Calico Complex Roundup Report: September 2022

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Black Rock Field Office began a wild horse roundup on September 10, 2022, at the Calico Complex, located northwest of Humboldt County, Nevada. The operation was conducted using helicopter contractors, Cattoor Livestock. The complex includes the Black Rock Range, Calico Mountains, Granite Range, McGee Mountain, and Warm Springs Canyon Herd Management Areas (HMAs), covering over 584,101 acres. The BLM set an arbitrary Appropriate Management Level (AML) of 572 – 952 wild horses, planning to round up 1,076 and remove approximately 1,036 wild horses.

Roundup Report

The Calico Roundup concluded with 863 wild horses captured and 26 deaths.

September 30, 2022

61 wild horses were captured, concluding the roundup. AWHC's field representative was the only public member onsite. We met at the site at 7:00 am (HWY 34 and Soldier Meadows Road) and were informed that the helicopter was grounded due to TFR restrictions. The weather was mild, ranging from 37 to 73 degrees with a slight wind. At 8:00 am, we were told we could proceed. We followed BLM Public Affairs up Soldier Meadows Road until realizing we were headed in the wrong direction, requiring us to double back. By the time we reached the observation site, the helicopter was in the air, bringing in the first run. The distance and heat waves made it extremely difficult to see the trap area.

September 29, 2022

No horses were removed today, but the BLM euthanized a 20-year-old bay mare for a "Chronic/Pre-Existing-Fracture" to the left back leg.

September 28, 2022

31 wild horses were captured, and there was one death after the BLM euthanized a 2-year-old bay stallion for a "Physical Defect/Congenital; Right front knee".

September 27, 2022

36 wild horses were captured, and there were two deaths after the BLM euthanized a 20+-year-old black stallion for a fracture of the left front knee and a 6-year-old bay mare with a fracture in the left front knee.

September 26, 2022

25 wild horses were captured, and there was one death after the BLM euthanized a 6-year-old Palomino stallion for being partially blind. 735 wild horses have been captured so far, with 22 deaths. We met the BLM at the meet site at 8:00 am and traveled up Hwy 447 for 33 miles towards Black Rock Lake. The observation site was not far from where we parked. The first run came in at 11:30 am, and the second run came in at 1:35 pm. Temperatures ranged from 60° to 85° F, with winds picking up in the afternoon. Both runs came into the trap smoothly with no issues loading. At 2:12 pm, they called it a day. The horses were a little jumpy during the afternoon tour of temp holding. They had water and food. We were told the body score ranged from 2 to 4, with 2 being moderate and 4 being fat. A vet was onsite. Temp holding is approximately 34 miles from the trap location. Roads are in better condition to this new trap site than on previous days.

September 25, 2022

No horses were rounded up today.

September 24, 2022

16 wild horses were captured, and there were three deaths after the BLM euthanized a 20+-year-old black stallion for a fracture to the left front fetlock, a 20+-year-old buckskin stallion for being blind, and a 6-year-old cremello mare for being blind. We met BLM at the meet site at 7:00 am. We drove on the playa to get to the observation site. The Playa is a 200-square-mile seabed remnant of Lake Lahontan, considered one of the vastest stretches of ground in the world. It leads up to Soldier Meadows Road. We arrived at 8:00 am, and the helicopter was in the air at 9:00 am. The first run came in at 9:35 am with 7 horses. The second run at 12:56 pm with 5 horses. At 1:30 pm, we were told they were done for the day and moving the trap. Current observation on the Calico HMA: The weather was 43-82 degrees F.

September 23, 2022

55 wild horses were captured, and there was one death after the BLM euthanized an 8-year-old bay stallion for a "chronic deformity; Right Front Knee". The weather ranged from 45° to 75°. We met at 7:00 am. The meet location has not changed from the intersection of Hwy 447 and Soldier Meadows Road. We traveled via the Playa, saving around 20 minutes to get to the observation site. A lot of activities were going on in the area with hunting season and other local events. Once at the observation area, the first run came in around 9 am. The second run came in from behind me around noon. The horses trotted most of the way in. A few appeared sweaty as they passed. One mare looked heavily pregnant. The third run came in at approximately 3:00 pm. All runs came into the trap area, and loading went smoothly. It was difficult to get clear photos with the heat haze.

September 22, 2022

71 wild horses were captured, and there were two deaths after the BLM euthanized a 20+-year-old red dun stallion for having a "chronic deformity; Both front knees" and a 12-year-old dun stallion for having a "Chronic: Deformity; Left front knee". We met BLM at the meet site at 7 am. We traveled miles east up Soldier Meadows Road to the observer site. The helicopter came in and fueled. At 11:55 am, the first run came in with approximately 20 horses. At 2:58 pm, the second run brought in approximately 20 horses. At 3:00 pm, the helicopter fueled, and the last run brought in 4 horses, calling it a day. We toured the temp holding, where one pen had standing water from the rain. The horses were calm and eating.

September 21, 2022

Approximately 50 horses were captured today. AWHC’s field representative was one of two observers onsite today. We drove from the motel to the observation site, approximately 110 miles from Fernley, NV. Heavy rain was present. We reached the meeting site off Hwy 447 and Soldier Meadows, driving up Soldier Meadows approximately 40 miles. The observation site was muddy in the morning with drizzling rain on and off, mostly dry by the afternoon.

• 9:10 am: Helicopter was in the air.
• 9:45 am: The first run brought in approximately 20 horses. One avoided being trapped, turned, and ran out of the trap. The helicopter pursued him to no avail.
• 10:00 am: Stopped to fuel.
• 12:00 pm: The helicopter brought in approximately 20 horses on the second run.
• The last run of the day was approximately 9 horses.

Called it a day around 3:00 pm. The weather for the day was 48°F to 55°F with rain/overcast and a slight wind. The observation site was muddy due to rainfall the night prior.

September 20, 2022

5 wild horses were captured.

September 19, 2022

44 wild horses were captured, and there were three deaths after the BLM euthanized a 6-year-old blue roan mare for a fracture to the left hind fetlock, a 4-year-old cremello stallion for being blind and cryptorchid, and a 25+-year-old black stallion for a fracture to the right hind hock. At the same observation site as the prior two days, the trap was not visible, hidden and obstructed by trees. Only one part of the wing was visible from observation. We drove to the meet site, 118 miles located at Hwy 447 and Soldier Meadows Road. As I pulled up, a livestock truck was pulling into temp holding at 7:00 am. We were escorted to the observation site, approximately 77 miles away. We hiked up to the observation site. The helicopter was in the air at 9:00 am. The first run came in at 9:10 am with approximately 23 horses, stopping for fuel at 10:00 am. The second run came in at 12:00 pm with approximately 21 horses. At 1:00 pm, we observed a truck and trailer headed east up Soldier Meadows Road. We were later informed that they went and picked up a foal that had been separated. The third run came in at 3:00 pm with approximately 10 horses, and they called it a day. No temp holding viewing today. We were permitted to view from Hwy 447 but were not able to see much from that distance.

September 18, 2022

42 wild horses were captured, and there was one death after the BLM euthanized a 14-year-old buckskin mare for partial blindness. AWHC's field observer was one of two public members onsite. We met at 7:00 am at the Soldier Meadows Road turn-off located off SR 46. The road to the observation area is very rocky and dusty. A few people were still in the area due to the Burning Man festival. The weather was overcast with winds at 9 mph, 48°-74°F. There were a total of two runs today. The first run was at 12:55 pm, and the second was approximately 2:20 pm. We were offered to visit the temp holding. The horses appeared settled and eating. Foals were with their mothers, and there was plenty of space for them in each pen. The body score on the horses looked to be 5-6. There were no livestock trucks onsite, only the contractor's trailers.

September 17, 2022

66 wild horses were captured, and there were three deaths after the BLM euthanized a 17-year-old bay mare and a 4-year-old bay mare for partial blindness. The BLM also euthanized a 13-year-old sorrel stallion for having a fracture that BLM said was "pre-existing". We had to drive another 116 miles to meet the BLM. AWHC’s field representative was one of two public members onsite. The trap site was in the same location as yesterday. The trap was still nestled in trees out of view, and only one wing was visible. Upon arrival at the observation site, one trailer containing horses was being taken to temp holding from the day prior. The horses captured the day before could not all be processed before dark. There were a total of three runs today. On the last run, a side-by-side came onto the road as horses were being led into the trap. Our concern on both days was road traffic. Signs should be strategically placed on both sides leading into the trap area. Some of the horses had visible wounds caused by a mountain lion. There was a vet onsite. We were not granted viewing of temp holding. We were told that we could stop on the side of the public road and view from a distance. The horses appeared very calm. Wounds were visible but otherwise appeared healthy.

September 16, 2022

93 wild horses were captured, and there was one death after the BLM euthanized a 20+-year-old stallion for having a dental abnormality. We traveled from our motel 116 miles to meet the BLM at its location and then drove another 77 miles to the observation area. On the way there, we saw three beautiful mustangs on the side of the road. We arrived at the observation around 8 am. We were located approximately 0.632 miles from the trap site. The trap was not visible as it was strategically placed behind a thick area of trees. We were only able to view one side of the wing. At 10:30 am, the helicopter came in for fuel. One helicopter was in the air today. There was a total of two runs today. At 2:00 pm, the first run had approximately 65 plus horses, and at 2:45 pm, the second run came in with approximately 12. Horses from both runs appeared very tired. The weather was a mild 40°-79°F with mild winds and smoky air from fires in the area.

September 14 & 15, 2022

No roundup today.

September 13, 2022

23 wild horses were captured today, and there were two deaths after the BLM euthanized a 4-year-old sorrel stallion, missing an eye and blind, and a 20+-year-old sorrel stallion citing a previous injury: "Herniated Diaphragm Congenital; Evidence of previously broken rib and soft tissue injury".

September 12, 2022

54 wild horses were captured today. We met BLM at 7:00 am at the Leonard Creek Rest Area. We traveled approximately 50 miles to the observation area. Temps were around 66°-85°F throughout the day. There was a slight wind, and the air was smoky from the California/Oregon fires. After three runs, at 11:30 am, we were told that the trap was being moved, and we would go to a new observation area. We were moved down Leonard Creek Road. At approximately 2:30 pm, the first run came in, and the last run was around 4:00 pm. The second trap site appeared to have jute hung on barbed wire without being flagged. We were not permitted to go to short-term holding because it was set up on private land.

September 11, 2022

96 wild horses were captured today, and there were three deaths after the BLM euthanized a 3-year-old sorrel mare for partial blindness, a 17-year-old bay mare for having a sway back, and a healthy 6-month-old filly with a sway back. AWHC's field representative was the only public member onsite today. The trap location was about 50 to 55 miles NW of Denio, NV. The meeting site was the Leonard Rest Area between Denio and Winnemucca, NV. We met BLM at 7:00 am and drove for an hour to the observation area. We were located over a mile from the trap site. The Cattoors were using two helicopters. They have been bringing the horses down from very far away. Horses are coming in sweaty and tired.

September 10, 2022

85 wild horses were captured, and there were two deaths after the BLM euthanized a 4-year-old black mare for missing her right eye and another 4-year-old bay mare for a "previous puncture injury, deeply infected right-rear fetlock". AWHC's field representative was the only public member onsite today. The temperature ranged from 50 to 88 degrees with light winds and smoke from California wildfires settling into the valley. Viewing was difficult due to the distance to the trap, located about a mile away, smoke, and heat haze. Had we been allowed closer, the view of the wings of the trap and the trap itself would have been open with a clear view. There were a total of two runs today using two helicopters for this roundup. There is fencing throughout the area due to private ranching. The vet onsite stated the horses were in good condition. Temporary holding is on private land as well as the trap. When asked if temp holding was going to be accessible to the public, there was not a clear answer given by the BLM if we were going to be allowed to visit. The horses removed will be shipped to the Indian Lakes facility in Fallon, Nevada, and will be prepped for the AIP.