Due to the bandwidth it takes to load numerous files into our daily report from the Antelope Complex North roundup, we have loaded a long form report here. You can follow the daily team reports by clicking here.
82 (27 Stallions, 44 Mares, and 11 Foals) were captured and 45 (0 Stallions, 30 Mares, and 15 Foals) wild horses were shipped to the off-limits to the public processing (short-term holding) facility in Fallon, NV.
In just one day you can clearly see that we are still in actual foaling season in July. Any horse owner knows that the integrity of the hoof and legs can basically define if your horse lives or dies. The potential damage done to hoof and leg development during July roundups is not to be understated. This is a subject we have covered numerous times in detail (Buffalo Hills, 2022) as we try to address the lack of data-based planning in the program through our ongoing litigation that includes defining, not asserting, a science based foaling season.
Below: A foal had to be roped after being separated from family during drive. This foal is a few weeks old. It makes us very concerned for newborns.
Below: There are newborns on the range. This one was near the trap and captured first thing. But what about the newborns further from trap if a pilot doesn’t see it hiding in the sage before running off family? We do not believe July should be a time BLM performs any capture. (We also disagree with BLM planning that attempts to justify removals. But that is a different subject for another day.)
Update: This foal was found dead in the pen the next morning. The death will be included in tomorrows BLM update along with the death of the sorrel foal in the second video above. In addition, a stallion broke his leg attempting to escape adding 3 deaths to this operation in less than 24 hours.
Below: An additional run where a wild horse tried to escape (timecode: 1:20)
The days operation ended abruptly. It appeared that trailers may have been being used in the South operation (taking a long time to return). BLM said the horses in the area had scattered and they wanted them to “settle” so they could be captured (return to the area) tomorrow.
Many of you have asked about the dust. BLM is supposed to do ongoing dust control as part of CAWP. Admittedly, this is hard to accomplish when BLM is running 2 large scale roundups in a single area and employs one truck to do two traps and two sorting corrals. BLM also has a habit of performing only one treatment at a trap early in the day and then letting it dry out. Sometimes even brushing your teeth after attending a roundup can feel a bit gritty and cleaning cameras can take a long time.
Things are going to happen. A lack of equipment, personnel or simply thinking something is not high on the list (like dust control) will cause “things to happen.”
When we are talking about heat index, a horse might not drop dead in the trap or from heat stroke in the temporary corrals (although Sunday and Monday this is definitely a possibility) but dozens could die of roundup related colic after shipping to short-term corrals hundreds of miles from the roundup. Something will happen.
We urge you again to take our action item at the top of the page.
A tour of holding was facilitated.
Our team is back in the field today.
Our observer has reported in that a wild horse snapped a leg trying to escape.
We will update you soon from todays distinct roundups: Antelope North and Antelope South.
(People coming doing the South operation have to drive north to get to trap. People doing the North roundup have to drive South. Both roundups are “Antelope Complex Roundups.” If BLM tried to do this kind of thing again, they should call the roundup by the specific HMA names to reduce confusion in… well, everyone involved as well as the public and media.)
Thank you for keeping us in the fight!
If you are shopping online you can help Wild Horse Education by choosing us as your charity of choice on IGive
Categories: Wild Horse Education
You must be logged in to post a comment.