Many of you have been following our roundup season documentation. Since July 1 we have reported from Wyoming (North Lander), Nevada (Blue Wing) and Utah (Swasey).

For over a decade, we have been asking BLM to post post-roundup flyover census data on their website for population numbers left on the range (for all HMAs in all states). NOT just for North Lander, but for all areas they put on the schedule. BLM claimed removal numbers are data-based. IN fact, they are not. 

Did you know that BLM does not even include actual census data in their gather plans! All they publish are a number they consider an “estimate based on” modeling and a census that can be years (or a decade) old.

BLM should be transparent about how many are on the range before, and how many are  left after, any roundup. BLM uses the phrase “Appropriate Management Level” (AML) to remove wild horses and burros. But BLM fails to recognize that number also means they cannot take more (if that is their published goal).

Blue Wing: Take Action

Not only has Blue Wing pushed through two dangerous heat index rises, they are now pushing in dangerous air quality. There are egregious welfare issues at Blue Wing. 

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At Blue Wing BLM is using the acronym “AML” to justify running this roundup as if they are zeroing out the area.

Not once has any concern been expressed by the agency for the welfare of horses and burros.

Above: There were babies running everywhere and so many ropings (at the same time) our observer had trouble tracking them all. This is not a “controlled removal to reach a science-based number… this is chaos to reach numbers to satisfy some other need rooted in something severely wrong. 

Welfare of wild horses and burros has not played a part at Blue Wing.  Pushing through 2 heatwaves, 5 deaths simply during transport and more ropings than you would see at a regional rodeo…. this is part of something severely “wrong.”

These ropings include numerous adults. Roping of adults is not “removal to AML.” Roping of adults is a method used only during a zero out.

This roundup was never justified through data or science, ever. Not even basic census data. 

BLM did not release any census after the last roundup in this area. The roundup at Blue Wing is based only on conjecture. 

Please stand with us and demand that the roundup cease.

Demand that all captives be held without gelding stallions/Jacks and no horses be transferred to other facilities. 

BLM must provide census data for all HMAs and HAs in the complex.

It is that simple.

The district office will not listen. Please write the BLM State Director, Jon Raby at jraby@blm.gov and request (sample below):

“Please post all flyover data from the Blue Wing Complex be online for the last decade. Please post the census data pre-2022 roundup, pre-2024 roundup. Please include a post roundup census flight after the 2024 gather completes.

We have reason to believe that several HMAs have been driven below low AML. BLMs geneticist, Gus Cothran, states there is very little population exchange in Blue Wing. Leaving enough wild horses and burros in the HMAs to sustain a genetically viable population is critical.

As we await the draft HMAP for the complex, it seems the Winnemucca district is rapidly destroying any hope for viable populations to actually manage in the HMAP.

This is outrageous. Please post all actual data: all census flights, for the last decade and stop this operation now.

Sincerely, your name.”

The North Lander office listened.

They stopped the roundup and flew a census.

BLM NV seems to think that the public does not care about horses and burros in places like Blue Wing.

BLM onsite said a “census now (to make sure they are not removing too many) is contradictory.” 

Please write today. 

Our team is working hard to report in-depth from roundups and range. We are also at the table, doing investigative work and in the courts. Our litigation includes the battle for fair management planning and we do have an active case in the courts against abuse.

Please make another call for all. Our wild ones desperately need an enforceable welfare policy that is crafted with transparency, public participation and complies with current welfare standards for equines.

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.”

Thank you for keeping us on the frontline in the fight to protect and preserve our precious, amazing, unique, wild ones.