Devils Garden Wild Horse Roundup: October 2018 Summary
In October 2018, the Devils Garden Wild Horse Roundup took place, capturing over 900 wild horses from the Modoc National Forest in California. This operation, conducted by the U.S. Forest Service, faced numerous challenges, including inclement weather and health issues among the horses. The roundup sparked significant public concern and opposition due to the potential sale of older horses for slaughter.
Day 30: November 8, 2018
19 horses were rounded up and removed from the Territory on this day. Total number of horses captured: 932. 14 horses have died or been euthanized, and 3 mares miscarried during this helicopter capture operation.
This concludes the Devil's Garden roundup.
Additional Information
Day 25: November 3, 2018
39 horses were rounded up and removed from the Territory today, bringing the total to 784.
The Forest Service reports that following a notification of a positive test of one horse with pigeon fever on October 26, a total of 7 horses showing symptoms were euthanized to "protect the herd." An additional four horses have been euthanized for other chronic preexisting conditions, and two due to acute injuries. One foal died in holding and two were miscarried.
Day 24: November 2, 2018
8 wild horses were rounded up and removed from the Territory today.
Day 23: November 1, 2018
19 wild horses were rounded up and removed from their federally-designated habitat today.
Day 22: October 31, 2018
52 wild horses were rounded up and removed from the Territory. One horse was euthanized for a "preexisting chronic condition."
Day 21: October 30, 2018
No wild horses were removed today.
Day 20: October 29, 2018
20 wild horses lost their freedom today, bringing the current total to 671.
The U.S. Forest Service reported that several stallions "challenged" the contractors and were leading horses out of the trap.
Day 19: October 28, 2018
The helicopters did not fly today because of inclement weather.
Day 18: October 27, 2018
The helicopters did not fly today because of inclement weather.
Day 17: October 26, 2018
23 wild horses were rounded up and removed from the Devil’s Garden Plateau Wild Horse Territory, for a total of 651. Three horses were euthanized for preexisting conditions.
Day 16: October 25, 2018
There were four members of the public onsite at the Devil's Garden roundup today. We are still at the same trap site since the operation began. Our observer watched as one of the horses desperately tried to escape the trap, but was not successful. 43 wild horses were removed and there was one death - a foal died in holding. We will try and gather more information on what that foal died of.
Driving to the trap site, we came across several family bands enjoying what might be their last moments of freedom.
Day 15: October 24, 2018
Today, AWHC's field representative was the only member of the public onsite. The U.S. Forest Service (USFS) captured 55 wild horses in Devils' Garden today. They are still at the same trap site near Logan Slough offering a rather limited view. Some of the older stallions (in the photos below) marked with ages that are at risk of being sold for slaughter. USFS plans to geld the older stallions right at the Double-Devil pens in which they are being held.
Day 14: October 23, 2018
17 wild horses were rounded up and removed from the Devil’s Garden Plateau Wild Horse Territory, bringing the total so far to 530. To date, one foal has been born at the Double-Devil pens.
AWHC's field representative traveled to the Bureau of Land Management's Litchfield Holding Corrals where younger and mare/foal pairs from Devil's Garden are being held.
Day 13: October 22, 2018
33 wild horses were rounded up and removed from the Devil’s Garden Plateau Wild Horse Territory. There were two deaths after the Forest Service euthanized for "preexisting conditions."
Day 12: October 21, 2018
55 horses were rounded up and removed from the Devil’s Garden Plateau Wild Horse Territory. This makes for a total of 478. A total of three horses have been euthanized due to what the Forest Service has deemed "chronic, preexisting conditions" and one as a result of an injury sustained in the corrals.
Day 11: October 20, 2018
The Forest Service rounded up and removed 34 horses today. One mare was euthanized today due to what the Forest Service deemed a "preexisting condition."
Day 10: October 19, 2018
48 wild horses were rounded up and removed from the Devil’s Garden Wild Horse Territory today.
Day 9: October 18, 2018
Yesterday, 18 horses were rounded up and removed from the Devil’s Garden Plateau Wild Horse Territory on the Modoc National Forest. A total of 340 have been removed so far. Two horses have been treated by a veterinarian for small lacerations and will continue to be monitored. One orphan foal was placed in foster care. A blind mare brought in at the roundup on Tuesday, was evaluated by a veterinarian then euthanized today.
Day 8: October 17, 2018
28 more wild horses were captured and removed by the U.S. Forest Service from the Devils Garden Wild Horse Territory in California. There have been no changes in their policy to sell approximately 300 horses without limitation. We need your help to keep the pressure on. Call the DC office at 202-205-8439 and the Regional office at 707-562-8737 and say:
"I'm calling to oppose the Forest Service's plan to sell federally protected wild horses for $1 a piece by the truckload for slaughter. The Forest Service should respect the laws of the State of California and the wishes of 80 percent of Americans who want our wild horses protected, not cruelly destroyed. Please stop the roundup and prohibit the sale of these national icons for slaughter."
Day 7: October 16, 2018
53 more wild horses were captured and removed from the Devil's Garden Plateau Wild Horse Territory in California yesterday. The observation point offered a very limited view again of the operation, but our field representative was able to capture the heartbreaking desperate attempts of several mustangs trying to escape the trap.
Approximately 300 of the horses ages 10 or older are still in danger of being sold for slaughter. We need your help to keep the pressure on. Call the DC office at 202-205-8439 and the Regional office at 707-562-8737 and say:
"I'm calling to oppose the Forest Service's plan to sell federally protected wild horses for $1 a piece by the truckload for slaughter. The Forest Service should respect the laws of the State of California and the wishes of 80 percent of Americans who want our wild horses protected, not cruelly destroyed. Please stop the roundup and prohibit the sale of these national icons for slaughter."
Day 6: October 15, 2018
50 wild horses were captured today. Unfortunately, no one from the AWHC team was onsite due to travel arrangements for our new representative.
Day 5: October 14, 2018
The Forest Service did not manage to capture any wild horses today. They had made several attempts before the horses took cover in the trees. This is the fifth day at the same trap site near Logan Slough, with geography offering a very limited view. Below are some of the older mares now at the new Double Devil Wild Horse Corrals.
After they called it a day, we came across this beautiful band enjoying what could be their last moments of freedom.
Day 4: October 13, 2018
Today the US Forest Service captured approximately 38 wild horses in Devils Garden. Much like the days prior, the geography offered a very limited view of the trap site.
We have learned that while the Forest Service has an on-call veterinarian, no veterinarian is actually onsite. BLM's Comprehensive Animal Welfare Protocols require a veterinarian to be onsite, however, the US Forest Service can use their discretion.
Please call the Modoc National Forest at (530) 233-5811 or (530) 233 8738 to oppose this mass roundup and sale for slaughter plan.
Day 3: October 12, 2018
Today, the US Forest Service captured approximately 58 wild horses. Consistent with the days prior, the geography offered a very limited view of the trap site.
In an unprecedented move, the USFS is not planning to freeze brand any horses, they only intend to microchip - which will make it hard to visually identify them and distinguish them from domestic horses if and when they end up in the slaughter pipeline.
Pictured below are older stallions at holding who are now at risk of being sold for slaughter.
Day 2: October 11, 2018
Today, US Forest Service captured 27 wild horses in Devils Garden Wild Horse Territory in the Modoc National Forest in Alturas, California. Because of the geography, the viewing was limited to just the trapsite. There have been no injuries or deaths reported.
Please call the Modoc National Forest at (530) 233-5811 or (530) 233 8738 to oppose this mass roundup and sale for slaughter plan.
Day 1: October 10, 2018
The first day of the helicopter roundup in the Modoc National Forest's Devils Garden Wild Horse Territory saw 67 wild horses captured and no change in feds’ plans to sell hundreds for slaughter. Our observer reports that he was unable to see horses being driven by helicopters into the trap from the observation viewing area designated by the Forest Service.
After the helicopter made its final run, observers were allowed to view the horses in the trap site pens.
Later observers were allowed to see the massive holding corrals that are being constructed to hold, process and sell off the wild horses over the age of 10. Soon they’ll be filled with horses who could be sold by the truckload for $1 a piece.
Please call the Modoc National Forest at (530) 233-5811 or (530) 233 8738 to oppose this mass roundup and sale for slaughter plan.