacity at holding is a parameter of the Comprehensive Animal Welfare Policy, CAWP.) More info on this soon.
BLM released 4 mares back to Pancake. BLM stated to our rep that they will only be doing a retreat of wild horses from 2011 (that were treated with PZP). Many of the wild horses treated during that operation are no longer alive. It is getting muddier each day trying to determine what BLM is actually basing any action on at the Pancake roundup; management? These mares are also unmarked with any temporary paint or ID that a chopper could see so they are not recaptured.
Video above: Many of you that follow WHE know this band well. Here, they splash their way into the trap.
01-14-22, Day 4
BLM moved trap. The heart of this herd that lives in the best habitat that could sustain far more than the faulty population level set by the agency (Pancake has no Herd Management Area Plan, HMAP). BLM is striking the heart of the complex first.
135 (55 Stallions, 64 Mares, and 16 Foals) wild horses were captured on the warmest day of operations to date. Wild horses continue to splash their way through the unsafe conditions of the runs.
BLM killed 2 more wild horses stating: 4 year old Bay Mare was euthanized in accordance with IM 2021-007 due to pre-existing condition (Blid); 20+ year old Black Mare was euthanized in accordance with IM 2021-007 due to pre-existing condition (Body Condition unable to maintain or improve). This is a direct copy and paste, we believe they meant to publish “blind.”
01-13-22, Day 3
75 (37 Stallions, 30 Mares, and 8 Foals) were captured. BLM continues to run wild horses on the thawing ground. Babies lag behind. Our observer is waiting for a repeat of the colt that broke a leg on day 1.
131 (42 Stallions, 74 Mares, and 15 Foals) were shipped to off-limits facility in Sutherland. BLM is denying observers a chance to see temporary holding before wild horses ship.
3 deaths:
3 year old Bay Mare was “euthanized due to pre-existing condition (Congenital Sway back);” 20+ year old Bay Mare was “euthanized due to pre-existing condition (Body Condition unable to maintain or improve);” 8 year old Bay Stallion was euthanized in accordance with IM 2021-007 due to pre-existing condition (Break).
Long report will link here when completed. We know most of these wild horses very well. The agency continues to hit the heart of the complex.
Video above: Anyone that follows WHE will recognize most of the horses captured in this very sweaty run. We know each of these wild ones. The steam is from the heat of the wild horses reacting with the cold air.
01-12-22, Day 2:
147 (60 Stallions, 72 Mares, and 15 Foals) were captured. Wild horses continue to slide in the muddy ground. By 10 the range thaws and the surface area becomes a slippery mess, but BLM continues to capture wild horses.
2 wild horses have died: 3 year old Bay Stallion died unexpectedly due to pre-existing condition; 3 year old Bay Mare was “euthanized in accordance with IM 2021-007 due to acute condition (Undiagnosed)” and BLM is claiming this is not roundup related (even though both could have been a heart attack).
BLM shipped wild horses to Sutherland off-limits facility in Utah. BLM had said they would ship according to the order in the press release. Palomino Valley Center (on with observation) was first on the list. Apparently, the order was flipped or BLM in charge failed to communicate intentions.
There are multiple ongoing issues and a few developments our team is working on. We have not had time to do an extended report for day 2 and will provide it to you tomorrow with day 3.
Our observer is on-site and our legal team is working as fast as possible. More soon.
Video below is graphic
01-11-22, Day 1:
157 (61 Stallions, 67 Mares, and 29 Foals) wild horses were captured.
BLM is beginning operations in the best habitat in the entire HMA; habitat they are rapidly giving to industrial interests. This is the heart of the complex.
Huge temp swings throughout the day cause the range to thaw and become muddy before noon (high 47, low 16).
Youngsters are lagging behind and one, obviously limping, was pressured to keep moving until his leg literally snapped (please use caution watching video).
2 wild horses died today: 7 year old Bay Mare put down BLM said due to chronic pre-existing condition (Break); Bay Foal was died due to acute injury (Break)
Link to long report from Day 1 click HERE
You can help keep us in the field and working in the courts. We won’t stop fighting.
Categories: Wild Horse Education
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