Cedar Mountain Roundup: February 2017 Report

February 20, 2017

The roundup was postponed today due to weather conditions. However, 81 wild horses were shipped to the Delta Wild Horse and Burro Facility.

There was one death reported. According to BLM: A 2-year-old bay mare that had been lame for two days was observed to be much worse today. She was apparently suffering from a lumbar or pelvic injury that severely restricted her ambulatory gait. When standing still, she was shifting most of her weight to her front legs. Prognosis for her recovery was extremely poor.

February 19, 2017

51 wild horses were rounded up and removed today. There were no injuries or deaths reported, and the horses brought in were in body conditions of 4 & 5.

February 18, 2017

The roundup was postponed today due to weather conditions. However, 46 wild horses were shipped to the Delta Wild Horse and Burro Facility.

February 17, 2017

104 wild horses were captured, and all were in a body condition of 5.

There were no injuries or deaths reported.

February 16, 2017

Yesterday, 104 wild horses, in a body condition of 5, were captured from the Cedar Mountain Herd Management Area in Utah.

Despite cold temperatures, wild horses were coming in slathered with sweat, indicating that these horses were run for long distances. At the trap site, wild horses were visibly stressed, piling on top of one another and attempting escape.

The helicopters relentlessly went after a paint mare and her foal, eventually capturing the mare and continuing on to chase the confused baby until wranglers on horseback brought her in.

February 15, 2017

Today, the BLM contractors completed two small runs of 4 horses each before concluding the operation for the day to move the trap site to a new location.

There were two deaths reported. An 11-year-old bay pinto mare was euthanized due to foaling complications at the corrals overnight. A 22-year-old buckskin stud was euthanized due to a severe left shoulder injury that caused a clubfoot on the right front.

February 14, 2017

It was a heartbreaking Valentine's Day for 116 Cedar Mountain wild horses who lost their freedom today.

The trap site was moved by the contractors, and the roundup got off to a late start in mid-morning. BLM Utah personnel worked hard to get observers the best observation possible for the area.

An estimated 6-month-old foal was seen alone near the trap site after a large run of over 50 horses. The foal was visibly exhausted and had to be walked in by the contractors.

A total of 116 horses were removed, all body class 5, and there were no deaths reported, though the BLM's "gather reports" were not accessible at the time of this report.

Cattle were visible in the area throughout the roundup. According to the 2012 Environmental Assessment -- the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) document that covers this operation -- during the winter months, there could be upwards of 816 cattle and 3,800 sheep within this Herd Management Area (HMA).

February 13, 2017

Today began day 3 of the roundup of wild horses from the nearly 200,000-acre Cedar Mountain Herd Management Area in Utah. AWHC had two observers on site. 33 wild horses were captured, and there were no deaths reported, though the BLM's "gather reports" were not accessible this morning.

This brings the 3-day total to 161 wild horses captured.