Previous Triple B roundup; punctured eye called “pre-existing injury)
BLM is hitting the distinct Triple B Complex with yet another removal. An “emergency” removal took place in an area BLM has ignored issues with water sources (except to approve new mining and livestock fencing) for decades in September (removing 106).
BLM is using the 2017 gather plan to create their “legal authority” to do this operation. The 2017 gather plan lumps the distinct Antelope Complex and Triple B together to create the largest roundup plan in the nation. Under this single “Gather Environmental Assessment (EA)” BLM has already removed 12,000 wild horses (19% of all the wild horses captured in the country) since 2017. BLM has never released any updated data to even attempt to justify continuation of the “plan,” never released any HMA-by-HMA capture totals that reflect any “excess,” and continually ship wild horses captured under this plan into off-limits to the public facilities.
Instead, as the largest roundup of the season is set to begin, BLM releases the Herd Management Area Plan (HMAP) Scoping where they are (likely) illegally trying to lump these two massive complexes together in a so-called “management plan” (a distinct process from a “gather” plan). The Scoping announcement comes as litigation is active for this herd and we have already won two cases this year showing BLM only does “gather plans” and not management plans cited in regulations.
You can still take action on the HMAP HERE as WHE crafts our extensive comments to set up an additional legal argument (to save what is left of what was once the nations largest herds). Historically these horses have been let down by so many, including BLM that is tasked by Congress to protect them. We will not stop fighting for them now.
In the “Three Level Chess Game” that has replaced actual public participation through the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), we did gain information that clearly demonstrates that the objective of BLM is to wipe out Triple B. (more HERE)
What is happening under this roundup plan is a national shame being done to coddle profit driven interests, politics and personal relationships. To achieve that end, everyone else has been ignored in legal process and kept in the dark as much as possible.
Our entire country should be ashamed at the injustice of Triple B.
Cumulative Totals
Captured: 614 (240 Stallions, 250 Mares, and 124 Foals)
Shipped: 373 (139 Stallions, 139 Mares, and 95 Foals) NOTE: BLM is weaning all but the smallest of foals at trap. Foals (the most adoptable) are being sent to the off-limits to the public facility on Indian Lakes Rd in Fallon (along with stallions) and mares are being sent to Palomino Valley in Reno. Many people believe BLM reunites all foals. No, they do not.
Deaths: 4, 20+ year-old Bay stallion BLM said put down due to blindness — missing left eye. 5-year-old Sorrel stallionBLM said put down due to blindness — missing right eye. 6-year-old Bay mare BLM said put down due to blindness — missing left eye. 8-year-old Bay stallion put down for sway back
Newest reports will appear at the top. Scroll for earlier reports.
110824
The laregest group of the day.
Our team member has been in the field covering the long days all week long in biting cold. The last two days were long and hard to watch. Tiny bands we know have been driven in run-after-run. At least 22 individual runs at the trap.
This is not a roundup where large groups are coming in 20, 30, 60 at a time as some of the ones you saw in fiscal 2024. This is the wringing out of tiny families that have been hit with roundups every other year… relentlessly.
Sitting between a mine expansion and a large and powerful cattle permittee, just south of a sheep allotment, it is painfully clear that there are plenty of resources on this range… but BLM feels there is just not enough for horses. As sheep were being turned out as the helicopters drove in wild horses, it can also be surmised that BLM is simply lying to the courts as they claim there is simply nothing out there to eat or drink.
We will upload video as we edit. This page will update frequently throughout the day.
110724
Trap moved into the area utilized by livestock south of the mine expansion.
BLM hit the area hard bringing in small band after small band in 16 runs.
A small family of 3 was pursued for over 45 minutes after coming into view. We do not know how long the pursuit was before we saw them.
The entire day was spent capturing wild horses that were stampeded just two years ago in this same area.
An -year-old Bay stallion put down for sway back according to BLM.
159 (75 Stallions, 55 Mares, and 29 Foals) were captured and no shipping occurred.
An observer representing another org came today. It is the first day there has been more than one member of public onsite.
110624
Another family we know well was captured.
As the first week draws to a close, our observer remained the only member of the public onsite as BLM squeezed this trap on the east side of the area of the newly approved mine expansion and captured 22 (10 Stallions, 10 Mares, and 2 Foals).
They killed two more for missing eyes. Historically, Triple B has seen eye injuries happen on horses that are killed for “pre-existing blindness.” We know of one (the one at the top of this page) that lost an eye at a previous roundup while in the sorting chute and was released back to the range.
110524
.Since the beginning of this operation our team member has been the only member of the public onsite.
It was chaos. Bands that were shattered in 2022 were now made up of individuals that had escaped captured in 2022, 2019, 2018. We lost so many that we know that live in the direct path of the massive Bald Mountain mine expansion that will eat up the best habitat in the area with zero consideration given for the herd.
54 (20 Stallions, 22 Mares, and 12 Foals) were captured. The day began at 28 degrees and the wind made it feel colder. In spite of the cold, the wild horses we could see were visibly sweating.
Our team is mourning the loss of so many families that had patched themselves back together and were thriving. All of the wild horses came in to trap with good body score and high energy.
As two helicopters worked the area it was chaos. Wild horses were all over the valley. There was an escape from trap during loading… only to get caught up in the run happening at the same time.
We will not stop the fight for these amazing wild horses. We are still editing footage and will update soon.
110424
BLM finished clearing out wild horses to the west of the expanding Bald Mountain mine (Juniper Project) and will move to the east of the mine tomorrow. It was another biting cold day. We are going to miss these wild ones terribly… BLM did nothing to mitigate the loss of resources for wild horses to a mine that now takes 30% of the HMA. They also just approved another one on the eastern side of the HMA, again with no mitigation for the loss of habitat.
34 (15 Stallions, 11 Mares, and 8 Foals) were captured. BLM is weaning all but the smallest foals at trap. Absurdly, foals that are the most adoptable are being sent to the off-limits to the public facility Indian Lakes (Broken Arrow) and moms are being sent to Palomino Valley Center. Many believe BLM reunites all youngsters with their families, they do not.
Note: Video labelled 11/5 is from 11/4
This page will update frequently as we continue to upload.
BLM is “watching” another horse they say has one eye (we are not permitted to see) and plan to euthanize saying that “it is policy” and will not release to rescue.
110324
It took over 3 hours of moving and grouping wild horses before they began to appear at the new trapsite 20 minutes north of the Warm Springs Ranch near the new Bald Mountain mine expansion. Our observer was the only member of the public onsite.
This small band of 3 evaded.
Wild horses were in really good body condition. Most runs were small with few exceptions that appear to have been pushed periodically down the road before being pushed toward trap avoiding the numerous fence lines. Two helicopters were in the air all day long moving constantly through the snow flurries, hail and wind.
128 (42 Stallions, 56 Mares, and 30 Foals) were captured.
As the long day ended and we were convoying to temporary holding, we came to a stop. Saddle horses were unloaded and went after a lone mare. We were told a sheep herder lost a horse last year and BLM in charge thought they would catch it. It turned out not to belong to the shepherd that had lost a gelding.
This page will update frequently as we edit and add content.
110224
Although BLM claimed observation was 1 mile from trap, gps data indicates observation was at about 1.9 miles. Our observer was the only member of the public onsite.
BLM only left one foal and mare pair together and weaned the rest at trap (saying “they are old enough without any consideration for the stress).
BLM says 1 was “orphaned” and 1 was a “leppy.” Leppy literally means “motherless calf.” So we can say 2 orphans are in the temporary corrals. BLM would not answer questions about foster homes. Edited: BLM is saying they said one was “weaned” and one Leppy.
The horses were captured on day 1 in the areas of the permit holder where the temporary corrals are located.
Temporary corrals at Triple B provide little ability to assess condition of wild horses due to no elevated position being offered and the pens are covered with thick tarps from top to bottom. But limited access is being facilitated.
The temporary corral pens are on the private property of the Goicoechea family that includes State Senator “Pete” and son “JJ” who is the Director of the Nevada Department of Agriculture, Public Lands Council, Sagebrush Ecosystem Council, County Commissioner and former contracted BLM veterinarian. “JJ” is part of the “Path Forward” lobby coalition.
Historical note: In 1969 a purported illegal capture of wild horses in this area by (Grandfather) Julian Goicoechea, ten years after the 1959 “Wild Horse Annie Act” passed, was part of the testimony of Velma Johnston (Wild Horse Annie) that showed the 1959 law was not working and was instrumental in the passage of the 1971 Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act.
A lot has changed. Much has stayed the same. Advocates are still fighting for an equal voice to represent their interest, where they are the true stakeholders representing our wild ones. It is more than obvious that the BLM has simply caved (as they did after 1959) and have just continued to abdicate to the same ol’ same ol’.
We won’t give up. It is clear that the only voices our wild ones truly have come from the public. Onward.
Our team is onsite and in the courts to protect these horses from abuses during capture (we are also filing additional briefs with the court this week).
As the year comes to a close WHE has been asked if we have a calendar for sale. In fact, we added a new design to our calendar selection and have several other gift items in out storefront you can access HERE.
We are sincerely grateful for your support.
Thank you for keeping WHE running for the wild.
Categories: Wild Horse Education
You must be logged in to post a comment.