Above: targeted numbers according to the current schedule for the “first” month of the summer schedule (completed)
Many of you are sending us questions about the roundup schedule, roundups that have happened, roundups set to happen.
It has taken us awhile to get caught up. In essence, out team covered a years worth of removals in one month in July. In July, the BLM captured 4,431 wild horses and burros by helicopter drive trapping. That is more captured in one month than each entire year from 2013-2017.
As we get caught up with reports (like this one from Blue Wing) we are now documenting the next leg of the summer schedule and working with our attorneys on active litigation. WHE is also working on a few other projects that have taken the backseat the last month. We hope this piece answers most of your questions and will be working through the “Inbox” and getting to more of your questions soon.
Yearly capture totals
Actual capture numbers were different than the 5083 targeted.
North Lander: 2,577 (includes a mule that was transferred to brand inspector), Stopped early due to outcry that they were driving under the number BLM says can be on the range they call “Appropriate Management Level” (AML). Later confirmed by census.
BLM had, in fact, driven populations down below low AML (as the public asserted). If BLM only released the original numbers planned for fertility control, the herds would be below what BLM even calls “Appropriate.” (Below)
Air Quality: Blue Wing
Blue Wing: 1,305 wild horses and 360 burros (including zeroing out Herd Areas they did not specifically notify the public they are planning).
The burro numbers higher than targeted. The wild horse portion stopped early Stopped early due to outcry after blatantly abusive conduct (BLM rated conduct at this operation “excellent”).
WHE also filed documents with the court that they were driving under the number BLM says can be on the range they call “Appropriate Management Level” (AML). So far, BLM is refusing to confirm through census.
BLM raced to reduce Blue Wing to literally fragments before answering Scoping comments on management planning that would include things like analysis to raise AML and repatriate areas the labelled “for zero out” ages ago without ever doing open and science-based analysis.
BLM also raced to complete this last leg of a plan based on agreements with permittees, not science, before the courts could weigh in.
Blue Wing is, genetically speaking, one of the most fragile herds in the U.S. According to BLMs own experts, there is very little exchange between members of the HMAs and HAs in the complex (during roundups BLM claims they can reduce numbers down to absurdly low levels of a couple dozen individuals in most areas because there is exchange within the 2.2 million acre complex in contradiction of their own experts.
Right now, it needs to be said a second time, BLM NV is refusing to do any census, now, to determine appropriate numbers for release.
Swasey
Swasey: 189 (increase in numbers when approval was given to get wild horses in between Swasey and Onaqui (the off-Swasey labelled horses) that apparently left Onaqui to look for mares after the insanely high over “2 to 1” sex-skewing that was done at Onaqui.
The tour of the “off-limits” facility in Axtell 2 weeks after Swasey ended, only allowed view of the horses captured in Utah, but not the burros captured at Blue Wing.
Glimpse down an alley at Blue Wing burros eating under what looks like a section of highway guardrail.
In August, the next leg of roundups targets 2,147 for helicopter drive trapping (Sand Wash, bait trap).
Compared to July, this may seem like considerably less, but this number (in one month) represents more than all of 2014 (see chart at top of page)
September will add another 1083 to the helicopter drive trap capture target list.
We notified you that Triple B/Maverick Medicine had been removed from the last leg of the roundup schedule and the last of the Triple B horses (2,355) have a reprieve. WHE is still battling out issues surrounding ongoing abuse (and BLM’s failure to release any census or range data to justify continuation of mass removal) in court.
The numbers above only represent the second half of the fiscal schedule (commonly referred to as the “summer schedule”).
The numbers do not include the over 500 on the “bait trap,” the 1500 on the “nuisance,” or the 8,581 targeted for capture in the first half of fiscal 2024 (commonly called “winter schedule”).
The numbers do not include the places BLM is darting PZP and GonaCon (yes, both can be applied using a jab stick in holding or darted). If you check the schedule, you will also see herds you have seen on both the helicopter and bait trap schedule over the last 3 years.
“Population growth suppression” or “Population management” are the new terms BLM has been using for “gather plan.”
You can see the updated fiscal year 2024 schedule published July 31 HERE
You can see reports from summer 2024 roundups:
Facility Reports 2024
What can you do to help change things?
You can take this action item and send a letter (click text below) or use it as a script and make a call to your representatives about the 2025 budget bill. You can call your representatives in Congress at this number (202) 224-3121. Just ask to speak to your representative. If you do not know your rep just tell the operator where you live. You will be connected to an aide in your reps office. Ask to register a concern that is a priority for you and leave a message, or ask for an appointment with the aide in the office that deals with public lands issues.
You can write OpEds to your local paper and/or share posts and articles on social media to help raise awareness, There are still a lot of people that are unfamiliar with the fate of our wild ones.
If you want to help fight abuse and help gain, once and for all, desperately needed oversight and an enforceable welfare policy, you can learn more and take 2 action items outlined in this article that contains a comparison between our report and BLMs report on the Blue Wing Complex roundup where BLM found conduct “excellent” but the world found it outrageous. (click HERE for 2 action items and reports)
As an organization, with team members with nearly 2 decades in the field, we can take different routes to take action. First, We get into the field and work hard to create daily reporting for the public. The documentation we gain can be used as a baseline for litigation against abuse and to gain fair management. We work hard educating out attorneys to processes and conflicts… and briefs in our various court cases have filed every month.
The calls and action items you take have a direct effect by showing wild horses and burros are an issue of importance lawmakers and policymakers need to take seriously because the public is watching. This helps organizations like WHE as we move through official processes and have conversations of our own.
Creating the type of desperately needed changes our wild ones need is not a solo endeavor, it takes a village.
Forward… to create long overdue change.
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. We need your help to keep our teams in the field and expand our litigation to push desperately needed legal precedents to protect our wild ones.
Thank you for keeping WHE running for the wild.
Categories: Wild Horse Education
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