Above: (One run in 3 parts, part 1) Yesterday, observers were more than half mile from trap, but horses did come closer than they have this entire operation. You can see that when BLM says “horses were only driven ‘x’ number of miles,” that just to move a half mile the horses traveled back and forth and travelled at least 4 times that distance. We can see that the horses keep getting mixed signals; they think the chopper wants them to go one way and then get pushed and fractured… then as he tries to get the ones evading, the entire group turns. We often see pilots “get greedy” and try to keep any from evading causing much longer runs.

You can find daily report log and video from this operation HERE

You can see the smoke in the air. While air quality alerts are being issued specifically in this area, BLM keeps trying to assert this area is “just dust.” Yesterday the AQI was 170: limit outdoor activity, wear a mask when outdoors and get an air purifier and keep it on inside.

The PM2.5 reading (the dangerous stuff in wildfire smoke) was 13 times the established World Health Organization (WHO) guideline.

Above: (One run in 3 parts, part 2) You can clearly see the chopper trying to get bands and solo horses that evade back into the group and causing the entire band to change direction… again and again.

Horses are nasal obligate breathers; they cannot breathe through the mouth. This helps horses take in large quantities of oxygen when they have to outdistance a predator (and why humans began using them for war, racing and beats of burden). But only breathing through the nose has massive downsides. They can’t cool down with mouth breathing (dogs, cows). During exertion, the large increase in blood pressure (in conjunction with the strong suction force from the horse’s increased rate and depth of breathing) can cause this very fragile membrane to rupture, causing red blood cells to spill into the airways, resulting in exercise induced pulmonary hemorrhaging (EIPH or “lung bleeding”).

When you add dangerous levels of pollutants to the equation from wildfire smoke? Blue Wing is a recipe for rampant respiratory illness once wild horses hit holding facilities.

It really smacks of something rotten when you consider UC Davis was paid by BLM to craft the internal memo for capture standards and did NOT include air quality… when UC Davis has done extensive research into air quality and issued massive warnings for domestic horse owners on wildfire smoke. We have always wondered what UC Davis was paid? (UC Davis on wildfire smoke HERE)

If BLM actually opened up their so-called “Comprehensive Animal Welfare Program” to public comment, as they promised in 2015, one of the things we would give them is the UC Davis report on air quality.

It is one of those “crazy making” moments in the nonsensical world of BLM claiming they “analyze” and are “the experts.” It drives us a bit “mad.”

It is part of why we are back in court on abuse, (You can read more about Heat Index and Air Quality HERE)

Today, our observer is back at the same location. She is the only observer onsite today. For several days (at different traps in different states) our observers were the only ones to make the trek out.

She sent hours of video and we are still editing. We will publish more as time allows.

Not once has our observer been able to assess handling at trap. Trap has been kept well hidden for the entire operation. But we just keep going to try to assess what we can.

What we have been able to assess? Blue Wing was run as if BLM is trying to “zero out” the area and with no regard for the safety of wild horses and burros (or even regard for the health and safety of wranglers at trap breathing in this toxic air).

We expect this operation to end in the next couple of days.

Blue Wing was approved to go through August 18. Instead of taking it slow, cancelling operations on days of heat index rise or air quality dangers, BLM plowed ahead without regard for the welfare of wild horses and burros. Maybe to try to beat the court? We have a lawsuit for Blue Wing fully briefed an awaiting ruling (since before the operation began). Is BLM intentionally trying to decimate the 2.2 million acre complex before the ruling? It sure feels that way.

We will be working with our attorneys to file documents to request wild horses and burros be returned pending a census flight.

The battle continues.

The death toll at Blue Wing has reached 39.

We will be updating our daily log HERE shortly.

As WHE battles it out in the courtroom, please make a call.

Please make a call. If you have made the call, make another. 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.”

We won an amazing victory earlier this year where the courts recognize removal is NOT management. We have three additional cases in the system now, including one at Blue Wing. We need your help to keep our teams in field and expand our litigation.

Thank you for keeping WHE running for the wild.

There is one week left to purchase the limited edition t-shirt designed by photographer Jim Brown featuring the beautiful bay stallion, Krazy. To order a shirt and support WHE that way, click HERE. 

You can read more about the Jim, North Lander and Krazy HERE.