Last roundup in this same area, the tip of the Antelope HMA pushing into Tippet.

With less than 36 hours notice BLM announced a roundup with only 1 week left in “helicopter season.” Roundups using helicopters must end by the last day of February due to “foaling season” BLM sets without data. The law prohibits using helicopters from March 1 through June 30th.

The operation targets 300 wild horses BLM said are residing outside of the Antelope HMA and Moriah HA north of Ely, Nevada. BLM is saying it is an “emergency due to severe drought conditions and limited available forage.” Citing the wild horses are “off-HMA and HA” (meaning they are off legally designated habitat), BLM does not note that this is a traditional seasonal movement seen every year since before the 1971 Act exacerbated by increasing disturbance from mining and livestock. This area is home to a couple of well connected livestock operators.

Our team scrambled to be onsite before the roundup began.

Cumulative Totals: 

BLM went over capture target by 44 wild horses. When our team member asked if they were asking for permission to go over target during the operation the person in charge said “I might” (after target had been exceeded).

The capture portion of this operation has ended and shipping will continue (it may take two days to complete).

Shipping has completed 2/25

Captured: 344 Wild Horses (131 Stallions, 147 Mares, and 66 Foals) Please note: During the Owyhee (Little Humbolt/Snowstorm) roundup that just ended, BLM claimed there were no foals and that every horse was a year old after January 1, even if it was born the month before. BLM has no clear cut designation and whomever is the Incident Commander at an operation decides what things happen and how they are recorded. The BLM employee designated as IC is responsible for everything that happens onsite.

Shipped to Palomino Valley Center north of Reno: 338 Wild Horses (129 Stallions, 143 Mares, and 66 Foals)

Deaths: 6    BLM said: “Bay stud, age 6, Pre-existing/Chronic, Lameness, Broken right back leg. Black stud, age 17, Pre-existing/Chronic, BCS 2, unable to maintain or improve. Sorrel mare, age 1, Sudden/Acute, Fractured neck at trap site.” Bay mare, age 3, Pre-existing/Chronic, physical defect, severe sway back. Sorrel mare, age 18, Pre-existing/Chronic, BCS 2, unable to maintain or improve. Dun mare, age 18, Pre-existing/Chronic, BCS 2, unable to maintain or improve.” Note: BLM does not count spontaneous abortions that can increase in winter roundups.

02-2526

3 more deaths have been recorded on the last day, shipping. BLM said: “Bay mare, age 3, Pre-existing/Chronic, physical defect, severe sway back. Sorrel mare, age 18, Pre-existing/Chronic, BCS 2, unable to maintain or improve. Dun mare, age 18, Pre-existing/Chronic, BCS 2, unable to maintain or improve.”

119 (39 Stallions, 47 Mares, and 33 Foals) shipped to Palomino Valley Center.

Our team has been to the facility and we will have that report for you soon.

02-24-26

The yearling sorrel mare that falls and gets stepped on after entering the trap, may be the yearling with the fractured neck. We do not know if she collapsed after going behind the hill or if the death is a different horse that died at trap (as trap was not in view). 

Trapping began just below freezing at location last used during the last Antelope Complex roundup. BLM exceeded the target goal by 44 wild horses.

2 more were reported dead. These deaths do not include any that occur after the day concludes (around 6 p.m.). We need to wait until all shipping is complete to have a final count.

Three pregnant mares were roped. It is really important to note that spontaneous abortions and pre-term births are not uncommon during late season roundups and can be significant. The only operation we are aware that BLM made an attempt to log miscarriages was the Calico roundup of 2009/2010 where the public was sickened by the record and, to our knowledge, never document those numbers again.

The trapping portion of the operation has ended.

We are loading the long form daily report (with a lot more video) and will link it here when complete.

02-23-26

On day two, 76 wild horses (29 Stallions, 34 Mares, and 13 Foals)  were captured. Trapping began around 26 degrees.

BLM is squeezing horses out of this grazing allotment (belongs to a powerful permittee) continuing. to claim they are “miles outside of the Antelope HMA.” They aren’t. Normal seasonal movement is impacted by closed gates, a lot of fences. See map from day 1. Many of these runs are literally pushing horses near the boundary further out.

When people think of an escape attempt they usually label it “stallion escaped.” As many mares escape (or try to) as stallions. At this time of year a wild horse really fighting to get home always brings to mind the fact that a newborn could be waiting back where the family was first pushed from (new babies often hide… think of a fawn waiting for mom to return). That thought comes to mind in this escape attempt that took wranglers up a mountain (see below).

All of you watching that want someone to “say something,” we did. Our observer went to the BLM person in charge (the one that would have to approve the roping in the first place) who was sitting in a vehicle near observers, not at the trap. She asked that he just let that horse go. He refused and tried to simply regurgitate all the reasons he had discretion to ignore the horse in question and just justify removing it. She told him it was a simple “yes or no.”

For decades we hear BLM say they “care about the horse” and take “all welfare concerns into account.” In practice we do not see them ever act on the side of caution.

83 (40 Stallions, 43 Mares, and 0 Foals) were shipped to Palomino Valley Center yesterday and we expect around the same number to ship today.

Our team member is back at the trap today.

We are uploading the long for report that includes a lot more video and will link it here after it is published. LONG FORM, click HERE.

02-22-26

161 (65 Stallions, 67 Mares, and 29 Foals) wild horses were captured in 13 runs on the first day of this roundup. Trapping began at around 22 degrees. The wings to the trap were a bit obstructed and observers were placed really far away limiting the ability to assess activities at trap. 

This roundup has nothing to do with Moriah

The roundup is in the “nook” on the southern end of the Antelope. At the last operation in this area BLM also tried to say these are not Antelope Complex horses, they are. This is a seasonal move that happens because of the way fencelines are laid in the area and the beating the range takes from thousands of sheep (and newly approved mining, traffic, and exploration). BLM has been under a lot of pressure to do another “Antelope roundup” (where over 14,000 wilds horses were removed under the last approved roundup plan in only 7 years) and the area is the subject of ongoing litigation and legal actions (we will update you soon).

Below: One horse does not go into trap and is roped. Video one is the drive and the second video is the roping.

When our welfare team member called in as she was driving back to town she told us to expect to see a death. BLM would most likely kill a horse she saw drop off from the rest after appearing to get injured in the rear…. and that is exactly what happened.

BLM said: “Bay stud, age 6, Pre-existing/Chronic, Lameness, Broken right back leg.”

What we know for sure is that this wild horse was surviving the winter and able to run with the herd until the helicopter pushed him.

Video below: You can see the stallion who becomes “off on the back end” and lags behind.

Our volunteer did go to temporary holding where visibility was minimal.

There were 13 runs and a lot of footage to still go through.

Our welfare team is back onsite today. 

We woulds like to bring your attention to an important action item. If you can make a call to your lawmakers today regarding including the SAFE Act as an amendment to the farm bill, it could make a difference. Sample script and why you should make the call to impact the slaughter pipeline HERE.

Every mile we travel to cover roundups or assess a herd, every court case we bring, every win, every action we take is only possible because of your support.