73 wild horses were captured on 11/27 and 2 more have died as BLM pushes hard to complete capture early. This brings the total deaths to 22 (you can see a complete rundown in our ongoing daily reports HERE).

Capture was approved through December 15. BLM will hit capture numbers today. However, BLM may not release the number of wild horses they stated in the press release.

Above: This little one seemed scared and dazed and unsure of even taking one more step.

BLM chose all of the mares to be treated from the first two traps where there was an alarmingly high incident of “euthanasia for cancer” not seen in the rest of the HMA.

It appears, BLM only chose only around 50 (out of the 121 promised) to go back from the same locations.

BLM already released 25 studs just south of an active trap. BLM did not mark these studs in any way.

When asked where the mares would be released BLM said “all over.” When asked why not mark and release mares where they were captured. BLM said “Because they move through the whole area.”

So are the studs they released being captured again?

Above: As the light begins to fade, it looks like BLM lost patience as they load horses into the high back end of a trailer and the hot shot came out and gates were used against the legs of a horse. It also looked like they decided not to overstock further and let one wild horse (alone and a bit dazed) go.

It should be noted that BLM did NOT do a census flight before this roundup or any other this year. BLM has done “distribution flights.” Where are horses and not how many. BLM is basing removal, treatments and releases on flawed models that do not take last years winter die off into account, the high rates of cancer, season movement with Augusta in the North and Ravenswood to the East.

We think you get the idea. This numbers thing is not based on anything real.

When asked who was making decisions, we were told Niki Cutler was the project manager. The only Nicole (Niki) Cutler we can find working for BLM is a hydrologist for BLM NV Carson District.

Above: BLM ran out of room in the trailer, so they let this one leave, alone. However, BLM will be back at this trap tomorrow.

In a previous piece we used “cleaning a trailer” as an example of how BLM ignores or pretends not to understand or car, their internal welfare policy HERE. 

Another really simple parameter in BLMs internal policy is that: “All sorting, loading, or unloading of WH&Bs during gathers must be performed during daylight hours except when unforeseen circumstances develop and the Lead COR/CO/PI approves the use of supplemental light. (major)”

Sunset is not an unforeseeable event. BLM knows how long it takes to drive from trap to temporary and the time it takes to sort a load of horses.

BLM always pretends that sorting in the dark is fine.

At Calico and this roundup at Clan Alpine (and most winter roundups) BLM simply pushes as far as they can go each and every day and unloads and sorts in darkness.

Reminder: Clan Alpine is doing to finish 16 days earlier than approved. Stopping with enough time to finish before dark should not have been a problem that presented itself more than once at this operation.

Above: Waiting at vehicle while BLM offloads, processes and pushes hay around. BLM has not allowed any observation of sorting at this operation at all.

This is why we are back in court.

WHE carries litigation to stop BLM from perpetuating assertions of data and science to drive removals for their convenience and for politics.

WHE carries active litigation against abuse and filed more briefs yesterday.

We are not only the most trusted source by the public for roundup reports, but we take action.

Thank you for keeping us in the fight to protect and preserve our wild ones.