Above: The day began with multiple bands run toward trap that was about 1.3 miles from observation location. A foal lagged behind by nearly a mile and it seemed no one saw him but those located at the observation area. The baby, confused and in a state of exertion, followed the only thing moving nearby, pronghorn.
If a baby drops off everything should stop. The roundup kept going all over the valley floor in front of us and in valleys far from our view.
After 2 additional runs, the BLM had the pilot look for the baby. (Remember, the BLM person in charge, the Incident Commander (IC), is the person responsible for the entire operation. The Contracting Officers Representative (COR) at trap is the person responsible for actions taken at trap. There is also one for the temporary corrals. BLM is in charge, not the contractor. BLM makes all determinations including when to quit for the day, to slow down, when to rope, etc. He can ask for input from contractor, but the law holds BLM responsible.
Above: Photos provided by BLM.
Over 30 minutes went by and we were told that the baby was found (even though our team was certain the pilot did not scan the right location; this baby was found in an area where bands came from during yesterdays operation). BLM said they had him on a trailer and even showed us pictures to quell our disbelief and sorrow.
As the day went on our team lead swore she could hear a little whiney down the valley. But the wind was strong and the gas infrastructure made strange noises. No one believed when we indicated they did not get the right foal.
Sure enough, the sound was a little whiney heard on and off for an hour and the baby appeared.
Below: Trap was notified. After the faulty radio finally made a clear connection to convey location, a rider came down the road. At first seeing if the baby, that had been lost for hours, would come to the saddle horse. At first it seemed as if the foal experienced relief at the sound of hoofbeats, but then panicked and ran.
Below: After roping, the baby was walked to the trailer that was just pulling up behind us. We were allowed to come down closer to see the little ones condition (the last video clip is from a cell phone).
He was in obvious distress as evidenced by demeanor and signs of diarrhea. With a bit of extra care, fluids, and getting back to mom, we hope the baby will be “ok.” If left on the range alone the baby would not have much chance to survive.
Above: This baby never should have been “lost” in the first place. It should not have taken so long to get someone to even look for him. When we indicated the found foal was (most likely) not the foal in question, we should have been listened to and not just told “they know what they are doing.” When our team lead said she heard a whiney, maybe someone should have checked (it would take the pilot a couple of minutes to simply deviate and fly through the canyon).
However, once found, this foal was captured as carefully as possible under the circumstances that existed. The baby was not rough-handled once captured and was touched with care (and perhaps even a bit of pride over a task well handled?).
We often talk about what is wrong so we can fix it. Let’s take a minute to include what went “right,” even if what went wrong was the cause. We can all appreciate when bad circumstances arise that we can rise to the circumstance and handle it well. That happened at this moment. We need to recognize that as well.
Below: As the trailer was pulling out another band was being driven in. Once again a tiny baby could not keep up.
BLM personnel in the observation area were able to notify the trailer to stop and we were able to point them in the right direction to get the tiny foal.
If a foal lags off BLM in charge needs to halt operations and immediately search for the foal. In that moment it was really hard not to feel both fortunate to have seen these babies break off and be able to locate them, and at the same time a bit sick wondering how many are not seen?
When it become obvious that foals are lagging off, BLM needs to order spotters into the field in multiple locations where the helicopter is flying or call off operations if the issue remains. This would be the (minimum) responsible response if welfare of foals is a real concern.
The Comprehensive Animal Welfare Program (CAWP) clearly states that bands that rate of movement and distance must account for the weakest individual. WHE has won litigation that includes the clear language in court order: “So that foals do not lag behind.” We have never understood why if something is won for one herd, BLM seems to ignore it forcing repetitive litigation for each herd and each roundup plan. It is not rocket-science. If the law says “manage humane” leaving babies on the range in a panic simply doesn’t meet that criteria in any language.
During the next run multiple bands were chased to the trap and two more foals lagged off and were hazed into the trap by the saddle horse. (We have extensive video and it is far too much to edit in one night)
The day raises a lot of questions about roundups during foaling season. It is hard not to wonder how many foals were left on the range where there were no observers or spotters that could see foals drop off.
Three babies were found that would not have made it on their own. This is a testament to the value of observers even beyond the transparency they provide the public. Three little lives now have a chance at finding a safe landing.
But they never should have been lost in the first place.
If you would like to adopt a foal (or any of these wild horses), wild horses from this operation are going to 3 different facilities: Rock Springs (WY), Canon City (CO) and Wheatland (WY). We believe this little one is being shipped to Canon City. BLM is not publishing where horses are going each day and it is going to make it really hard for us to help you track down horses you might want to adopt.
You can find our ongoing update page by clicking HERE.
Read more and take action!
There is a prohibition against using motorized vehicles for capture during foaling season. The prohibition exists for a reason.
BLM never answers concerns during the Motorized Vehicle Use Hearing and even appears to make a mockery of concerns. After decades of providing no response at all, this year BLM published a “blog” as a response to a formal hearing required under law.
Foaling season has never been set by any data-driven method in any HMA and, like Adobe Town, have had fertility control in the history that skewed natural foaling season.
Defining peak foaling season must become a stated objective in Herd Management Area Plans (HMAP) and BLM must begin to account for actual foaling season in any roundup plans. If foaling season is longer or a slightly different time of year for a herd, BLM must not continue to ignore the facts simply because it is easier. (note: For decades BLM has illegally delayed creation of HMAPs for the vast majority of herds as proven in two of our court wins last year.)
The welfare program must stop being a program of endorsement, not enforcement. The first step is to get Congress to add a line item to the budget bill for formalization of a welfare policy through Rulemaking.
Welfare of our wild ones need to be placed front and center. From creating management plans at the very beginning that protect and improve range resources our wild horses need to survive and to determine what each herd truly is (genetics, foaling season, critical habitat needs) to simply SLOWING DOWN at roundups and getting more eyes in the field.
Our team is continuing litigation against abuses. Our team is pushing Congress to stop giving lip service to the words “humane management” and then ONLY pushing fertility control to maintain political peace and outdated and unscientific AML (allowed numbers).
While we litigate, you can reach out to your lawmakers.
Call your reps at (202) 224-3121 and ask to be connected to your representatives in the House and Senate. Tell them we need designated funding for a concise and enforceable welfare policy in the BLM Wild Horse and Burro Program.
We also have a fast “click and send” letter to your reps, HERE.
One of the things an enforceable welfare policy must require is that foaling season (and changes to foaling season from fertility control) be defined herd-by-herd using real data.
NOTE: People are asking us about Pancake. Yes, we filed documents in the court and observers were in the area a few days before the announcement of an “emergency removal of around 100 wild horses.” For years BLM has been setting up wild horses for disaster as they allow hot season livestock grazing (meaning gates closed during the hottest times of the year limiting access to grass and water) and failures to mitigate impacts from mining. We won a case last year that showed BLM failed to create any actual management plan (Herd Management Area Plan, HMAP). These plans would allow mitigation measures and water improvements. But we have to litigate those plans too. The water issue is real. But it is not “emergent.” It happens nearly each year and gets worse because BLM has mismanaged the entire range. We will update as we hear from our attorneys.
We are NOT a. big corporate org with staff. We are a handful of dedicated individuals taking on big tasks. While at the roundup at Adobe, our team lead got documents at Pancake on file in 24 hours of the announcement while keeping you all updated on the roundup. The issues at Pancake are not something that can be tossed together in a fast 6 paragraph article. But we did file documents on the bait trap with the court as part of our ongoing case.
Our team remains onsite advocating “in the moment” and working diligently in many arenas from court to the halls of Congress.
Help keep us running to protect and preserve our wild ones.
Our team needs your support.
None of our work is possible without your support. Thank you!
Many of you read our update from the tour of temporary corrals last Wednesday and were as disturbed as we were.
We want to let you know that BLM said they will be implementing a few onsite changes that include evaluation for wound care and administering simple things like electrolytes to foals like the ones we saw today. Time will tell if this intention to improve is real.
The tour of temporary corrals was very different today than on Wednesday. We added pictures to our ongoing “roundup update page” HERE.
Foal
Categories: Wild Horse Education
You must be logged in to post a comment.