The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is set to roundup wild horses and burros roundup in the Twin Peaks Herd Management Area (HMA). Located in both Lassen County, CA and Washoe County, NV, the HMA covers 758,128 acres.
Using helicopters, the operation aims to trap 800 horses and remove 728 of them. The remaining 72 horses will be released, with 30 treated with the fertility control drug GonaCon. Under the latest population survey from September 2022, this operation targets a 62% reduction in the herd size to meet the BLM’s appropriate management level (AML) of 448-758 horses.
As for burros, helicopters intends to trap and remove 143, purposing a 67% herd reduction under the BLM’s appropriate management level (AML) of 72-116 burros.
POST ROUNDUP SUMMARY
Dates TBD
Contractor: Cattoor Livestock Roundup, Inc. Paid $201,839.
Temporary holding (TH): Horn Ranch
Short term holding (STH): Litchfield Wild Horse and Burro Corrals, CA
AWHC is on the ground—read our daily reports below
October 10, 2024
Summary: Observers watched today’s roundup from across a highway, making documentation difficult. At the trap site, a closely hovering helicopter used sirens to more forcefully push the horses; a horse managed to jump the panel to escape and a band of horses resisted capture.
Daily total*According to BLM report
Captured: 127 (42 stallions, 57 mares, 28 foals)
Shipped: 127 (42 stallions, 57 mares, 28 foal)
A horse escaping to freedom.
Helicopter closely hovering with sirens.
October 9, 2024
Summary: Despite the lack of visibility at the trap site, an AWHC observer managed to capture footage of 38 stallions being released in the North Observation range. Watch the video below. A new trap site at the west shoreline of Honey Lake is scheduled for tomorrow.
Daily total*According to BLM report
Released: 38 stallions into the North Observation home range of the HMA.
Captured horses looking out towards the range.
Stallions returning to the range, running to freedom.
October 8, 2024
Summary: Same as yesterday, observers had no visibility of the trap site.
Daily total*According to BLM report
Captured: 110 (39 stallions, 49 mares, 22, foals)
Shipped: 110 (39 stallions, 49 mares, 22, foals)
October 7, 2024
Summary: Amidst light afternoon showers and 87°F heat, today’s roundup continued in the Skedaddle Home Range. Observers once again had extremely limited views of the trap site due to terrain, heat waves, and distance. An AWHC observer witnessed a mare run into a panel and fatally break her neck. The trap also appeared to lack overhead padding.
Daily total*According to BLM report
Captured: 114 (45 stallions, 43 mares, 26 foals)
Shipped: 113 (45 stallions, 42 mares, 26 foals)
1 Death.*According to BLM report
Three year old mare suffered a broken neck when she ran into a panel during sorting.
October 6, 2024
Summary: Today’s roundup focused on removing horses outside of the HMA’s boundaries at the south end (the Skedaddle Home Range). Due to terrain, heat waves, and dust, the trap site was nearly “impossible” to view from the observation point. An AWHC observer noted a lot of fencing in the area.
Daily total*According to BLM report
Captured: 177 (49 stallions, 46 mares, 22 foals)
Shipped: 166 (56 stallions, 73 mares, 37 foals)
Observer view of horses being pushed amidst heat and dust
October 5, 2024
Summary: On the final day of operations at the Observation North home range, activities appeared to proceed smoothly.
Daily total*According to BLM report
Captured: 38 (8 stallions, 22 mares, 8 foals)
Shipped: 64 (31 stallions, 33 mares)
1 Death.*According to BLM report
Mare over 20 years old had an existing bleeding injury. Euthanized.
October 4, 2024
Summary: Operations continued in the North Observation home range. An AWHC observer documented a stallion escaping the trap, jumping over the panels and nearly landing on a wrangler (photos series below). The observer also noted a lone foal, seemingly lost and separated; the pilot did not relocate the foal or four other horses near the observation area. Flight operations ended early due to wind.
Daily total*According to BLM report
Captured: 92 (37 stallions, 41 mares, 14 foals)
Shipped: 140 (31 stallions, 67 mares 42 foals)
Photo series of stallion escaping to freedom:
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Lone foal.
October 3, 2024
Summary: Today’s operation was again conducted in the North Observation home range. In the trap, several horses attempted to escape; one horse was successful. A horse in temporary holding was reportedly being considered for release (the 1 stallion “Released” via BLM report) but was able to escape temporary holding before the staff could release him via protocol.
As a group of horses was being transported from the trap site to temporary holding (Horn Ranch), the trailer door swung open. Nine horses fell from the moving trailer; all nine horses ran towards the mountains. The staff did “not note significant injuries” and did not recapture the group. The BLM advises they will be monitored. Read about today’s incident here.
Following today’s trailer incident and several escape attempts—some successes—this roundup reflects a pattern of negligence and animal endangerment.
Daily total*According to BLM report
Captured: 177 (60 stallions, 83 mares, 34 foals)
Shipped: 31 mares
Released: 1 stallion
2 Deaths.*According to BLM report
5 year old mare, blind in right eye. Euthanized.
18 year old mare, blind in right eye. Euthanized.
Photo series of the nine horses tumbling out of the trailer:
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Stallion jumping trap panel.
October 2, 2024
Summary: According to AWHC's observer, the roundup site (North Home Range) had several fences on grazing allotments and private land; the helicopter pushed horses along these fences. In the trap, a few stallions were fighting. Horses were shipped to Horn Ranch for temporary holding where a horse appeared to have a “bad” eye. Short-term holding is at Litchfield Wild Horse and Burro Corrals, CA.
Daily total*According to BLM report
Captured: 37 (14 stallions, 22 mares, 1 foal)
Shipped: 29 (18 stallions, 11 mares)
Stallions fighting in trap pen.
Horse with a "bad" right eye.
October 1, 2024
Weather: Warm & slightly breezy.
Summary: Operations took place in the Observation North home range. An observer reported horses being pushed along a barbed wire fence with one attempting to escape the trap.
Daily total*According to BLM report
Captured: 46 (17 stallions, 21 mares, 8 foals)
Shipped: 35 (10 stallions, 17 mares, 8 foals)
A horse attempting to jump over the trap panels.
Last updated October '24
