BLM Utah manages 19 wild horse and burro (whb) herd management areas (hma) on nearly 2.5 million acres. The combined appropriate management level for all HMAs in the state is 1,956 animals.
Since 1976, the BLM has removed approximately 15,600 animals from public rangelands in Utah.
(2021 roundups have not been added to this total count)
CLAIM: Animals removed from public rangelands are offered to the public for adoption; un-adopted animals are cared for on open pastures for the rest of their lives.
The majority of info, statistics, and records listed here come directly from BLM and the government. They are a self-regulating industry with absolutely NO oversight or accountability. There is no independent accounting of this program at all. Due to this one-sided version it is believed the numbers listed here of wild horse and burro estimates, and removals are inflated, suspect and inaccurate. We will attempt to prove this with reviewing their claims with attached evidence and links to outside sources that have witnessed discrepancies and inaccuracies over the last 50 years since the passing of the Wild and Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act of 1971
Appropriate Management Level (AML) of horses and burros per Herd Management Area (HMA)
An AML (low-High) is the amount of animals they will let remain in areas
Animal Management Unit (EST AMU) = Current individual population estimates on HMA,
An AUM is the amount of forage needed to sustain one wild horse 750 lbs (1 aum), one cow and calf – 1000 lbs (1 aum), two burro (.5 aum), five sheep (.18 aum), or five goats (.19 aum) for a month
HINT: How to read EST AMU: ( ? = yes, needs actual animal #’s / 0 = none / blank = unknown)# ? horses # 0 burros # cattle # sheep
BIBLE SPRING HMA (#bible-springs)
- UT0440 – Horse
- 61,862 acres = blm 56,588
- AML: 30-60
- Livestock AMU: ? cattle
- EST 2020: # 52 horses # 0 burros # ? cattle # 0 sheep
Grazing allotments: 4 / records as of 2020
Jackson Wash UT05133, Cattle / Total AUMs 2,340 – Total Livestock 300
Lone Pine Springs UT05134, Cattle / Total AUMs 1,095 – Total Livestock 200
Mountain Spring UT05141, Cattle / Total AUMs 560 – Total Livestock 100
Sheep Spring UT05145, Cattle / Total AUMs 89 – Total Livestock 19
Sections also reach into Four Mile HMA, Tilly Creek HMA, and Sulphur HMA
(Note: Some allotments may reach outside of HMA borders may be combined with other BLM allotment areas. Due to this design, it is nearly impossible to get exact numbers of livestock on entire HMA)
BLM Description
The herd’s lineage is based in ranching and mining stock and their size and colors vary from pintos to palominos, and buckskins.
Location: The herd is located approximately 45 miles West of Cedar City, Utah, accessible via the Lund Highway.
Size: 61,862 acres
Topography/Vegetation: The complex supports multiple vegetation types including grasslands, sagebrush, sagebrush/grasslands, Pinyon/Juniper, mountain fir, and mountain fir/mountain shrub. The Pinyon/Juniper woodland type dominates the HMAs and is very dense with minimal understory forage. Open areas outside the PJ canopy are dominated by big sagebrush with Indian ricegrass, wheatgrass, bluegrass, and squirreltail grass as the primary forage species.
Wildlife: Wild horses compete with wildlife for forage, particularly big game and Utah prairie dogs.
AML: 30-60
https://www.blm.gov/sites/blm.gov/files/uploads/ut_biblespring_map_20161005.jpg
2018 UT BEAVER /SS 140L0618F0165 -1 / (07/25/2018-08/31/2018) / CLOSED / $135,885.20 / Bible Springs Complex/Sulphur Wild Horse Helicopter Gather
2017 UT SLC /SS INL17PD00849 -1 / (08/10/2017-08/21/2017) / CLOSED / $50,983.60 / Bible Springs Complex Helicopter Gather / 3 / ? horses removed
BIBLE SPRINGS COMPLEX (#bible-complex)
Consists of Bible Springs, Blawnwash, Four Mile and Tilly Creek
- UT? – Horse
- Acre: 0 = BLM 0
- COMPLEX AML: 170-80
- Livestock AMU: 2040 ? cattle / ? x5= ? sheep
- Est 2020: # ? horses # 0 burros # ? cattle # ? sheep
Grazing allotments: yes / See individual HMA’s
BIG CREEK WILD HORSE TERRITORY (#big-creek)
- WHT01 – SALT LAKE RANGER DISTRICT / 801-733-2660
- 15,137 ? = 10,000 acres of National Forest land
- AML: 13-25
- Livestock AMU: ? cattle / ? x5= ? sheep
- EST 2020 # ? horses # 0 burros # cattle # sheep
There are two active cattle livestock grazing allotments that overlap the wild horse territory.
18 wild horses living in the Big Creek Territory in 1976.
Wildlife present include deer, mountain lions, and eagles
Grazing allotments: 2 / records as of 2020
Skull Valley , 9151acre, Cattle / Total AUMs ? – Total Livestock ?
Unknown other
Bonanza HA (#bonanza)
- Code / district
- 0 acres: BLM
- AML: ?
- Livestock AMU: ? cattle / ? x5= ? sheep
- EST 2020 # 0 horses # 0 burros # 0 cattle # 0 sheep
The Bonanza, Hill Creek, and the Winter Ridge Herd Area
designations will continue, but there will be no management for horses.
Oct 2 008 VFO Resource Management Plan Record of Decision (ROD)
Energy Conflicts:
Grazing allotments: ? / records as of 2020
2020 Livestock AMU: Livestock use: WHB:
, Sheep & Cattle / Total AUMs 0 – Livestock use 0
BLAWNWASH HMA (#blawnwash)
Page no longer exists on blm website – dissolved as an HMA
2014 eplanning (they cited a bunch of EA’s from the 1990’s that were not located anywhere in any system but were used in the NEPA planning – EA-UT-040-04-47, EA-UT-044-98-09 etc)
- UT ? – Horse / Cedar City Field Office
- Acre: 0 = BLM 0 – land exchange with SITLA 25,970 see energy conflict below
- AML: 0 as of 2005 assessment (see pg 5)
- Est 2020: # ? horses # 0 burros # ? cattle # ? sheep
Read Stan Olmstead’s last message to colleagues
Farewell Message That BLM Has Lost Its Way
Energy Conflict: YES – 2016
– land exchange with SITLA 25,970 acres (see pg 4)
feb 10 16 BLM and SITLA Enter into Wild Horse Management Agreement
Grazing allotments: yes ? / records as of 2020
Map
lawsuits
14-327 – Western Rangeland Conservation Association et al v. Jewell et al Mr. Yardley sits on the WHB advisory board in direct conflict of interest of the WHB. He, a plaintiff under his capacity as vice president for Yardley Cattle Company, and under his capacity as vice president of Western Rangelands Conservation Association has sued United States representative Sally Jewell (Since the initiation of this action, Ryan Zinke has replaced Sally Jewell), then-Secretary of the Interior; the United States Department of the Interior; Neil Kornze, then-Director of the United States Bureau of Land Management; and Juan Palma, then-Utah State Director of the Bureau of Land Management and WH advocates in 2017 W. Rangeland Conservation Ass’n v. Zinke, 265 F. Supp. 3d 1267 (D. Utah 2017) Areas : At issue in this case are eight HMAs, a single HA, and certain private lands encompassed within or lying adjacent to public lands in UTAH. The eight HMAs under scrutiny here are known as Frisco, Four-Mile, Bible Springs, Sulphur, Choke Cherry, Muddy Creek, North Hills, and Swasey. Together, the boundaries of these HMAs encompass just shy of one million acres of public and private land. The lone HA at issue, known as Blawn Wash, covers nearly 63,000 additional acres
Press Release – BLM TO BEGIN BLAWN WASH WILD HORSE CAPTURE AND REMOVAL
Cedar City, Utah —The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Cedar City field office will soon be capturing and removing excess wild horses from within and outside the Blawn Wash Wild Horse herd management area (HMA) in western Utah.
The BLM plans to capture and remove approximately 150 wild horses from State, private and BLM lands located in Beaver County. This is being done in accordance with Environmental Assessment DOI-BLM-UT-C010-2014-0035 which analyzed the environmental impacts associated with the proposed capture and removal.
This removal is also being done in an effort to fulfill an Agreement made between the BLM and Utah School and Institutional Trust Lands Administration (SITLA) entered into on February 3, 2016 that provides for a mutual commitment to work cooperatively to manage wild horses that have entered onto SITLA lands. The Agreement, which is subject to congressional appropriations, places priority on the removal of excess horses in the south-central and southwest areas of the state, where a lawsuit was originally filed by SITLA aimed at increasing the management of wild horse herds. The Agreement enables SITLA to fulfill its trustee role in a more robust and effective manner by promoting healthy and productive rangelands on SITLA lands affected by wild horses.
Helicopter drive-trapping operations are scheduled to begin Wednesday, August 10. Members of the public are welcome to view the daily gather operations, provided the safety of the animals, staff and observers are not jeopardized and operations are not disrupted.
The BLM will conduct escorted public tours to gather observation sites. Details will be announced daily on the BLM gather hotline, (801) 539-4050.
Those interested in participating should meet at the KB Express Convenience Store/Subway, 238 South Main in Milford, Utah, where tours will depart at 5 a.m. MST.
Participants must provide their own transportation, water and food. The BLM recommends footwear and clothing suitable for harsh field conditions. Binoculars and four-wheel drive, high clearance vehicles are also strongly recommended.
Public lands will remain open unless closures are deemed necessary due to safety concerns. Outdoor recreationists and visitors to the gather area should be aware that there will be low flying helicopters and should avoid recreational use of drones near the Wah Wah Mountain range, areas south of Highway 21, and near the Shauntie Hills. Brief road closures may also be needed to allow movement of horses during gather operations.
Gather updates and information will be posted online. Anyone interested can get updates on Twitter by following @BLMUtah or searching #BlawnWashGather.
Animals removed from the range will be made available for adoption through the BLM Wild Horse and Burro Adoption Program. Those that are not adopted will be cared for in long-term pastures, where they retain their protection under the 1971 Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act.
Details on the EA and the proposed action can be found on the BLM’s planning documents website: https://eplanning.blm.gov/
To learn more about the wild horse and burro program or to obtain an adoption application, visit the BLM National Wild Horse and Burro website, https://www.blm.gov/programs/wild-horse-and-burro
For additional information on participating in public observation days, contact Lisa Reid, public affairs specialist, at (435)743-3128 or lreid@blm.gov. Persons who use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1-800-877-8339 to leave a message or question for Reid. The FIRS is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Replies are provided during normal business hours.
CANYON LANDS HMA (#canyon-lands)
- ? Burro / Richfield FO
- The HMA is comprised of 77,311 BLM acres, 10,465 State acres, and 1,616 NPS acres for a total of 89,392 acres
- AML: 60-100 Burro
- Livestock AMU: 3,840 cattle
- EST 2020: # 0 horses # 180 burros # 320 cattle # sheep
Grazing allotments: 1 / records as of 2020
Robbers Roost UT00901, Cattle / Total AUMs 3,840 – Total Livestock 320
CEDAR MOUNTAIN HMA (#cedar-mountain)
- UT024 – Horse / Salt Lake Field Office
- 411,636 acres
- AML: 190-390
- Livestock AMU: 29,175 cattle / sheep (see note in allotments)
- EST 2020: # 658 horses # 0 burros # 22,146 cattle / sheep (see note in allotments)
Grazing allotments: 4 / records as of 2020
Aragonite UT04023, Sheep & Cattle / Total AUMs 967 – Total Livestock 1,020
North Cedar Mtn UT04029, Sheep & Cattle / Total AUMs 4,801 – Total Livestock 3,209
Skull Valley UT04034, Sheep & Cattle / Total AUMs 14,216 – Total Livestock 8,778
South Skull Valley UT04035, Sheep & Cattle / Total AUMs 9,191 – Total Livestock 9,139
(Showing more livestock than allotments allows in bold)
(Note: Some allotments may reach outside of HMA borders may be combined with other BLM allotment areas. Due to this, it is nearly impossible to get exact numbers of livestock on entire HMA)
2018 Cedar Mtn emergency gather
Original herd size 670 + foals
Animals: 175 gathered / 0 returned / 5 deaths / 0 fertility / 0 collared
Gather Date: Gather Method: water traps
Contractor: Contract price: $ ?
Plan Gathered: 250 Animals Gathered: 175
Facility Destination: DELTA Max capacity: 300 Open to public: appt
Public viewing: NO
Plan: emergency wild horse gather – remove approximately 250 wild horses from the HMA near the Cochran, Cedar, and Brown Springs due to reduced spring flow and a lack of available water.
Background: “We are very concerned about the health and welfare of these horses,” said Field Manager Matt Preston. “Two of the primary springs in the HMA are producing less water than they have for years. With approximately 100 wild horses attempting to get water from these springs daily, conditions are becoming unsustainable. This emergency gather will ensure that the horses remaining on the range will be able to survive.”
Notes: ? were cattle replaced on this land
2018 GATHER REPORTS
Friday, July 13, 2018
Animals gathered: 37 (14 stallions, 17 mares, 6 foals) HBC 3’s and 4’s
Animals shipped: 35 (13 stallions, 6 mares, 6 foals)
Total Deaths Today: 2
Acute: 1 / euthanized due to neurologic dysfunction signs after colliding with a panel during capture.
Chronic/Pre-existing: 1 / euthanized due to a hopeless prognosis for recovery due to a broken right knee with limited mobility.
Monday, July 16, 2018
Summary: Still dry even though a thunderstorm came through last night; Nighttime High 60.
Animals gathered: 43 (21 stallions, 20 mares, 2 foals) HBC 3’s and 4’s.
Animals shipped: 42 (20 stallions, 20 mares, 2 foals)
Total Deaths Today: 1
Acute: 1 / euthanized today due to broken front left pasturn while loading.
Tuesday, July 17, 2018
Summary: High 60
Animals gathered: 28 (14 stallions, 10 mares, 4 foals) HBC 3’s and 4’s
Animals shipped: 28 (14 stallions, 10 mares, 4 foals)
Wednesday, July 18, 2018
Summary: Extremely dry. Nighttime High 70’s.
Animals gathered: 34 (15 stallions, 15 mares, 4 foals) HBC 3’s and 4’s.
Animals shipped: 34 (15 stallions, 15 mares, 4 foals)
Total Deaths Today: 2
Chronic/Pre-existing: 2 / Two horses were humanely euthanized today with pre-existing broken front left knees which resulted in limited mobility.
Thursday, July 19, 2018
Summary: Extremely dry. Nighttime High 70’s.
Animals gathered: 9 (2 stallions, 5 mares, 2 foals) HBC 3’s and 4’s.
Animals shipped: 9 (2 stallions, 5 mares, 2 foals)
Friday, July 20, 2018
Summary: Extremely dry. Nighttime High 60’s.
Animals gathered: 10 (6 stallions, 3 mares, 1 foals) HBC 3’s and 4’s
Animals shipped: 10 (6 stallions, 3 mares, 1 foals)
Thursday, July 26, 2018
Summary: Extremely dry. Nighttime High 70’s.
Animals gathered: 6 (2 stallions, 4 mares, 0 foals) HBC 3’s and 4’s.
Animals shipped: 6 (2 stallions, 4 mares, 0 foals)
Friday, July 27, 2018
Summary: Extremely dry with some light rain and lightning; Nighttime temps in low 60’s. The captured foal belonged to one of the mares captured on 7/26. Mare and foal were paired up at the facility and are doing well.
Animals gathered: 3 (2 stallions, 0 mares, 1 foals) HBC 3’s and 4’s.
Animals shipped: 3 (2 stallions, 0 mares, 1 foals)
Thursday, August 23, 2018
Summary: Extremely dry. Nighttime temps in low 60’s.
Animals gathered: 5 (1 stallions, 4 mares, 0 foals) HBC 4’s
Animals shipped: 5 (1 stallions, 4 mares, 0 foals)
Monday, August 27, 2018
Summary: Extremely dry. Nighttime temps in low 60’s.
Animals gathered: 1 (1 stallion, 0 mares, 0 foals) HBC 4.
Animals shipped: 1 (1 stallion, 0 mares, 0 foals)
2012 Cedar Mountain-Onaqui HMA Gathers
Original herd size
Animals: 348 gathered (57 weanlings) / ? returned / 1 deaths / 40 fertility / 0 collared
Gather Date: Gather Method:
Contractor: Contract price: $ ?
Plan Gathered: 130 Animals Gathered: 348
Facility Destination: DELTA Max capacity: 300 Open to public: appt
Public viewing: NO
Plan: gathering an estimated 469 wild horses from the Cedar Mountain and Onaqui Mountain HMAs for treatment of the fertility control drug Porcine Zona Pellucida (PZP-22). There will be limited removal of approximately 79 horses that will be placed in the adoption program or long-term pasture facilities. An estimated 130 mares of the captured wild horses from the Cedar Mountain HMA will be treated and returned to the range with an estimated 131 Studs. Onaqui Mountain HMA will have an estimated 64 mares treated and released with an estimated 65 Studs. This will bring down and maintain the population of horses to appropriate management levels established through the Pony Express Resource Management Plan
2012 gather report
| Tuesday February 21 | Summary: Gathered 55 studs and 60 mares for a total of 115, of which 21 are weanlings/yearlings and 0 foals; all are 4 to 5 on the Henneke Scale.Animals gathered: 115 Animals shipped: 0 Gather related animal deaths: 0 Cause: N/A Non-gather related animal deaths: 0 Cause: N/A |
| Wednesday February 22 | Summary: Today, gathered 4 studs and 1 mare, all of which yearlings. All are 5 on the Henneke Scale.Animals gathered: 5 Animals shipped: 0 Gather related animal deaths: 0 Cause: N/A Non-gather related animal deaths: 0 Cause: N/A |
| Thursday February 23 | Summary: Gather operations canceled due to high winds. Gather will resume tomorrow.Animals gathered: 0 Animals shipped: 0 Gather related animal deaths: 0 Cause: N/A Non-gather related animal deaths: 0 Cause: N/A |
| Friday February 24 | Summary: Gather operations concluded at 3 p.m. Total horses gathered today: 146. Weather: sunny, light winds, 45 degrees.Animals gathered: 146 Animals shipped: 0 Gather related animal deaths: 0 Cause: N/A Non-gather related animal deaths: 0 Cause: N/A |
| Saturday February 25 | Summary: Gather operations were shut down today due to high winds (28mph with gusts to 36mph). Treated 40 mares with PZP, will continue into the evening. Shipped 57 weanlings to Delta, they arrived safely.Animals gathered: 0 Animals shipped: 57 Gather related animal deaths: 0 Cause: N/A Non-gather related animal deaths: 0 Cause: N/A |
| Sunday February 26 | Summary: Today’s count: 8 studs and 17 mares, including 3 yearling/weanlings. All are 5 on the Henneke Scale. Gather operations are being moved to the east side for the duration of the gather. Animals gathered: 25 Animals shipped: 0 Gather related animal deaths: 0 Cause: N/A Non-gather related animal deaths: 0 Cause: N/A |
| Monday February 27 | Summary: 57 horses gathered today. Gather operations will conclude by Wednesday February 29 or sooner. One visitor, no issues or concerns. PZP will be administered tomorrow to mares in holding and gather operations will continue if weather conditions allow.Animals gathered: 57 Animals shipped: 0 Gather related animal deaths: 0 Cause: N/A Non-gather related animal deaths: 1 Cause: Yearling filly was euthanized due to a pre-existing condition. This horse was identified prior to capture by on-site HSUS researcher. Following capture, the on-site APHIS veterinarian described the condition as a degenerative joint disease, which caused flexor tendon damage. |
2003 Gather
CEDAR MOUNTAIN REMOVAL LIST
CEDAR MOUNTAIN CONTRACTS LOCATED
2017 UT SALT LAKE CITY /CT INL17PD00154 -1 / (02/07/2017-02/28/2017) / CLOSED / $279,913.00 / CEDAR MOUNTAIN HMA HELICOPTER GATHER, UTAH / 2
2012 UT CEDAR CITY IRON /CT INL12PD00173 -1 / (01/18/2012-02/28/2012) / CLOSED / $263,489.42 / Cedar Mountain & Onaqui Horse Gather /1
CHLORIDE CANYON HMA (#chloride)
- 65,408 acres
- AML: 15-30
- EST POP # ? horses # ? burros # cattle # sheep
No info on page
Grazing allotments: ? / records as of 2020
CHOKE CHERRY HMA (#choke-cherry)
- 48,139 acres
- AML: 24-30
- EST POP # ? horses # ? burros # cattle # sheep
No info on page
Grazing allotments: ? / records as of 2020
CONFUSION HMA (#confusion)
- 235,005 acres
- AML: 70-115
- EST POP # ? horses # 0 burros # cattle # sheep
Grazing allotments: ? / records as of 2020
Original herd size 661
Animals: 309 gathered / 1 returned / 5 deaths / 0 fertility / 0 collared
Gather Date: Nov 29- Dec13, 2020 Gather Method: helicopter
Contractor: Contract price: $ ?
Plan Gathered: 500 Animals Gathered: 309
Facility Destination: AXTELL /DELTA Max capacity: 2250 Open to public: NO
Public viewing: yes
Plan: gather 500 and remove approximately 480 while administering population growth suppression to the other horses captured from BLM-administered lands
Notes: (not sure any were returned) or treated
Jul 25 20 Confusion Hma Wild Horse Mgmt And Roundup Plan – Cloud Foundation – FULL OF IMPORTANT DOCUMENTION REGARDING LAWS
DAILY GATHER REPORTS
Sunday, November 29, 2020
Summary: 56 horses were gathered today. Body scores of 3’s and 4’s, with the exception of 5 mares were 2’s. There were 2 members of the public observing the gather.
Animals gathered: 56 (15 stallions, 26 mares, 15 foals)
Animals shipped: 0
Total Deaths Today: 0
Acute: 0
Chronic/Pre-existing: 0
Monday, November 30, 2020
Summary: 11 horses were gathered today. Body scores of 3’s and 4’s, with the exception of 1 mare a 2. There were 2 members of the public observing the gather. One foal was humanely euthanized due to a severe laceration and probable fracture to the left hind leg.
Animals gathered: 11 (1 stallions, 7 mares, 2 foals)
Animals shipped: 41 (40 to Axtell and 1 to Delta)
Total Deaths Today: 1
Acute: 1
Chronic/Pre-existing: 0
Tuesday, December 1, 2020
Summary: 47 horses were gathered today. Body scores of 3’s and 4’s, with the exception of 3 mares at a 2. There were 2 members of the public observing the gather.
Animals gathered: 47 (10 stallions, 26 mares, 11 foals)
Animals shipped: 40 (40 to Axtell)
Total Deaths Today: 0
Acute: 0
Chronic/Pre-existing: 0
Wednesday, December 2, 2020
Summary: 49 horses were gathered today. Body scores of 3’s and 4’s, with the exception of 8 mares at a 2 and 1 mare at a 1. There were 5 members of the public observing the gather. One mare died from a fractured neck and one mare was humanely euthanized due to poor body condition.
Animals gathered: 49 (12 stallions, 23 mares, 14 foals)
Animals shipped: 32 (32 to Axtell)
Total Deaths Today: 2
Acute: 1
Chronic/Pre-existing: 1
Thursday, December 3, 2020
Summary: 45 horses were gathered today. Body scores of 3’s and 4’s, with the exception of 3 mares at a 2. There were 2 members of the public observing the gather.
Animals gathered: 45 (20 stallions, 17 mares, 8 foals)
Animals shipped: 47 (47 to Axtell)
Total Deaths Today: 0
Acute: 0
Chronic/Pre-existing: 0
Friday, December 4, 2020
Summary: 16 horses were gathered today. Body scores of 3’s and 4’s, with the exception of 1 mare at a 2 and one 1 mare at a 1. There were 2 members of the public observing the gather.
Animals gathered: 16 (5 stallions, 7 mares, 4 foals)
Animals shipped: 42 (42 to Axtell)
Total Deaths Today: 0
Acute: 0
Chronic/Pre-existing: 0
Saturday, December 5, 2020
Summary: 7 horses were gathered today. Body scores of 3’s and 4’s. There were 2 members of the public observing the gather. Two mares were humanely euthanized due to poor body condition.
Animals gathered: 7 (3 stallions, 3 mares, 1 foal)
Animals shipped: 0
Total Deaths Today: 2
Acute: 0
Chronic/Pre-existing: 2
Sunday, December 6, 2020
Summary: 22 horses were gathered today. Body scores of 3’s and 4’s, with the exception of 6 horses at a 2. There was 1 member of the public observing the gather.
Animals gathered: 22 (10 stallions, 7 mares, 5 foals)
Animals shipped: 24 (24 to Axtell)
Total Deaths Today: 0
Acute: 0
Chronic/Pre-existing: 0
Monday, December 7, 2020
Summary: 18 horses were gathered today. Body scores of 3’s and 4’s, with the exception of 1 horse at a 2. There was 1 member of the public observing the gather.
Animals gathered: 18 (6 stallions, 7 mares, 5 foals)
Animals shipped: 0
Total Deaths Today: 0
Acute: 0
Chronic/Pre-existing: 0
Tuesday, December 8, 2020
Summary: No gather operations took place today. There were no members of the public due to no gather operations.
Animals gathered: 0 (0 stallions, 0 mares, 0 foals)
Animals shipped: 39 (39 to Axtell)
Total Deaths Today: 0
Acute: 0
Chronic/Pre-existing: 0
Wednesday, December 9, 2020
Summary: 33 horses were gathered today. Body scores of 3’s to 5’s, with the exception of 1 horse at a 6. There was 1 member of the public observing the gather.
Animals gathered: 33 (10 stallions, 14 mares, 9 foals)
Animals shipped: 0
Total Deaths Today: 0
Acute: 0
Chronic/Pre-existing: 0
CONFUSION REMOVAL LIST
CONGER HMA (#conger)
- 170,993 acres
- AML: 40-80
- EST POP # ? horses # 0 burros # cattle # sheep
This herd is being managed to maintain the black, roan, palomino, and dun colors.
Grazing allotments: ? / records as of 2020
IN THE NEWS – CONGER
Apr 17 21 Documentation – Sulphur & Conger HMA – Craig Downer
In 2021 CONGER WILD HORSE GATHER
Livestock Conflicts: Energy Conflicts:
Animals: 0 gathered / 0 returned / 0 deaths / 0 fertility / 0 collared
Date of gather: aug 11, 2021 – ? Roundup happening now Gather Method: HELI
Contractor: Contract price: $ ?
Plan Gathered: 296 Animals Shipped:
Facility: AXTELL Max capacity: 2250 Public Access: No
Dead Animals: ? Shipped: ? Buried: ?
Public viewing: Yes
Notes:
Plan:
Approximately 296 excess wild horses will be removed. The HMA is currently experiencing exceptional drought conditions. Due to the drought conditions the horses have declined in body condition over the last year due to a lack of forage. This gather will also allow the BLM to gather mares that were fitted with GPS collars that could not be remotely released at the conclusion of a research study. Select wild horses may be returned to the HMA to maintain herd genetic diversity and characteristics and to meet herd management objectives.
Horses captured will either be released at the gather site or shipped to the Axtell Facility, a private facility that does not allow in-person viewing or public adoptions.
GATHER REPORTS
SATURDAY, AUG. 21
Animals gathered: 9 (2 stallions, 5 mares, 2 foals)
Animals shipped: 37
FRIDAY, AUG. 20
Animals gathered: 16 (9 stallions, 5 mares, 2 foals)
Animals shipped: 36
THURSDAY, AUG. 19
Animals gathered: 13 (6 stallions, 4 mares, 3 foals)
MONDAY, AUG. 16
Animals gathered: 27 (10 stallions, 13 mares, 4 foals)
TUESDAY, AUG. 17
Animals gathered: 12 (5 stallions, 4 mares, 3 foals)
Animals shipped: 37
Summary: 27 horses were gathered today.
Animals gathered: 27 (10 stallions, 13 mares, 4 foals)
SUNDAY, AUG. 15
Animals gathered: 15 (4 stallions, 6 mares, 5 foals)
Animals shipped: 25
Total Deaths Today: 1
Chronic/Pre-existing: 1 / A 22-year-old mare with a BCS 2 and pre-existing condition was euthanized
SATURDAY, AUG. 14
Animals gathered: 47 (12 stallions, 22 mares, 13 foals)
Animals shipped: 35
FRIDAY, AUG. 13
Animals gathered: 20 (3 stallions, 10 mares, 7 foals)
Animals shipped: 27
THURSDAY, AUG. 12
Animals gathered: 20 (6 stallions, 9 mares, 5 foals)
WEDNESDAY, AUG. 11
Animals gathered: 19 (9 stallions, 7 mares, 3 foals)
2016 Conger/Frisco Gather
Animals: 0 gathered / 0 returned / 0 deaths / 0 fertility / 0 collared
Date of gather: (06/20/2016-08/30/2016) Gather Method:
Contractor: Contract price: $212,553.55 INL16PD00529 -1
Plan Gathered:
Animals Shipped:
Facility: Max capacity: Public Access:
Dead Animals: ? Shipped: ? Buried: ?
Public viewing:
Plan:
Notes:
CONGER REMOVAL LIST
- 2021 CONGER WILD HORSE GATHER
- 2016 Conger / Frisco Gather
CONGER CONTRACTS LOCATED
2016 UT MEADOW MILLARD / INL16PD00529 -1 / (06/20/2016-08/30/2016) / CLOSED / $212,553.55 / Wild Horse And Burro Helicopter Gather The Conger/Frisco Herd Management Area
FOUR MILE HMA (#four-mile)
- 61,273 acres
- AML: 30-60
- EST POP # ? horses # 0 burros # cattle # sheep
Grazing allotments: ? / records as of 2020
FRISCO HMA (#frisco)
- Of the 60,367 acres in the HMA approximately 48,852 of these are public land acres, 5,745 of these acres are state and 5,770 acres are private land acres.
- AML: 30-60
- EST POP # ? horses # 0 burros # cattle # sheep
Grazing allotments: 5 / records as of 2020
All of the allotments reach outside of the HMA
Crystal Peak UT04311, Sheep / Total AUMs 4,841 – Livestock use 4,103
Wah-Wah Lawson UT06213, Cattle / Total AUMs 8,510 – Livestock use 2,720
Frisco UT06212, Sheep & Cattle / Total AUMs 3,723 – Livestock use 4,490
Beaver Lake UT06215, Sheep & Cattle / Total AUMs 3,558 – Livestock use 598
Red Rock UT06211, Sheep / Total AUMs 1,312 – Livestock use 1,239
Original herd size: 250
Animals: 145 gathered / 0 returned / 2 deaths / 0 fertility / 0 collared
Date of gather: sep 21-28, 2020 Gather Method: HELI
Contractor: Contract price: $ ?
Plan Gathered: 200 Animals Shipped:
Facility: AXTELL Max capacity: 2250 Open to public: NO
Dead Animals: 2 Shipped: ? Buried: ?
Public viewing:
Plan: remove approximately 200 wild horses. One objective of this gather is to capture approximately 21 mares that have been fitted with radio/GPS collars for research purposes.
Notes: no drones allowed
GATHER REPORTS
Monday, September 21, 2020
Summary: 4 public observed
Animals gathered: 37 (19 stallions, 11 mares, 7 foals) HBC 4’s and 5’s, three 3’s.
Tuesday, September 22, 2020
Summary: 2 public observed
Animals gathered: 37 (9 stallions, 18 mares, 10 foals) HBC 4’s and 5’s, three 3’s.
Animals shipped: 38 (Axtell Off-Range Contract Facility)
Total Deaths Today: 1
Chronic/Pre-existing: 1 / One horse was euthanized due to a pre-existing condition.
Wednesday, September 23, 2020
Summary: 4 public observed
Animals gathered: 40 (15 stallions, 20 mares, 5 foals) HBC 4’s and 5’s, two 3’s.
Animals shipped: 35 (Axtell Off-Range Contract Facility)
Thursday September 24, 2020
Summary: 4 public observed
Animals gathered: 2 (1 stallion, 1 mare) HBC 4’s
Animals shipped: 34 (Axtell Off-Range Contract Facility)
Friday September 25, 2020
Animals gathered: 17 (7 stallions, 8 mares, 2 foals) HBC 4’s
Saturday, September 26, 2020
Animals gathered: 1 (1 foal) HBC 4’s
Sunday, September 27, 2020
Animals gathered: 3 (3 stallions) HBC 3s and 4s
Monday, September 28, 2020
Animals gathered: 6 (4 stallions, 2 mares) HBC 3s and 4s
Tuesday, September 29, 2020
Summary: The gather is complete
Animals shipped: 34 (Axtell Off-Range Contract Facility)
Total Deaths Today: 1
Chronic/Pre-existing: 1 / One mare with no teeth and a low body score was unable to maintain her condition, euthanized.
FRISCO REMOVAL LIST
- 2020 FRISCO GATHER
- 2016 Conger/Frisco Gather
FRISCO CONTRACTS LOCATED
2016 UT MEADOW MILLARD / INL16PD00529 -1 / (06/20/2016-08/30/2016) / CLOSED / $212,553.55 / Wild Horse And Burro Helicopter Gather The Conger/Frisco Herd Management Area
2012 UT CEDAR CITY IRON /CT INL13PD00042 -1 / (11/16/2012-12/23/2012) / CLOSED / $107,218.50 / Frisco Hma Gather And Release /1
Hill Creek HA (#hill-creek)
- Code / district
- 0 acres: BLM
- AML: ?
- Livestock AMU: ? cattle / ? x5= ? sheep
- EST 2020 # 0 horses # 0 burros # 0 cattle # 0 sheep
The Bonanza, Hill Creek, and the Winter Ridge Herd Area
designations will continue, but there will be no management for horses.
Oct 2 008 VFO Resource Management Plan Record of Decision (ROD)
Energy Conflicts:
Grazing allotments: ? / records as of 2020 See individual HMA’s
2020 Livestock AMU: Livestock use: WHB:
, Sheep & Cattle / Total AUMs 0 – Livestock use 0
KING TOP MOUNTAINS HMA (#king-top)
- 171,467 acres
- AML: 20-40
- EST POP # ? horses # 0 burros # cattle # sheep
Grazing allotments: ? / records as of 2020
MOUNT ELINOR HMA (#elinor)
- 42,640 acres
- AML: 15-25
- EST POP # ? horses # ? burros # cattle # sheep
No info on page
Grazing allotments: ? / records as of 2020
MUDDY CREEK HMA (#muddy)
- 208,810 acres
- AML: 75-125
- EST POP # ? horses # 0 burros # cattle # sheep
Grazing allotments: ? / records as of 2020
Animals: 154 gathered / 4 returned / 1 deaths / 0 fertility / 0 collared
Date of gather: sep 11-3, 2018 Gather Method: HELI
Contractor: Contract price: $ ?
Plan Gathered: 149 Animals Shipped:
Facility: Max capacity: Public Access:
Dead Animals: ? Shipped: ? Buried: ?
Public viewing: Y
Plan: Due to declining rangeland health, overpopulation and continued drought conditions, plans to gather an estimated 149 wild horses. Once gathers have been completed and upon reaching Appropriate Management Level, fertility control would be administered to horses to help reduce the population increase in the HMA.
Notes: no drones allowed
GATHER REPORT
Tuesday, September 11, 2018
Summary: 18 visitors at the site gather
Animals gathered: 104 (49 stallions, 34 mares, 21 foals) HBC 4’s with several 2’s and 3’s
Wednesday, September 12, 2018
Summary: 7 visitors at the site gather
Animals gathered: 35 (12 stallions, 19 mares, 4 foals) HBC 3’s with several 2’s and a 1.5
Animals shipped: 35
Thursday, September 13, 2018
Summary: 2 visitors at the site gather
Animals gathered: 14 (5 stallions, 6 mares, 3 foals) HBC 3’s
Animals shipped: 14
MUDDY CREEK REMOVAL LIST
MUDDY CREEK CONTRACTS LOCATED
NORTH HILLS HMA (#north-hills)
- 60,646 acres
- AML: 12-36 (was AML 40-60 in 2019)
- EST POP # ? horses # 0 burros # cattle # sheep
No mention of horse or burro on page
Grazing allotments: ? / records as of 2020
Original herd size 317
Animals: 215 gathered / 0 returned / 2 deaths / 0 fertility / 0 collared
Date of gather: Dec 15-21, 2019 Gather Method: HELI
Contractor: SAMPSON, SHAYNE F Contract price: $95,905.50 140L0619F0356
Plan Gathered: 250 Animals Shipped:
Facility: AXTELL Max capacity: 2250 Public Access: NO
Dead Animals: ? Shipped: ? Buried: ?
Public viewing: Y
Plan: Remove approx 250 horses from Federal, State and private lands within and near the JMA.
Notes:
GATHER REPORTS
Sunday, December 15, 2019
Summary: 0 horses were gathered today, due to weather conditions. 2 public viewing the event.
Monday, December 16, 2019
Summary: 2 public observed
Animals gathered: 87 / HBC 3-4’s along with several 2’s
Animals shipped: 54
Tuesday, December 17, 2019
Summary: 13 public observed
Animals gathered: 82 (53 stallions, 46 mares, 6 foals) HBC six 2’s, five 4’s and the rest were 3’s. The body condition of the horses are less than anticipated, along with a weakened overall condition, as indicted by the lower BCS scores
Animals shipped: 52
Wednesday, December 18, 2019
Summary: 12 public observed
Animals gathered: 24 / HBC two 2’s, eighteen 3’s, two 4’s and two 5’s
Animals shipped: 63
Thursday, December 19, 2019
Summary: 12 public observed
Animals gathered: 14 / HBC 3’s and 4’s
Friday, December 20, 2019
Summary: 13 public observed
Animals gathered: 6 HBC 5’s
Animals shipped: 44
2012 North Hills Gather
NORTH HILLS REMOVAL LIST
NORTH HILLS CONTRACTS LOCATED
2019 UT CEDAR CITY IRON/SS 140L0619F0356-1 / (09/21/2019-12/29/2019) / CLOSED / $95,905.50 / Wild Horse and Burro Program Helicopter Drive Trapping Gather-Utah North Hills Joint Management Area/ 3 / 215 horses removed
2010 UT CEDAR CITY IRON /CT INL11PD00038 -1 / (11/10/2010-12/06/2010) / CLOSED / $52,212.00 / North Hills Wild Horse Gather /1
ONAQUI MOUNTAIN HMA (#onaqui)
- UT0242 – Horse SALT LAKE FIELD OFFICE
- 205,394 acres (240,153 total = BLM 206,878 according to grazing allotments page)
- AML: 121-210
- EST 2021: # 163 horses # 0 burros # cattle # ? sheep
- EST 2020: # 412
Grazing allotments: 12 / records as of 2020
(Showing more livestock than allotment allows in bold)
East Onaqui RCA UT04051, Cattle / Total AUMs 611 – Total Livestock 125
Hill Spring UT04054, Cattle / Total AUMs 146 – Total Livestock 36
Onaqui Mtn East UT04056, Cattle / Total AUMs 1,326 – Total Livestock 299
Onaqui Mtn West UT04057, Cattle / Total AUMs 1,147 – Total Livestock 228
South Clover UT04064, Sheep & Cattle / Total AUMs 84 – Total Livestock 72
Ajax UT04044, Sheep & Cattle / Total AUMs 162 – Total Livestock 82
West Lookout Pass UT04043, Sheep / Total AUMs 1,302 – Total Livestock 8,736
Indian Springs UT05006, Sheep & Cattle / Total AUMs 1,769 – Total Livestock 1,308
Government Creek UT05001, Cattle / Total AUMs 3,773 – Total Livestock 750
Cottonwood West UT05002, Sheep & Cattle / Total AUMs 243 – Total Livestock 48
South Skull Valley UT04035, Sheep & Cattle / Total AUMs 9,191 – Total Livestock 9,139
Death Canyon UT05001, Sheep & Cattle / Total AUMs 5,228 – Total Livestock 3,214
Note: south skull valley, death canyon sections are part of larger grazing allotments and may reach into other HMAs
(Note: Some allotments may reach outside of HMA borders may be combined with other BLM allotment areas. Due to this design, it is nearly impossible to get exact numbers of livestock on entire HMA)
In the News – ONAQUI
Note: Just because this website (WHBA) gives you information relating to something, does not mean we endorse it. We do not support fertility treatment of any kind for wild animals.
JULY 20, 2021 Onaqui Post gather release
BLM gathered a total of 435 horses (186 stallions, 202 mares, 47 foals). BLM did not gather the horse known as “Old Man.” However, some well-known horses were gathered including “One Ear.” The BLM plans to return “One Ear” to the range with the other horses planned for release. All gathered horses seem to be healthy and have been sent to either the Delta or Sutherland, Utah off-range corral facilities to be inspected by a contract veterinarian, and sorted for adoption/sale or selected for return to the HMA.
BLM gathered more horses than anticipated simply due to the large herd size captured the final day of trapping. A total of 91 horses were gathered in one group on the last day, thus BLM ended up gathering 30+ more horses than scheduled. Due to these larger numbers, the BLM is anticipating that over 100 horses will be returned to the range after sorting, and as is consistent with appropriate management levels. The exact number is not known until all the sorting, aging, and animal selection process is complete. The date of release for the horses will be publicly announced on BLM’s website and social media.
According to the solicitation contract PG42-43 “The Contractor shall not capture more animals than what is identified in specific task order SOWs. If more animals are captured the Contractor shall release the additional animals” 140L0620R0043 documents no longer on sam.gov (see pg link above). This rule would be for all roundups and contractors held under this contract.
Animals: 123 returned (14 mares with foals) / 2 deaths / ? fertility / 0 collared
Date of release: Aug 8-9, 2021 Gather Method: NONE
Contractor: SAMPSON Contract price: $ see roundup below
Plan Released: 125 Animals released: 123
From Facility : SUTHERLAND Max cap: 1000 Open to public: NO
Public viewing of release: some yes / some no
Notes : ? 2 deaths, need notes, horses appeared underweight, sickly upon release. Photo evidence in comparison with before capture
RELEASE PLAN:
On Aug. 8, the BLM released 14 mares and foals back to the HMA in advance so that the foals could be safely released in a smaller group.
On Aug. 9, 2021, the BLM safely concluded the release of 109 wild horses back to the Onaqui Mountain Herd Management Area (HMA). The BLM conducted genetic hair sampling to promote the genetic diversity of the herd and humanely released a total of 123 horses back to the HMA after concluding the wild horse gather in July 2021.
The BLM invited representatives of the American Wild Horse Campaign, the Wild Horses of America Foundation, and the Onaqui Catalogue to observe the release of the mares and foals to foster the ongoing communication between the BLM and these groups to promote the welfare of the Onaqui Mountain wild horses.
Most of the adoptable horses will be shipped to the Delta, Utah Wild Horse & Burro Facility. Most of those horses that are to be released back to the HMA will be shipped to Sutherland, Utah Off-Range Contract Facility. The Delta facility is currently closed to the public. Once the horses have settled down and had time to acclimate, the Delta facility will be opened to the public for viewing, adoption and/or sale. The Sutherland facility is not an open public facility; thus, no public observation will be authorized at that location.
Original herd size: 475 + foals
435 gathered (186 stallions, 202 mares, 47 foals)/ 1 + 123 returned / 1 + 2 deaths / ? fertility / 0 collared
Date of gather: Jul 13-18, 2021 Gather Method: helicopter
Contractor: SAMPSON Contract price: $134,043.00 140L0621F0208
Plan Gathered: 296 Animals Gathered: 436 pg 42 of sol contract 140L0620R0043
According to the solicitation contract 140L0620R0043 PG42-43 “The Contractor shall not capture more animals than what is identified in specific task order SOWs. If more animals are captured the Contractor shall release the additional animals”
Facility: DELTA & SUTHERLAND Max capacity: 300 / 1000 Open to public: Y-N/N
Public viewing: yes
Plan
Plan: Approximately 296 excess wild horses will be removed. The HMA is currently experiencing exceptional drought conditions. Due to these drought conditions the horses have declined in body condition over the last year due to a lack of forage. This gather will allow BLM to aggressively implement population growth suppression (which is already occurring on the HMA through remote darting) to slow population growth, maintain population size within AML, and to reduce the number of excess wild horses that need to be removed from this HMA in the long term.
Most of the adoptable horses will be shipped to the Delta, Utah Wild Horse & Burro Facility. Most of those horses that are to be released back to the HMA will be shipped to Sutherland, Utah Off-Range Contract Facility. The Delta facility is currently closed to the public.Once the horses have settled down and had time to acclimate, the Delta facility will be opened to the public for viewing, adoption and/or sale. The Sutherland facility is not an open public facility; thus, no public observation will be authorized at that location.
Notes: BLM Online Corral Adoption on October 12-19, 2021
GATHER REPORTS:
SUNDAY, JULY 18
Animals gathered: 91 (35 stallions, 44 mares, 12 foals)
Animals shipped: 91
SATURDAY, JULY 17
Animals gathered: 108 (60 stallions, 39 mares, 9 foals)
Animals shipped: 108
FRIDAY, JULY 16
Animals gathered: 128 (48 stallions, 64 mares, 16 foals)
Animals shipped: 127
Deaths Today: 1
Acute: 1 / 4-year old bay mare with a BCS 4, fracture to front left pastern was euthanized, mare had a low prognosis for recovery.
THURSDAY, JULY 15
Animals gathered: 94 (42 stallions, 46 mares, 6 foals)
Animals shipped: 93
Animals Released: 1
WEDNESDAY, JULY 14
Animals gathered: 14 (1 stallion, 9 mares, 4 foals)
Animals shipped: 14
IN THE NEWS – ONAQUI 2021
Original herd size 510 / 241 removed (44 foals) / 0 returned / 2 deaths / ? fertility / 0 collared
Date of gather: Sep 11-19, 2019 Gather Method: helicopter
Contractor: CATTOOR Contract price: $146,232.00 140L0619F0210
Plan Gathered: 200 Animals Gathered: 243
Facility Destination: DELTA Max capacity: 300 Open to public: Yes / not currently
Public viewing:
Plan: gather approximately 200 horses from state, private, U.S. Forest Service, and BLM lands. The Horses removed from the range will be transported to the Delta Wild Horse Facility in Delta, Utah. The facility will be closed beginning Wednesday, Sept. 11 through Tuesday, Sept. 24 to allow the horses to settle and acclimate before being prepared for the BLM’s adoption and sale program.
Notes:
GATHER REPORTS
Wednesday, September 11, 2019
Summary: Ninety-one horses were gathered today. Body scores of the horses were 5’s and 6’s. There were 45 members of the public viewing the event. One mare was humanely euthanized after severely injuring herself after gather operations.
Animals gathered: 91(33 stallions, 40 mares, 18 foals)
Animals shipped: 90
Total Deaths Today: 1
Acute: 1
Chronic/Pre-existing: 0
Thursday, September 12, 2019
Summary: Twenty four horses were gathered today. Body scores of the horses were 5’s. There were 8 members of the public viewing the event.
Animals gathered: 24 (10 stallions, 10 mares, 4 foals)
Animals shipped: 24
Total Deaths Today: 0
Acute: 0
Chronic/Pre-existing: 0
Friday, September 13, 2019
Summary: No horses were gathered today. There were 13 members of the public viewing the event.
Animals gathered: 0
Animals shipped: 0
Total Deaths Today: 0
Acute: 0
Chronic/Pre-existing: 0
Saturday, September 14, 2019
Summary: Thirty nine horses were gathered today. Body scores of the horses were 4’s and 5’s. There were no members of the public viewing the event. One mare was humanely euthanized after breaking a leg after gather operations. One domestic mule was captured and delivered as an estray to Tooele County Sherriffs Department.
Animals gathered: 39 (16 stallions, 16 mares, 5 foals)
Animals shipped: 37
Total Deaths Today: 1
Acute: 1
Chronic/Pre-existing: 0
Sunday, September 15, 2019
Summary: Seven horses were gathered today. Body scores of the horses were 3’s, 4’s and 5’s. There were no members of the public viewing the event.
Animals gathered: 7 (1 stallion, 4 mares, 2 foals)
Animals shipped: 7
Total Deaths Today: 0
Acute: 0
Chronic/Pre-existing: 0
Monday, September 16, 2019
Summary: Twenty six horses were gathered today. Body scores of the horses were 4’s and 5’s. There were 7 members of the public viewing the event.
Animals gathered: 26 (13 stallions, 8 mares, 5 foals)
Animals shipped: 26
Total Deaths Today: 0
Acute: 0
Chronic/Pre-existing: 0
Tuesday, September 17, 2019
Summary: Sixteen horses were gathered today. Body scores of the horses were 4’s and 5’s, with the exception of one 2. There were 4 members of the public viewing the event.
Animals gathered: 16 (6 stallions, 7 mares, 3 foals)
Animals shipped: 16
Total Deaths Today: 0
Acute: 0
Chronic/Pre-existing: 0
Wednesday, September 18, 2019
Summary: Six horses were gathered today. Body scores of the horses were 5’s. There were 2 members of the public viewing the event.
Animals gathered: 6 (2 stallions, 3 mares, 1 foals)
Animals shipped: 6
Total Deaths Today: 0
Acute: 0
Chronic/Pre-existing: 0
Thursday, September 19, 2019
Summary: Thirty two horses were gathered today. Body scores of the horses were 4’s and 5’s. There was 1 member of the public viewing the event. Today was the last day of the gather.
Animals gathered: 32 (8 stallions, 17 mares, 7 foals)
Animals shipped: 32
Total Deaths Today: 0
Acute: 0
Chronic/Pre-existing: 0
2012 Cedar Mountain-Onaqui HMA Gathers
Original herd size 159 (onaqui)
Animals: 155 gathered / 34 horses removed (1 stud, 10 adult mares, 2 mare/foal pairs, 19 mixed yearlings) / 120 returned / 1 deaths / 57 fertility / 0 collared
The numbers seem off if they shipped 57 weanlings
Date of gather: 02/27/12 Gather Method: Heli?
Contractor: CATTOOR INL12PD00173 Contract price: $263,489.42
Plan Gathered: 469 from 2 herds Animals Gathered: 421 total: 155 onaqui & 266 Cedar Mtn
Facility Destination: Delta Open to public: no, currently closed
Public viewing: yes
Plan: 469 wild horses from Cedar Mountain & Onaqui Mountain HMAs for fertility control (PZP-22). There will be limited removal of approximately 79 horses that will be placed in the adoption program or long-term pasture facilities
Notes: https://www.flickr.com/photos/blmutah/albums/72157629107220852
Photos taken by: Lisa Reid
Plan & Gather Details
The BLM is planning on gathering an estimated 469 wild horses from the Cedar Mountain and Onaqui Mountain HMAs for treatment of the fertility control drug Porcine Zona Pellucida (PZP-22). There will be limited removal of approximately 79 horses that will be placed in the adoption program or long-term pasture facilities. An estimated 130 mares of the captured wild horses from the Cedar Mountain HMA will be treated and returned to the range with an estimated 131 Studs. Onaqui Mountain HMA will have an estimated 64 mares treated and released with an estimated 65 Studs. This will bring down and maintain the population of horses to appropriate management levels established through the Pony Express Resource Management Plan
Details of the Roundup:
Members of the public are welcome to view the gather operations daily once they begin, so long as the safety of the animals, staff and observers are not jeopardized and operations are not disrupted. During the gather, interested public may participate in an escorted tour by meeting at the Flying J Truck Stop in Lake Point, Utah ready to leave at 5:30 a.m. sharp. The dates and departure times are subject to change depending upon weather and gather operations. The public is strongly encouraged to check the gather hotline nightly (801) 977-4341 for changes in schedule. Participants must provide their own transportation, water and lunches. The BLM recommends that the public dress for harsh field conditions. Binoculars as well as four wheel drive vehicles are strongly recommended.
Adoption:
Animals removed from the Cedar Mountain and Onaqui areas will be available for adoption through the BLM Wild Horse and Burro Adoption Program. To learn more about the program or to obtain an adoption application, visit the BLM National Wild Horse and Burro website.
Latest News:
For BLM news releases and statements issued about the Cedar Mountain and Onaqui gathers, check our Newsroom.
Background:
Cedar Mountain HMA
The Cedar Mountain HMA is currently home to an estimated 362 horses or a range of 290 to 434 horses. This number was derived from aerial inventory of the population, estimated increase, and the known removal of horses from the HMA. This number may fluctuate somewhat due to horse movement between the Cedar Mountain HMA, the Onaqui Mt. HMA and Dugway Proving Grounds. Fences that might preclude horse movement between the three areas are generally insufficient to deter movement. The current established appropriate management level for the Cedar Mt. HMA is set at 190 horses on the low end and 390 at the upper level. The HMA is approximately 197,252 acres in size.
Onaqui Mountain HMA
The Onaqui Mountain HMA is currently home to an estimated 159 horses or a range of 127 to 191 horses. This number was derived from aerial inventory of the population, estimated increase, and the known removal of horses from the HMA. This number may fluctuate somewhat due to horse movement between the Cedar Mtn HMA, the Onaqui Mt. HMA and Dugway Proving Grounds. Fences that might preclude horse movement between the three areas are generally insufficient to deter movement. The current established appropriate management level for the Onaqui Mt. HMA is set at 121 horses on the low end and 210 horses at the upper level. The HMA is approximately 206,795 acres in size.
Dependable summer water sources are a major problem. In drought years, natural water sources may dry up, generating the need for water to be trucked in. Hauling water is a financial impact to the BLM and the transportation infrastructure. In times of reducing budgets, there is no certainty that BLM will be able to continue to haul water to wild horses in sufficient quantity to insure the quality of their existence and avoid mortality. During drought, increased stress is also placed on the water sources and adjacent vegetation as horses congregate around troughs whether or not water is in the spring.
For more information on the Wild Horse and Burro Program, call 866-468-7826 or email wildhorse@blm.gov.
2012 Onaqui Gather report
| Saturday February 18 | Summary: 42 studs, 68 mares, and 3 foals; all are 4 to 5 on the Henneke Scale. Weanlings/yearlings: 31Animals gathered: 144 Animals shipped: 0 Gather related animal deaths: 0 Cause: N/A Non-gather related animal deaths: 1 Cause: Three young foals were gathered (ages between 4 and 6 weeks), including a pinto. When the three mares and their respective foals were in a pen designated for mares and foals, one of the mares kicked the pinto foal causing massive head injuries. Unfortunately, the foal had to be euthanized due to its injuries. The public did not see the incident, but in the interest of transparency, they were advised of what happened. |
| Sunday February 19 | Summary: Gathered 11 studs. 57 mares were treated with PZP. 11 mares and 11 studs have been released back onto the Onaqui HMA.Animals gathered: 11 Animals shipped: 0 Gather related animal deaths: 0 Cause: N/A Non-gather related animal deaths: 0 Cause: N/A |
| Monday February 20 | Summary: Release to Onaqui Mtn HMA today: 46 mares and 52 studs. Total released to Onaqui Mtn HMA in two days: 57 mares and 63 studs. 120 total horses released back to the HMA. 34 animals shipped to Delta: 26 mares/fillys, 2 foals, 6 stallions (1 stud and 5 weanlings) They were confirmed received at Delta, and all are in good condition.Animals gathered: 0 Animals shipped: 34 Gather related animal deaths: 0 Cause: N/A Non-gather related animal deaths: 0 Cause: N/A |
Facility & Veterinary Reports
Monday February 20 Summary: 34 horses (1 stud, 10 adult mares, 2 mare/foal pairs, 19 mixed yearlings) from the Onaqui CTR Gather were received without incident at the Delta Wild Horse Facility.
Saturday February 25 Summary: Shipped 57 weanlings to Delta, they arrived safely.
IN THE NEWS- 2012 Onaqui
Cedar Mountain-Onaqui HMA Gathers
2009 & 2005 Onaqui gather mentioned in WHAF regarding fertility program
2003 Onaqui Gather
ONAQUI REMOVAL LIST
- 2021 ONAQUI MOUNTAIN WILD HORSES GATHER
- 2019 ONAQUI GATHER
- 2012 Cedar Mountain-Onaqui HMA Gathers https://www.flickr.com/photos/blmutah/albums/72157629107220852/
- 2009
- 2005
- 2003
ONAQUI CONTRACTS
2021 UT SLC /SS 140L0621F0208 -1 / (07/10/2021-08/31/2021) / OPEN / $134,043.00 / Utah Onaqui Mountain Herd Management Area (HMA) Drive Trapping Gather/ 3 / 436 horses removed
2019 UT SALT LAKE CITY /CT 140L0619F0210 -2 / (08/22/2019-09/30/2019) / CLOSED / $146,232.00/ UT-Onaqui Mountain – Herd Management Area (HMA) Helicopter Gather /2
2012 UT CEDAR CITY IRON /CT INL12PD00173 -1 / (01/18/2012-02/28/2012) / CLOSED / $263,489.42 / Cedar Mountain & Onaqui Horse Gather /1
2009 UT SLC /CT INL09PD02315 -1 / (09/28/2009-10/07/2009) / CLOSED / $93,774.20 / Onaqui Wild Horse Gather /1
RANGE CREEK HMA (#range-creek)
- Parts of this HMA are not accessible to the public due to private lands.: The HMA contains 43,235 acres of BLM land and 11,788 acres of Federal, State, and privately owned land for a total of 55,023 acres.
- AML: 75-125
- EST POP # 36? horses # 0 burros # cattle # sheep
Grazing allotments: ? / records as of 2020
Original herd size 184 / 148 gathered / 0 returned / 0 deaths / 0 fertility / 0 collared
Date of gather: July 2020 Gather Method:
Contractor: Contract price: $ ?
Plan Gathered: Animals Gathered:
Facility Destination: AXTELL Max capacity: 2250 Open to public: NO
Public viewing:
Plan: Since 1992, approximately 702 wild horses have been gathered and removed from the Range Creek HMA. Gathers were conducted in or adjacent to the HMA in 1994, 1997, 2002, 2006, 2018, 2019 . Once the AML has been reached, any mares released back to the HMA would be treated with a fertility control vaccine. Horses removed from the Range Creek gather are tentatively planned to be shipped to the Axtell Off-Range Contract Wild Horse Facility in Axtell, Utah.
Notes:
2019 RANGE CREEK WILD HORSE GATHER
Original herd size 282
Animals: 154 gathered / 0 returned / 1 deaths / 0 fertility / 0 collared
Date of gather: Oct 2 2019 Gather Method: HELI
Contractor: SAMPSON Contract price: $97,098.00 140L0619F0233
Plan Gathered: 200 Animals Gathered: 154
Facility Destination: Axtell Off-Range Contract Max capacity: Open to public: N
Public viewing: Y, escorted tours
Plan: gather approximately 200 horses from Federal, State and private lands.
Notes:
GATHER REPORTS
Thursday, September 26, 2019
Summary: 0 members of the public viewing the event – on private land. 25 public at temporary holding facility.
Animals gathered: 63 (21 stallions, 32 mares, 10 foals) HBC 4’s
Animals shipped: 37
Friday, September 27, 2019
Summary: 0 members of the public viewing the event – on private land. 12 public at temporary holding facility.
Animals gathered: 9 (3 stallions, 5 mares, 1 foals) HBC 4’s
Animals shipped: 35
Saturday, September 28, 2019
Summary: 0 members of the public viewing the event – on private land. 8 public at temporary holding facility.
Animals gathered: 34 (8 stallions, 22 mares, 4 foals) HBC 4’s
Animals shipped: 34
Sunday, September 29, 2019
Summary: No activity, high winds. 4 public present
Monday, September 30, 2019
Summary: 6 public viewing event. 19 public at the temporary holding facility.
Animals gathered: 12 (2 stallions, 7 mares, 3 foals) HBC 4’s
Total Deaths Today: 1
Acute: 1 / One filly was euthanized after severely injuring herself during gather.
Tuesday, October 1, 2019
Summary: 5 public observed. 20 public at the temporary holding facility.
Animals gathered: 22 (10 stallions, 10 mares, 2 foals) HBC 4’s
Animals shipped: 33
Wednesday, October 2, 2019
Summary: 2 members of the public viewing the event. six members of the public at the temporary holding facility.
Animals gathered: 14 (7 stallions, 4 mares, 3 foals) HBC 4’s
Animals shipped: 14
Original herd size 375
Animals: 91 gathered / 0 returned / 1 deaths / 0 fertility / 0 collared
Date of gather: july 27-13, 2018 – Oct 2 2019 Gather Method: Bait
Contractor: Contract price: $ ?
Plan Gathered: 100 Animals Gathered: 91
Facility Destination: Axtell Facility Max capacity: 2250 Open to public: NO
Public viewing: NO
Plan: “Excess wild horses are negatively affecting rangeland resources on private lands.” remove up to 100 wild horses from private lands adjacent to and within the Range Creek HMA.
Horses removed from the range will be checked by a veterinarian and prepared for adoption.
Notes: no vet report
GATHER REPORTS
Tuesday, June 26, 2018
Summary: All of these horses were outside the Range Creek HMA on private land.
Animals gathered: 6 HBC 3’s and 4’s.
Wednesday, June 27, 2018
Animals gathered: 35
Animals shipped: 27
Saturday, June 30, 2018
Animals gathered: 13
Monday, July 2, 2018
Animals gathered: 12
Total deaths today: 1
Acute: 1
Tuesday, July 3, 2018
Animals shipped: 35
Wednesday, July 4, 2018
Summary: No horses were gathered today.
Animals gathered: 1
Thursday July 5, 2018
Summary: No horses were gathered today.
Animals gathered: 24
Friday July 13, 2018
Animals gathered: 1
Saturday July 14, 2018
Animals shipped: 29
RANGE CREEK REMOVAL LIST
RANGE CREEK CONTRACTS LOCATED
ROBBERS ROOST HMA (#robbers-roost)
reverted back to HA in 2008
- UT0653 / Price FO – Richfield FO / Carbon and Emery Counties
- 0 acres: BLM
- AML: 25 h
- Livestock AMU: ? cattle / ? x5= ? sheep
- EST 2020 # 0 horses # 0 burros # 0 cattle # 0 sheep
2004 UT Price Field Office, RMP – BLM-UT-GI-04-002-1610
UT-070-2002-11
2008 Richfield Field Office ROD & RMP
ENERGY CONFLICTS: yes
2008 Richfield Field Office ROD & RMP
The Approved RMP is consistent with the corridors described in the West-Wide Corridor Programmatic EIS and the Energy Policy Act of 2005. At the same time, the realty decision still affords protection for natural resources by limiting surface disturbance in sensitive areas.
The Approved RMP designates all WSAs and the suitable wild and scenic river corridor within
Fremont Gorge as right-of-way exclusion areas. The majority of these exclusion areas are within
WSAs, which is a non-discretionary decision. Avoidance areas for rights-of-ways include,
ACECs to protect relevant and important values; non-WSA lands with wilderness characteristics,
Richfield Field Office Record of Decision 31 to protect, preserve and maintain wilderness characteristics; and areas open to oil and gas leasing with NSO stipulations, to prevent ground disturbance in areas protected for specific resource values. These include the Bull Creek Archeological District, VRM Class II Scenery (outside of WSAs) within the Dirty Devil/Robbers Roost SRMA, and ½ mile around Greater sage-grouse leks. The designation of exclusion and avoidance areas in the Approved RMP provides a balance between granting rights-of-way and protecting important natural resources.
Grazing allotments: yes / records as of 2020
2020 Livestock AMU: Livestock use: WHB:
, Sheep & Cattle / Total AUMs 0 – Livestock use 0
SINBAD HMA (#sinbad)
- The HMA contains 89,465 acres of BLM lands and 9,776 acres of Federal, State, and privately owned land for a total of 99,241 acres
- AML: 50-70
- EST POP # 0 horses # ? burros # cattle # sheep
Grazing allotments: ? / records as of 2020
Original herd size ? / 36 removed / 0 returned / 0 deaths / 0 fertility / 0 collared
Date of gather: August 13, 2020 Gather Method:
Contractor: Contract price: $ ?
Plan Gathered: ? Animals Gathered: 36
Facility Destination: Axtell Facility Max capacity: 2250 Open to public: NO
Public viewing:
Plan:
PRESS RELEASE
PRESS RELEASE: PRICE, Utah —The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has completed an emergency water/bait trapping operation to remove wild burros that have been habituated to unauthorized water sources. The BLM was forced to undertake this gather and removal operation because unauthorized delivery of water to the wild burros changed their natural behaviors, causing irreparable harm to their wild and free-roaming nature by drawing them away from better forage areas and natural water sources. gathered 36 burros and transferred the animals to the Axtell Facility.
“Unauthorized water delivery interfered with the wild and free roaming nature of the burros in the Sinbad Herd Management Area,” said Utah State Director Greg Sheehan. “These wild burros were impacted and displaced by these unauthorized actions.”
After learning about unauthorized water delivery to wild burros in and near the Muddy Creek and Sinbad Herd Management Areas (HMAs), the BLM determined that an emergency gather would be necessary because the wild burros appeared to have become accustomed to being in the presence of humans and congregating away from their natural water sources. The wild burros from the Sinbad HMA traverse the range during dry conditions and throughout summer months and instinctually know how to find water. Shallow water sources and ponds near well traveled roads tend to dry up causing concern for the public who may not be aware that natural water sources, which are nearby but beyond the view of the motoring public, provide ample water.
Utah Department of Natural Resources Executive Director Brian Steed. “Wild horses and burros do not recognize state and federal boundaries, and we support all efforts to prevent overpopulation for the protection of Utah’s ecosystems and wildlife.”
The BLM Price Field Office is keenly aware of the challenges when it comes to available water and forage. Since early April 2020, the BLM has been conducting weekly visits to the area to check on the health of the wild horses and burros—as well as water and forage resources. The BLM was proactively monitoring the herds before receiving any reports that animals were allegedly out of water. The BLM has been managing drought concerns for these herds for years, going back to 1999 when a severe drought incident occurred.
In the past, BLM hauled water to compromised animals in these areas but found they are typically reluctant to drink out of artificial water troughs and would find water naturally if allowed to do so. Additionally, placing unauthorized water troughs into dry ponds encourages the animals to stay in areas with no natural water instead of moving into the more remote locations with natural water sources.
The BLM encourages the public to please reach out to their local BLM office before taking actions to support the health and welfare of any wild horses or burros. For wildlife concerns, the public is encouraged to reach out to the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources.
Notes: No gather, or vet report
SINBAD REMOVAL LIST
SULPHUR HMA (#sulphur)
- UT0448 – Horse / Cedar City FO – Fillmore FO / Iron, Beaver, and Millard counties
- HMA contains 230,157 acres of BLM land and 35,554 acres of federal, state, and privately owned land for a total of 265,711 acres.
- AML: 165-250
- Livestock 2020 AUMS: 26,572 (cattle and sheep) – Actual use 10,185 (see notes below)
- EST 2020: # 1,193 horses # 0 burros # cattle # sheep
mar 22 21 Sulphur HMA Wild Horse Gather EA – DOI-UT-C010-2020-0029-EA
1983 UT- Pinyon Management Framework Plan #1983-pinyon
1987 UT – Warm Springs ROD. RMP.
Lawsuits – Litigation
Beaver Cnty. v. U.S. Dep’t of Interior Case No. 2:17-CV-00088-CW (D. Utah Oct. 6, 2017)
The Sulphur Herd Management Area (“Sulphur HMA”) is located in portions of western Beaver, Iron and Millard Counties. (ECF No. 2 at 6.) The Federal Land Policy Management Act requires that the Secretary, and by extension the BLM, manage public lands under Resource Management Plans (“RMP”). (ECF No. 2 at 4). The Sulphur HMA is managed under two RMPs which require the BLM to remove excess wild horses and maintain the population below the established AML. (ECF No. 2 at 7.) Based on the controlling RMPs, the BLM concluded the AML for the Sulphur HMA is a range of 135 to 180 adult horses, or 165 to 250, if wild horses of all ages are included. (Id.) As of March 2017, it is estimated that about 1,150 horses were living in the Sulphur HMA. (Id. at 7.)
W. Rangeland Conservation Ass’n v. Zinke 265 F. Supp. 3d 1267 (D. Utah 2017)
The extent of BLM’s delay in this instance is substantial. BLM’s current obligation to “immediately remove” excess horses in the Frisco, Four-Mile, Bible Springs, and Sulphur HMAs, as well as the Blawn Wash HA arose as soon as the agency identified an overpopulation in each given area and determined that action was necessary to remove that overpopulation. See Wyoming , 839 F.3d at 944. BLM made these determinations for the Frisco HMA in September 2012, (AR001477), for the Sulphur HMA in July 2014, (AR002137), and for the Four-Mile HMA, Bible Springs HMA, and Blawn Wash HA in June 2014, (AR001350). While it is not clear from the record exactly how long it would have taken BLM to complete removal to within AML in these areas consistent with its duty under Section Three, it appears that BLM has delayed completion of its duty for multiple years in each area and intends to delay for several years more. Such delay is inconsistent with Section Three’s mandate, which provides a clear “indication of the speed with which [Congress] expects the agency to proceed,” see TRAC , 750 F.2d at 80—BLM must “immediately remove excess animals from the range so as to achieve appropriate management levels,” 16 U.S.C. § 1333(b)(2) (emphasis added). As explained above, this congressional command affords BLM no discretion to choose other management options or to unnecessarily delay implementation and completion of removal actions. BLM may only delay the necessary removals to the extent that delay is necessary to safely and effectively complete the removals. BLM’s years-long failure to fulfill this obligation in the face of the law’s requirement of prompt action weighs in favor of Plaintiffs’ claims of unreasonable delay.
Friends of Animals v. U.S. Bureau of Land Mgmt. Case No. 2:15-cv-00118-CW (D. Utah Feb. 25, 2015)
“Case No. 2:15-cv-00118-CW 02-25-2015 FRIENDS OF ANIMALS, and PROTECT MUSTANGS, Plaintiffs, v. THE UNITED STATES ” Friends of Animals v. U.S. Bureau of Land Mgmt., Case No. 2:15-cv-00118-CW, (D. Utah Feb. 25, 2015) https://casetext.com/case/friends-animals-v-us-bureau-of-land-mgmt The Pinyon Management Framework Plan of 1983, one of the applicable Land Use Plans governing management of that area, allows for “the removal of horses as…
Grazing allotments: 8 / records as of 2020
A few portions are part of larger allotments outside of the hma (shown in map below). So exact numbers are difficult to predict for those sections.
2020 AUMS 26,572 (cattle and sheep) – Actual use 10,185
STATELINE UT06238, Sheep / Total AUMs 4,752 – Total Livestock 4,298 / Millard county
HAMLIN UT06250, Cattle / Total AUMs 2,225 – Total Livestock 330 / 2/3 Beaver and 1/3 Millard county
FAIRVIEW UT16236, Sheep / Total AUMs 4,253 – Total Livestock 3,569 / 2/3 Beaver and 1/3 Millard county
INDIAN PEAK UT05132, Sheep / Total AUMs 1,758 – Total Livestock 352 / Beaver county / cedar FO
NORTH PINE VALLEY UT06226, Cattle / Total AUMs 5,168 – Total Livestock 590 / Beaver county
/ small portion cedar FO
ATCHISON CREEK UT05155, Cattle / Total AUMs 267 – Total Livestock 221 cedar FO /
½ Beaver and ½ Iron county
JACKSON WASH UT05133, Cattle / Total AUMs 2,340 – Total Livestock 300 / 1/3 Beaver and 2/3 iron county (majority) / cedar FO small portion cedar FO also part of Bible Springs HMA
SOUTH PINE VALLEY UT06224, Cattle / Total AUMs 5,809 – Total Livestock 525 / Beaver county / cedar FO small portion
IN THE NEWS – Sulphur
Apr 17 21 Documentation – Sulphur & Conger HMA – Craig Downer
BLM & the Sulphur Horses – SulphurSprings Horse Registry Inc.
Original herd est: 1193 / 628 gathered / 46 returned / 8 deaths / 0 fertility / 0 collared
Date of gather: August 2020 Gather Method: HELI
Contractor: SAMPSON Contract price: $204,380.00 140L0620F0192
Plan Gathered: 600 Animals Gathered: 628
Facility Destination: Axtell Facility Max capacity: 2250 Open to public: NO
Public viewing: yes
Plan: gather approximately 600 wild horses. Population growth suppression will be implemented to help stabilize the annual increase of animals being born on the HMA. Public lands will remain open unless closures are deemed necessary to protect public safety.
Notes:
DAILY GATHER REPORTS
Saturday, August 15, 2020
Summary: 11 public observed
Animals gathered: 78 (45 stallions, 22 mares, 11 foals) HBC 4’s and 5’s
Sunday, August 16, 2020
Animals gathered: 18 (8 stallions, 8 mares, 2 foals) HBC 4’s and 5’s
Animals shipped: 46 (Axtel Off-Range Contract Facility)
Monday, August 17, 2020
Summary: 5 public observed
Animals gathered: 82 (21 stallions, 44 mares, 17 foals) Majority HBC 3’s, Five mares scored 2’s and a few scored 4’s.
Animals shipped: 49 (Axtel Off-Range Contract Facility)
Total Deaths Today: 1
Acute: 1 / One foal was euthanized due to a dislocated front right shoulder with torn muscles/ligaments.
Tuesday, August 18, 2020
Summary: 3 members of the public observed
Animals gathered: 54 (24 stallions, 18 mares, 12 foals) HBC majority of the body scores were 3’s. Six mares scored 2’s and a few scored 4’s and 5’s
Animals shipped: 49 (Axtel Off-Range Contract Facility)
Wednesday August 19, 2020
Summary: 9 public observed
Animals gathered: 23 (16 stallions, 6 mares, 1 foals) HBC 3’s or 4’s.
Animals shipped: 44 (Axtel Off-Range Contract Facility)
Total Deaths Today: 1
Chronic/Pre-existing: 1 / One stud was humanely euthanized due to an old injury resulting in a club-foot.
Thursday August 20, 2020
Summary: 3 public observed
Animals gathered: 18 (7 stallions, 7 mares, 4 foals) HBC 3’s or 4’s. One mare HBC of 2.
Animals shipped: 44 (Axtel Off-Range Contract Facility)
Friday August 21, 2020
Summary: 3 public observed
Animals gathered: 54 (12 stallions, 30 mares, 12 foals) HBC 3-5’s
Total Deaths Today: 3
Acute: 1 / One horse died suddenly due to colic.
Chronic/Pre-existing: 2 / One stud was euthanized due to a deformed left foot. One stud was euthanized due to both front legs being deformed from the hock to the hoof.
Saturday August 22, 2020
Animals gathered: 21 (7 stallions, 10 mares, 4 foals) HBC 3-4’s
Animals shipped: 47 (Axtel Off-Range Contract Facility)
Sunday August 23, 2020
Animals gathered: 55 (21 stallions, 24 mares, 10 foals) HBC 4-5’s
Monday August 24, 2020
Summary: 12 public observed
Animals gathered: 55 (13 stallions, 26 mares, 16 foals) HBC 5’s.
Animals shipped: 49 (Axtel Off-Range Contract Facility)
Tuesday August 25, 2020
Summary: 3 public observed
Animals gathered: 32 (8 stallions, 14 mares, 10 foals) HBC 5’s
Wednesday August 26, 2020
Animals gathered: 48 (18 stallions, 20 mares, 10 foals) HBC 4’s and 5’s, three wet mares that scored 3’s.
Animals shipped: 96 (Axtel Off-Range Contract Facility)
Total Deaths Today: 1
Acute: 1 / One mare was euthanized due to a broken neck sustained from hitting a panel.
Thursday August 27, 2020
Summary: 2 public observed
Animals gathered: 25 (11 stallions, 9 mares, 5 foals) HBC 4’s and 5’s.
Animals shipped: 81 (Axtel Off-Range Contract Facility)
Total Deaths Today: 2
Chronic/Pre-existing: 2 / One stud was euthanized due to suffering from a sway back. One stud was euthanized due to a left hind leg injury causing tendons to contract.
Friday August 28, 2020
Animals gathered: 57 (24 stallions, 19 mares, 14 foals) HBC 4’s and 5’s.
Animals shipped: 61 (Axtel Off-Range Contract Facility)
2012 Sulphur Gather
SULPHUR REMOVAL LIST
- 2020 SULPHUR GATHER
- 2018
- 2012
SULPUR CONTRACTS LOCATED
2020 UT CEDAR CITY IRON /SS 140L0620F0192 -1 / $204,380.00 / (07/27/2020-09/30/2020) / CLOSED /Wild Horse and Burro Program – Utah Sulphur Herd Management Area Wild Horse Helicopter Gather / 3 / 628 horses removed
2018 UT BEAVER / 140L0618F0165 -1 / (07/25/2018-08/31/2018) / CLOSED / $135,885.20 / Bible Springs Complex/Sulphur Wild Horse Helicopter Gather
SWASEY MOUNTAINS HMA (#swasey)
- 120,113 acres of public and state lands
- AML: 60-100
- EST POP # ? horses # 0 burros # cattle # sheep
Grazing allotments: ? / records as of 2020
Original herd size 865
Animals: 661 gathered / 0 returned / 9 deaths / 0 fertility / 0 collared
Date of gather: heli July 15-24 24, 2020 / Water Trap: Sept 11- Oct 6, 2020
Gather Method: 603 heli / 49 water trap
Contractor: SAMPSON Contract price: $169,675.00 140L0620F0166
Plan Gathered: 800 Animals Gathered: 661
Facility Destination: Axtell and Delta Max capacity: Open to Public: No / Not currently
Public viewing: yes
Notes: deaths 9 (2 Helicopter, 7 Water Trap)
(how did 7 die at water, were they not monitoring daily as required?)
Plan:
Plan: gather and remove 800 excess wild horses from within the Swasey HMA. Once the AML has been reached, any mares released would be treated with a fertility control measures. There are two gathers on the National Gather Schedule. The first gather will be using a helicopter method, if 800 wild horses are captured, then there will not be a second gather. If the gather objective is not met via helicopter method, then a water trap gather method will be scheduled in August to reach AML. A population growth suppression and sex ratio adjustment would be implemented upon reaching AML.
Since 1978, approximately 900 wild horses have been gathered and removed from the Swasey HMA. In 1978, 1984, 1990, 1993, 1996, 1999, 2003, 2007, 2009, and 2013 gathers were conducted in or adjacent to the HMA.
Horses removed from the Swasey gather are tentatively planned to be shipped to the Axtell Off-Range Corrals in Axtell, Utah. Those horses to be released back into the HMA will be shipped to the Delta Wild Horse Facility in Delta, Utah for treatment.
GATHER REPORT
Wednesday, July 15, 2020
Summary: 27 public observed
Animals gathered: 150 (60 stallions, 24 mares, 0 foals) HBC 3-5, two with body scores of 2
Animals shipped: 84 (39 horses to Axtell Off-Range Corrals and 45 horses to Delta WHB Facility)
Thursday, July 16, 2020
Summary: 6 public observed
Animals gathered: 103 (37 stallions, 46 mares, 20 foals) HBC 3-4, seven with body scores of 2.
Animals shipped: 124 (93 horses to Axtell Off-Range Corrals and 31 horses to Delta WHB Facility)
Friday, July 17, 2020
Summary: 15 public observed
Animals gathered: 56 (19 stallions, 23 mares, 14 foals) HBC 3-4, seven with body scores of 2.
Animals shipped: 101 (85 horses to Axtell Off-Range Corrals and 16 horses to Delta WHB Facility)
Saturday, July 18, 2020
Summary: 3 public observed.
Animals gathered: 89 (27 stallions, 44 mares, 18 foals) HBC 3-4, seven with body scores of 2
Animals shipped: 88 (53 horses to Axtell Off-Range Corrals and 35 horses to Delta WHB Facility)
Total Deaths Today: 1
Acute: 1 / One 5 year old mare was fatally injured after hitting a panel.
Sunday, July 19, 2020
Summary: 6 public observed
Animals gathered: 61 (17 stallions, 32 mares, 12 foals) majority HBC 3-4, 14 with body scores of 2, Two scored 1.5
Animals shipped: 61 (37 horses to Axtell Off-Range Corrals and 24 horses to Delta WHB Facility)
Monday, July 20, 2020
Summary: 4 public observed
Animals gathered: 47 (24 stallions, 15 mares, 8 foals) majority HBC 3-5, five with body scores of 2.
Animals shipped: 25 (all to Delta WHB Facility)
Tuesday, July 21, 2020
Summary: 4 public observed
Animals gathered: 19 (7 stallions, 8 mares, 4 foals) Most HBC 3-4, Five horses scored 1, ten horses scored 2
Animals shipped: 3 horses to Delta WHB Facility
Total Deaths Today: 1
Chronic/Pre-existing: 1 / One horse was euthanized due to a pre-existing condition.
Wednesday, July 22, 2020
Summary: 3 public observed
Animals gathered: 42 (14 stallions, 18 mares, 10 foals) HBC 3-5, two with body scores of 2.
Animals shipped: 10 horses to Delta WHB Facility
Thursday, July 23, 2020
Summary: 2 members of the public observed
Animals gathered: 27 (11 stallions, 11 mares, 5 foals) HBC 3-4, four with body scores of 2, one horse 1.5
Animals shipped: 59 (48 horses to Axtell Off-Range Corrals and 11 horses to Delta WHB Facility)
Friday, July 24, 2020
Summary: 5 public observed
Animals gathered: 9 (2 stallions, 5 mares, 2 foals) HBC 3-5, one horse 2.
Animals shipped: 9 (6 horses to Axtell Off-Range Corrals and 3 horses to Delta WHB Facility)
—————————————————————————————-
The following entries are for the Water Trap Gather at Swasey HMA
—————————————————————————————-
Friday, September 11, 2020
Animals gathered: 23 (11 stallions, 7 mares, 5 foals) HBC 1-4
Animals shipped: 21 (Axtell Off-Range Corral)
Deaths Today: 2
Chronic/Pre-existing: 2 / Two horses were humanely euthanized today. One was missing his left eye. The other was suffering from an old break in her left hind ankle.
Friday, September 17, 2020
Animals gathered: 11 (5 stallions, 4 mares, 2 foals) HBC 1-4
Animals shipped: 10 (Axtell Off-Range Corral)
Total Deaths Today: 1
Acute: 1 / One horse died instantly while hitting a panel.
Friday, September 26, 2020
Animals gathered: 15 (4 stallions, 8 mares, 3 foals) HBC 1-4
Animals shipped: 11 (10/6/20 to Axtell Off-Range Corral)
Total Deaths Today: 4
Chronic/Pre-existing: 4 / Four horses were euthanized. All had a body condition unable to maintain or improve.
SWASEY MOUNTAIN REMOVAL LIST
TILLY CREEK HMA (#tilly-creek)
- 37,006 acres
- AML: 20-50
- EST POP # ? horses # 0 burros # cattle # sheep
Grazing allotments: ? / records as of 2020
WINTER RIDGE HA Winter Ridge Wild Horse Herd (#winter-ridge)
- UT0853 / FS – VERNAL FIELD OFFICE / Grand and Uintah Counties / HA is approximately 90 miles south of Vernal, Utah
- Acres: 46,500 of public and private land. WSA – Winter Ridge (42,462 acres)
- AML: 0 – ZERO
- Livestock AMU: 1,721 cattle
- EST 2010 # 120-150 horses # 0 burros # ? cattle # 0 sheep
- EST 2020 # 0 horses # 0 burros # 171 cattle # 0 sheep
Energy Conflicts: WSAs are closed to oil and gas leasing
HERD – ZEROED OUT Documents / Maps
july 2011 Winter Ridge HA Wild Horse Gather and Removal Plan DOI-BLM-UT-GOIO-2010-0208-EA Capture and remove all wild horses (nofertility control or sex ratio adjustment) from the Winter Ridge Herd Area and surrounding area will not have a significant effect on the human environment.
Oct 2 008 VFO Resource Management Plan Record of Decision (ROD)
The Bonanza, Hill Creek, and the Winter Ridge Herd Area
designations will continue, but there will be no management for horses.
Grazing allotments: 2 / records as of 2020
2020 Livestock AMU: 1,721 Livestock use: 271 WHB: 0
Winter Ridge Amp UT08827, Cattle / Total AUMs 896 – Livestock use 120 (nov-jun?)
Horse Point UT08825, Sheep & Cattle / Total AUMs 825 – Livestock use 151 (nov-jun?)
The Winter Ridge Herd Area and Hill Creek Herd Management Area will not be managed for
wild horses. Upon removal, the 2,340 AUMs no longer needed for wild horses will be allocated
through a future planning process.
2011 WINTER RIDGE GATHER
Original herd est: 0
Animals: 0 gathered / 0 returned / 0 deaths / 0 fertility / 0 collared
Date of gather: Gather Method:
Contractor:
Contract price: $ ?
Plan Gathered: Animals Gathered:
Facility Destination: Max capacity: Public Access:
Dead Animals shipped to: ?
Public viewing:
Plan:
Notes:
Winter Ridge Gather Reports
Facility & Veterinary Reports
| Date 2011FacilityCommentsMonday, September 12–Summary: All of the horses tested negative for Equine Infectious Anemia (EIA) and will be shipped to Delta on September 13.Tuesday, September 13Delta Wild Horse CorralsSummary: 106 animals were shipped to the Delta Wild Horse Corrals, one domestic private horse was turned over to a Utah State Brand Inspector and private horse owner.Due to the historical outbreaks of EIA in the Uinta Basin area, all wild horses captured will have a blood sample taken and be tested within capture area for presence of EIA. Testing will commence on September 12. In consultation and cooperation with the Utah State Veterinarian, should any animal test positive for EIA these animals would be euthanized immediately, all of the other gathered wild horses would be held in quarantine for a 45-day period. If we do not have any positives, all horses should be shipped to the Delta Wild Horse Corrals on Tuesday. |
| Cumulative Totals since September 9 | ||
| Animals Gathered | Gather Related Animal Deaths | Non-Gather Related Animal Deaths |
| 109 | 0 | 2 |
| Date 2011 | Comments |
| Friday September 9 | Summary: Gathered 32 studs, 44 mares, 23 foals and 1 gelding; most are 5s on the Henneke Scale.Animals gathered: 100 Animals shipped: 0 Gather related animal deaths: 0 Cause: N/A Non-gather related animal deaths: 0 Cause: N/A |
| Saturday September 10 | Summary: Gathered 4 studs and 2 mares; all are a 5 on the Henneke Scale.Three additional stud horses, body class 3, were picked up in a private land owner corral at the bottom of the canyon and are being included in the gather. Animals gathered: 6+3 Animals shipped: 0 Gather related animal deaths: 0 Cause: N/A Non-gather related animal deaths: 0 Cause: N/A |
| Sunday September 11 | Shipment Information: Due to the historical outbreaks of EIA in the Uinta Basin area, all wild horses captured will have a blood sample taken and be tested within capture area for presence of EIA. Testing will commence on September 12. In consultation and cooperation with the Utah State Veterinarian, should any animal test positive for EIA these animals would be euthanized immediately, all of the other gathered wild horses would be held in quarantine for a 45-day period. If we do not have any positives, all horses should be shipped to the Delta Wild Horse Corrals on Tuesday. Animals gathered: 0 Animals shipped: 0 Gather related animal deaths: 0 Cause: N/A Non-gather related animal deaths: 2 Cause: Non-gather related pre-existing conditions The first was a three year old mare with an eye injury (ruptured globe), and we also put down a three year old stallion with an angular limb deformity of the knee, which was enlarged and arthritic. The euthanization was carried out by a private vet. |
| Monday September 12 | Summary: All blood samples came back negative for the 109 horses gathered in Utah. Horses will ship to the Delta Wild Horse Corrals tomorrow.Animals gathered: 0 Animals shipped: 0 Gather related animal deaths: 0 Cause: N/A Non-gather related animal deaths: 0 Cause: 0 |
| Tuesday September 13 | Summary: 106 animals were shipped to the Delta Wild Horse Corrals, one domestic private horse was turned over to a Utah State Brand Inspector and private horse owner.Animals gathered: 0 Animals shipped: 106 Gather related animal deaths: 0 Cause: N/A Non-gather related animal deaths: 0 Cause: 0 |
Contracts Located
2011 UT SLC /CT INL11PD01328 -1 / (09/01/2011-09/14/2011) / CLOSED / $66,582.00 / Winter Ridge Ha, Ut – Wild Horse Gather /1
OTHER UTAH REMOVALS
2012 UT CEDAR CITY IRON /SS INL13PD00008 -1 / (11/02/2012-12/23/2012) / CLOSED / $25,163.40 / WILD HORSE GATHER ADAM’S PRIVATE LANDS – bait /3
This UTAH HMA project will include gatherable information from a multitude of verified sources and combine it all together for a complete access point for wild horses of this state. It will show you FACTS and links to BLM, ROUNDUPS, MEDIA, ADVOCATES, FERTILITY, SANCTUARIES, NON PROFITS, YEARLY HISTORY, STATISTICS, RECORDS OF ABUSE, RESEARCH, POLITICS, LAWS, LAWSUITS, CONGRESS, CATTLE INDUSTRY, SLAUGHTER RECORDS, KILL PENS and any other important data for complete oversight in relation to the BLM’s activity related to the Herd Management Areas of this nation’s wild horse herds.
Not all UTAH Herd Areas (HA) listed in WIKIPEDIA are managed by the BLM (they only manage HMA’s)
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