A Gentler Roundup: Humane Wild Horse Management

Wild horse advocate TJ Holmes is dedicated to the humane management of wild horse populations in Disappointment Valley, north of Dolores. Armed with a specialized dart gun, she hikes for hours to administer porcine zona pellucida (PZP), a form of animal birth control, to specific mares. This effort is part of a broader strategy to control the population of the Spring Creek Basin Herd, which currently numbers around 60.

Effective Population Control

Holmes, a Bureau of Land Management (BLM) volunteer and board member of the Colorado chapter of the National Mustang Association, has been monitoring the herd for years. She notes, "The darting program has been very effective in preventing them from conceiving, so we’ve been able to reduce the rate of growth for the herd." This control is crucial as the 20,000-acre protected range can only support a limited number of animals.

Thanks to the success of the PZP program, no roundups have been necessary since 2011. However, Holmes acknowledges that roundups may still be needed as populations can outpace birth control efforts, albeit at a slower rate.

Advocating for Bait-Trapping

When roundups are required, horse advocacy groups urge the BLM to use bait-trapping instead of helicopter roundups, which have been controversial due to the stress they place on horses and the potential for foal deaths. Holmes explains, "With bait-trapping, horses can be coaxed into corrals on a voluntary basis with more control and less stress on the animal."

In August 2014, a bait-trapping proposal was submitted to the Tres Rios BLM office by the National Mustang Association, in collaboration with the Four Corners Back Country Horsemen and Mesa Verde Back Country Horsemen. An environmental assessment is underway, and the public comment period on bait-trapping for roundups has been extended until February 28.

Maintaining Rangeland Health

BLM field manager Connie Clementson states that the target population for the herd is 35 to 65, with an ideal population of 50. "Maintaining those levels are needed to meet the standards of rangeland health," she said.

Bait-trapping involves using water, mineral blocks, or hay at predetermined locations to lure certain mustangs into corrals with remote-controlled gates. The process can take days or even weeks, with sections of corrals being installed over time until capture. Holmes adds, "We arrange the corrals so that those we want to keep in the wild population can escape."

Continued Efforts in Contraception

Holmes continues her efforts in horse contraception, which costs $30 per mare. She approaches individual horses with a dart gun, aiming for the rump from within 50 yards. "The air gun is not a sharp crack like a gun, so it’s less frightening for them. They are wild and still very wary, even of me," she said.

Access to the Spring Creek Basin Herd Management Area is between Norwood and Dove Creek in Disappointment Valley. The main entrance from the west is via San Miguel County Road 19Q, also known as Disappointment Road. The public is encouraged to drive through the area to view wild mustangs in their natural habitat.

Submit hard copy comments to: BLM Tres Rios Field Office, Attn: Lindsey Eoff, 29211 Highway 184, Dolores, CO. 81323, or by email to [email protected]

Originally Posted By The Cortez Journal