Run 1 and a roped colt.

Devils Garden Gather Update

Our team is continuing to attempt to document the handling of wild horses at Devil’s Garden to assure compliance with welfare standards and have not been able to document any actual handling: loading, sorting, etc. In addition, it seems that on the 3 days they are allowing the public to visit, we see the same trap again and again. We have been entirely thwarted from even determining issues with trap configuration.

On 9/16 it appears only 5 horses were captured. They seemed to be a single band? This trap has been used multiple times this roundup… as if this were a “zero out” with relentless repeat use of trap sites.

Helicopter started flying 7:30
3 runs, 5 captured total
Run 1: 12:05 pm, 2 horses, 1 or which a colt roped.
Run 2: 12:51 pm, 1 horse
Run 3: 1:41 pm, 2 horses

USFS is way behind in updating daily numbers. It seems they drop off a few days and play “catch-up.” They have still not fixed errors line the one on the 7th where they list 3 + 1 = 11 horses. 

As we do not know how many were actually captured the last few days (and how many may have been roped out of sight yesterday or captured at a bait trap), we can’t actually give you a numbers estimate. What we can do is use USFS numbers to, once again, point out the ratio: Foals coming in represent less than 10% of the population since the beginning. Either their 15%-20% foaling rate is wrong, or they are leaving a lot of babies without moms on the range. 

They are not answering questions onsite, instead requiring them to be emailed. The questions we sent on the first day have still not been responded to.

WHE is engaged in active litigation to stop this roundup and get the horses returned. To facilitate a return to the ranges these horses came from, during litigation the lawyers for USFS have said the horses are being marked by where they were captured.

It is clear in video from the corrals yesterday that all the captives are simply being sorted by sex and not marked by home range.

You can also see the mares with collars and brands. USFS went ahead and used GonaCon without ever including the use in any NEPA document or allowing public comment. The plan challenged in court (the 2013 plan, the one they used to do this roundup) never approved the use of the 4-10 year drug that will last longer than the natural lifespan of most of the mares it was given to.

Our team is working on the rapid-fire Motions for the Preliminary Injunction due tomorrow. A Hearing will be held next week.

The court had noted we have a likelihood of success on the merits of our argument that USFS did not establish legal authority to do this operation before it began. We hope their blatant attempts to manipulate the law further underscore that the court needs to take action and return these horses to allow a complete restoration of conditions prior to this egregious roundup.

We will continue to update you. WHE is the only organization that has been onsite everyday at Devil’s Garden.

Can you chip in and support the team? None of our work is possible without your support. Thank you!

Carter and More

Our team is moving forward on Carter/Buckhorn/Coppersmith. We are jumping up the court system to protect these distinct herds from disappearing forever. 

We will publish a new article on our website soon to update you on the fight to save Carter and (more herds) soon.

We will be doing a live update after the next hearing for Devil’s Garden on September 25th for those of you that support us through monthly subscriptions on Patreon. 

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