At dawn, just before the helicopter took to the air on day 1.
The North Lander roundup targets 2,715 for permanent removal from four Herd Management Areas (HMAs) in central Wyoming: Conant Creek, Dishpan Butte, Muskrat Basin and Rock Creek Mountain. The total acreage of the complex is 375,292. BLM says that all four HMAs can only support 320-536 wild horses.
BLM stated that if they hit or exceed numbers for removal, they may release mares treated with GonaCon in this first round of a ten-year gather environmental assessment they approved to reach their target number on the range using multiple forms of fertility control including IUDs and gelding.
The captives will be transported to the Wheatland corrals for branding, vaccination and prep for adoption, sale and long-term holding.
Our team is onsite.
July 1, day 1
On the first day of the operation BLM hit the Conant Creek HMA and trapped 388 wild horses (145 Stallions, 162 Mares, and 76 Foals). Winds kicked up as the day went on and temperature highs were in the mid-80s.
NOTE: BLM updated the total count from the first day to 383, from 388. They miscounted. (updated: 145 Stallions, 163 Mares, and 75 Foals)
By the time of BLMs evening meeting, no deaths were reported.
BLM approved the use of two helicopters.
Yes, there were babies. You can see in the photo above a baby lagging behind on the right.
We were not permitted any opportunity to assess handling and loading at trap. The trap was down in a draw and over a half mile from the observation location. We were not given any opportunity to assess sorting at the temporary corrals.
We were informed that BLM will be sending their Comprehensive Animal Welfare Program (CAWP) team, but were not given dates of arrival. Last year, BLM only had their CAWP team attend 2 roundups and did not assess a single intake (short-term holding) facility. As summer roundups progress, please keep in mind BLM has no standard for things like Heat Index or Air Quality.
There were cattle in the area. Several times the cattle began to run, but quickly realized they were not the ones being pursued.
Each and every run of the day was large. The first run came in at about 8:08 a.m. after a failed attempt over 30 minutes earlier. The last run was done by 10:45.
Wild horses were being trailered from trap to temporary holding, offloaded and empty trailers came back to repeat the process all day.
In the slideshow above you can see a rather significant facial injury. We do not know how it happened. We could hear screaming, banging, hollering from trap pens (metal pipe panel corrals), but could not see anything.
There were a few escapes. The chestnut escaped trap and ran the other way. The gray followed his band after escaping the jute wings and then disappeared from sight.
This beautiful sweat soaked wild one escaped trap and ran across the valley. He ran up and behind observers. As he turned to look at us his fear was a palpable thing and he bolted the other way and disappeared out of sight.
It was an extremely long day. Observers had to wait until all horses were taken to temporary instead of being allowed to go to temporary to watch sorting. BLM said that they set temporary on private property and only got clearance for a fast walk around at the end of the day. Today, it was more of a “run around.” Observers were not allowed to stop at pens to document.
A baby was trailered in that BLM said was on range alone, a few weeks old, had swollen knees and had to be roped. They put the baby in with the wet mares and foals and we see how it was doing in the morning.
We will be back onsite tomorrow.
Thank you for keeping WHE on the frontline in the fight to protect and preserve our treasured wild ones!
Categories: Wild Horse Education
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