The Piceance/East Douglas Herd Management Area (HMA) is about 190,130 acres and BLM says only 135-235 wild horses can occupy the area. The target of the operation is the low AML of 135.
1,025 horses planned for gather, about 1,011 horses will be removed from the range, and 14 will be returned to the Piceance-East Douglas HMA. Ten of the returned horses will receive fertility control treatment to help slow future population growth.” This removal number represents only Piceance/East Douglas and not the “zero out” target for West Douglas Herd Area that is the next roundup on the schedule listed as a distinct operation targeting 100 wild horses for permanent removal.
You can read more about the numbers, targets and strange population estimates that repeatedly ignore overcounting HERE.
Did you know there are 18,400 recorded historical and active oil and gas wells within the Piceance Basin? The area is dominated by oil and gas. The area also has significant livestock grazing. Livestock are allocated 57,105 Animal Unit Months (AUM, or the amount of forage a cow/calf pair eats in a month) compared to 2,820 for wild horses.
There are severe access issues that we are working on behind the scenes. The public is being limited to only 3 days a week, no access at all to temporary holding corrals and the captives are being sent to the private Wheatland facility in Wyoming that is not open to the public.
You can meet our observers in the field in Colorado and Utah HERE.
Concerns with the lack of a formalized welfare standard run deep. Gaining an enforceable welfare policy that contains clear standards is vital. The concerns include concerns with foaling season, air quality and heat index standards. All of these critical issues are very relevant to this roundup.
You can learn more about the issue and take ACTION here.
We will update this page frequently.
Official cumulative numbers:
Captured: 96 wild horses (35 stallions, 43 mares, and 18 foals)
Shipped:
Deaths:
BLM estimated they captured approximately 100 wild horses.
Observers were about a mile from trap. Shooting into the sun and dust made visibility worse, even with high powered zoom and additional cropping in edit. Dust abatement was inadequate.
We are still editing video and will update as time allows.
BLM stopped active trapping 11 a.m. due to heat.
At 11 a.m. the temperature was approaching 90 and the heat index sat at 85, the caution zone. Air Quality was fair.
Our team members remain onsite at active roundups in Colorado and Utah.
These pages will update frequently.
Through August 15th a generous donor has pledged to match contributions up to $10,000. Every dollar donated will be matched.
We need your support to keep our teams engaging lawmakers, our team fighting in the court, our team running the roundup schedule.
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. Sincere Gratitude.