Above: On the last day at Blue Wing, two wild horses escaped as two bands first evade and then are relentlessly pursued until capture. BLM had hit this area of this trap a few days before and they came back, after not finding enough wild horses to meet their targeted numbers at another trap. In other words, BLM repeatedly went back to areas to remove more wild horses because there were not as many as they had thought there were throughout the 2.2 million acre complex. In other words, BLM just hit where there were horses and burros, only concerned about overall numbers, and not the sustainability of any Herd Management Area (HMA) in the complex. 

The last day of the Blue Wing Complex (NV) wrapped up the most brutal roundup of the season coming in at 4 times the death ratio of other operations this summer.

The last day of Blue Wing also wrapped up the most data-poor and deceitfully planned operation of the season. (We will do an entire article about this issue that is also rampant in the program)

Our federal lawsuit (WHE and RAN) at Blue Wing is active. We did file new information with the court on Wednesday, a few hours before the operation ended. We are awaiting a ruling from the court.

We wrote about the last day of operations HERE.

Above: This small family did escape. This was the second to last run at the trap for the last day of this operation. This tiny family of 3, in more than simply theoretical terms, represents the genetic fragility of what is left in the 2.2 million acres of the Blue Wing Complex.

The video above (in the slow motion replay) also represents the type of flying we often see during roundups that resulted in a helicopter crash at Triple B where the tail rotor hits the ground. 

Final Blue Wing (NV) Stats: 1,665
1,305 Wild Horses (536 Stallions, 544 Mares, and 225 Foals)
360 Wild Burros (186 Jacks, 152 Jennies, and 22 Foals)

42 dead (for a run down on deaths, visit our daily log HERE)

Swasey studs

Swasey (Utah) ended with 189 captured in total (57 Stallions, 99 Mares, and 33 Foals). 157 inside the HMA and 32 captured outside the HMA. We know this breakdown because BLM onsite kept observers informed (unlike Blue Wing, where BLM personnel at trap even kept BLM public affairs in the dark more than half the time).

There was one death: a mare missing her left eye was put down and not shipped.

Poignant moment at North Lander in the Dishpan Butte HMA when a lone stallion watched the entire herd in the valley driven toward trap.

North Lander (Wyoming) paused with 2,560 (999 Stallions, 1,095 Mares, and 466 Foals) captured, shy of the target goal pending census. The census did show an error in target goal and, as a result, the roundup permanently ceased. We are working on getting BLM to release the actual census data. BLM stated they will be releasing studs (males un-gelded) and mares that receive GonaCon.

We are awaiting an official determination and hope BLM works with advocates to determine which wild horses go home. Diminishment of enjoyment of public lands after a roundup is a very real experience for anyone that knows a herd well. We know the feeling. (Our action item is still open and we will be utilizing the list of participants again in the future as we continue to engage)

Swasey mares

Each of these roundups were very different in how BLM executed the operations. Many of the underlying deficits in planning and a sheer lack of actual data-disclosure are widespread in the program and underneath the surface, these operations have much in common.

An extremely distressing issue, they all have in common, is that each and every operation sent wild horses and/or burros into off-limits to the public facilities.

Swasey went to Axtell

North Lander went to Wheatland

Blue Wing went to Axtell and Broken Arrow (aka Indian Lakes)

Not only were wild horses and burros captured in extreme heat, Blue Wing had air quality warnings from wildfire smoke as well, they are NOT sent where they get attentive care post-roundup for recovery. 

Our wild ones go to facilities where there is no shade, shelter and very little veterinary care. 

Off-limits means you can’t see them and you have zero info.

If you visit the BLM page where “off-range corrals” are listed, the only one of the three facilities noted above (Wheatland) is even included on the page.Wheatland is a BLM facility. The “private facilities” are so private, they are even left off the list!

Sending newly captured wild horses and burros into the literal black hole of off-limits adds a layer of insult to injury. The public cannot even view the devastating impacts of capture in heat, smoke and foaling season to our precious horses and burros. Like any “bad kid,” BLM sweeps the mess under the rug. The health risks continue into holding facilities.

Please remember, from the moment of capture through the first 6 months in BLM care, 1 in 9 (or 12%) will die.

WHE 5 Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) report: Death Rates. Findings: Veterinary reports are not being completed during roundups. After Action Reviews (AAR) and Final Gather Data Reports are not being completed as required. Extreme differences in record keeping and interpretation of responsibilities from district-to-district and event-to-event are rampant.

The real cost in lives of roundups is not the “2%” BLM likes to quote, but closer to 12% on average. Our FOIA report update. 

In blistering heat foals cluster by a wire fence seeking the shreds of shade provided (Palomino Valley Center, open to the public)

JOIN US IN TAKING ACTION

The only facility that has taken in new captives that is opening for a tour to the public is Axtel in Utah. Axtel took in the wild horses from Swasey and some of the burros from Blue Wing. Swasey ended July 25 and BLM is facilitating a tour in about 2 weeks post capture.

BLM is also offering a tour of the Sutherland facility in Utah that has housed horses from the East Pershing and Clan Alpine and other roundups from the winter fiscal 2024 schedule (same district as Blue Wing, both with high death rates)

Wheatland, although not open to the public, has adoption events throughout the year and people can at least view something.

Broken Arrow (on Indian Lakes Rd in Fallon NV) is entirely inaccessible. The wild horses and many burros from Blue Wing went into this facility. This facility has failed BLM’s own assessment numerous times in basic record keeping, falling behind as long as a year in vaccinations and hoof care. Respiratory illnesses, strangles and other infectious diseases have run rampant in the past.

BLM posts absolutely no post-capture data on deaths or injuries on their website once animals get to a facility. BLM has swept the consequences out of sight and will only let you in long after the horses die, ship out and they have cleaned up the mess.

You can take action and demand that BLM NV open Broken Arrow by August 14, the same timeframe that BLM Utah opened Axtell to public view.

We made it easy, just click HERE.

Or, you can send your own email to Paul McQuire, BLM off-range branch chief in charge of facilities,  pmcguire@blm.gov

Sample:

Conant Creek, North Lander