Humboldt Roundup: January 30, 2015

The BLM Humboldt helicopter roundup began on January 30, 2015, in a public land area that has been "zeroed out" for wild horses and turned over to ranching interests. The estimated 180 wild horses that remain in this area will be captured and permanently removed from this public lands area that was designated by Congress as wild horse habitat but has been turned over to private ranching interests.

From the Field

Conclusion:

The Humboldt HA roundup concluded on Thursday, February 5. A total of 303 wild horses were captured and 1 reported death.

Day 5:

(Report from Laura Leigh, Wild Horse Education): 87 wild horses were captured, bringing the total horses removed from the Humboldt HA to 249. The BLM was granted clearance to go back on February 4th and remove approximately 40 more.

Day 3:

(Report from Laura Leigh, Wild Horse Education): Horses captured yesterday shipped this morning to BLM Palomino Valley Center near Reno, not Burns Corrals in Oregon as originally stated. BLM reports 27 horses captured on Day 3. Photos include a closeup of roan stallion and baby - part of a family captured today. The baby was put in with "weanlings" and the stallion is still trying to protect him from other stallions.

Day 2:

(Report from Laura Leigh, Wild Horse Education): 83 horses captured today, including three tiny foals. One stallion was euthanized for a deformity. All horses will be shipped to Burns corrals in Oregon.

Day 1:

(Report from Laura Leigh, Wild Horse Education): Over 50 wild horses were driven from the Humboldt HA on the first day of a "zero out." Operations began at a trap site close to the highway with motorists stopping to witness. The weather turned frigid. Fog delayed the start of the day and wind shut down operations. This removal is expected to last 3-4 days and permanently remove about 200 wild horses. It is expected that a load will ship in the morning to Burns, Oregon.

Photos below by Mike Lorden, who reported that 52 wild mustangs were removed this day. There are an estimated 200 horses on over 430,000 acres.

Last day of Freedom:

Photographer Mike Lorden visited the Humboldt HA on January 29, 2015, and reported seeing hundreds of cows, many with newly born calves, but few wild horses.