As heat descends in the West, our teams were at two roundups: North Lander and Blue Wing

The second week of the North Lander Complex roundup has begun.

You can view week 1 HERE. 

155 (54 Stallions, 70 Mares, and 31 Foals) wild horses were captured. We can only tell you that the choppers were out for a long time (had to refuel). Then the valley erupted in chaos as numerous bands came over the horizon chased back and forth by two helicopters… and then went over the rise. It took over 2 more hours for the helicopters to chase the fragments back into the area of the trap. We could not see the approach (except once), capture, trap at all. The last run we could tell was a mare that was trying to protect two foals, but it was so far away  we could not even see a single detail. It took a long time to get her in, but we cannot tell you how any of it transpired.

Totals captured: 1,158 (460 Stallions, 479 Mares, and 219 Foals)

6 deaths. You can see the breakdown of deaths at the top of the week 1 report. 

The Blue Wing Complex roundup began in intensive and record breaking heat.

Basically, BLM is ignoring veterinary standards involving heat index and air quality Heat Index hit 97/98 in the area of the trap, extreme caution, bordering on the “danger zone” label. Temperature alone is not an adequate measure of safety. (Learn more HERE)

BLM told our attorneys that it is “ok” because they are following the  internal standards of the Comprehensive Animal Welfare Policy (CAWP) and will come to a full stop before it hits 105 degrees. (Yes, you read that right.)

At observation it was 102 degrees while horses and burros were being loaded onto trailers to go to the off-limits temporary corrals to be sorted to be sent to the off-limits processing (short-term) holding facilities in Fallon and Utah.

Temperatures will continue to rise this week and not break until July 14. Heat does not only impact capture, it impacts transport and facilities. The risk of capture myopathy (death from stress) can be immediate or last for months from the time of the stress event. (More HERE)

Our observer was really disheartened by the lack of clear communication, stress and bad access. She went and spent time with some wild horses and burros in the last few moments of freedom.

Note: As of this writing, BLM NV had not posted capture numbers and our observer, that went back to observation was told no one at observation had any idea of how many… because they really could not see anything.

BLM updated the official count. 144 Wild Burros (66 Jacks, 70 Jennies, and 8 Foals) were captured.

We will create a landing page for BlueWing later today.

Our team members are up at 3:30 and in field each day, sometimes for over 12 hours. At night they edit and get up and do it all again.

Give us a day to write the full report and try to place the feeling of being denied access to witness the capture and handling of wild horses you are devoted to into words.

More soon.

Our team is back in field.

Please make a call

The phone number for Congress is: (202) 224-3121. You should put it in your speed dial. Call the number tell the operator who your representative is (or where you live if you do not know) and you will be connected to an aide in the office. Ask to register your concerns and request. Ask that an amendment to the funding bill for the BLM Wild Horse and Burro Program be crafted to simply create a line item for funding for “Rulemaking to create an enforceable welfare policy.”

We are working on trying to set up a video event so you can chat with field team members. We will update you when we set a date.

Thank you for keeping WHE on the frontline in the fight to protect and preserve our treasured wild ones!