Our team thought they were making a fast stop to check on some of the new babies and mares expected to foal (near a cattle guard in need of repair for a long time) as they headed to an HMA further south to obtain info for an active court case.
Our team lead thought she heard a chopper. Then the horses seemed to hear something too. Sure enough, it was a chopper with a big hoop in tow.
Bands started to group together, just like they do during a roundup, and started to move. One band headed for the cattle guard they could get over and onto the highway (we had sent BLM pictures of the cattle guard needing fixing nearly two months ago as we know this particular repair has been needed for a long time and winter runoff causes problems every year). This issue is so long-standing that we included it as a sample comment for Scoping for the “Callaghan” HMAP.
As we hustled back to our vehicle to drive back to the highway and head over to block the horses from entering the road, we contacted BLM. They were aware of the helicopter survey and did not seem too concerned. We reminded them of the cattle guard and issues with choppers and foaling season. They said someone had flagged off the cattle guard and we had to explain that the one to the south (not the one the horses could cross) had been flagged. The wrong cattle guard had been flagged. BLM said someone was on their way and we told them we would stay until someone got there.
We parked inside the cattle guard, as even more horses were moving toward the highway, and our presence got them to turn back. We documented for an hour and a half. The chopper flew a back-and-forth grid that confused the horses and they kept running, hiding, running again. They kept moving even when the chopper was out of sight, just like they do during a roundup.
BLM did come, but to the cattle guard to the south. We alerted the office that contacted the field personnel and then they came to where we were and installed a temporary gate.
It was a chaotic moment for all involved and we are grateful that BLM responded. The long-standing and immediate issue with the cattle guard has been fixed…. and potential for human and animal fatality minimized.
Right place. Right time. The highway has high speed traffic and the consequence could have been devastating to both horses and any drivers.
But what had just happened?
Alerts had gone out that low-level flights would be taking place between November 2024 and February 2025. We never received any alert, but found it when we got back to the room and used a search engine online. USGS would be doing low-level flights in areas in Humboldt, Lander, Eureka, Elko, White Pine, and Nye counties in Nevada. The survey is to support geologic mapping studies being conducted by USGS and the Nevada Bureau of Mines and Geology. “The survey area hosts brines and evaporation-based mineral systems that might contain lithium resources, and rock formations that may contain other critical minerals as well as base and precious metals.”
But this is May. This is foaling/breeding season on the range for our wild horses. If you look at the map above, you can see these surveys are being done where there are large HMAs of wild horses. So why is there no restriction on flight times? BLM recognizes low-level helicopter flights during roundups are far too dangerous in May (what BLM considers peak foaling season) and helicopter roundups are forbidden from March through June. We are looking into progress of these flights to see if we can find a schedule to see how many of these flights are still in progress.
The identical surveys to locate minerals, oil and gas, etc. are occurring right now in parts of Wyoming. It appears that these surveys are being done everywhere and part of the Earth Mapping Resources Initiative (Earth MRI) to identify mineral resources and these helicopters have been flying for a few years now. Did you know about these flights? We didn’t.
On May 6th there is a hearing on the use of motorized vehicles. You can sign up to speak or send written comments. (More info and sample comments HERE).
After watching what we saw today, we need to add that “No helicopter surveys be completed during foaling season by BLM or any other entity,” and “Before any helicopter survey, all safety concerns on the range such as barbed wire fencing and broken cattle guards must be addressed,” to the list.
You never know what you are going to see when you go to the range.
But we absolutely did not expect to get pictures that felt like we were at a roundup.
Keeping eyes on our herds during roundups is important. It is also important to check herds, habitat and water. All of this information becomes critical as we engage lawmakers and the courts.
Thank you so much for keeping our teams running. Everything we do is possible because of you.
