Muddy Creek Roundup Concludes: 153 Horses Captured, 1 Death

The Muddy Creek Roundup has concluded with 153 horses rounded up and removed, resulting in one horse's death. This event underscores the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM’s) approach to managing the area and raises questions about the prioritization oflivestockover wild horses.

TheMuddy Creek Herd Management Area(HMA) is located 15 miles south of Emery, UT, encompassing 208,810 acres. TheBLMallows for an Appropriate Management Level (AML) of only 75-125 horses within the HMA. The wild horses and burros have been part of theSan Rafael Swellarea since the early 1800s. The horses are predominantly bay, brown, and black, with a few pintos, gray, and roan, averaging 700 to 1000 pounds.

Additionally, theBLMpermits parts of 11 cattle grazing allotments, totaling 2,853 animals, within the HMA during winter and early spring. Utah ranchers usepublic landsfor winter grazing, resting their private lands during this critical period.

As is common, theBLMgives preference to privately-ownedlivestockover federally-protected wild horses in this designatedherdmanagement area.

In its Muddy Creek Wild Horse Gather Final Environmental Assessment (EA), theBLMstated that the overlap of wild horse andlivestockuse causes competition for forage and water. However, theBLMdid not analyze an alternative to remove or reduce livestock instead of wild horses from the HMA.

TheBLMclaims it is authorized to removelivestockfrom the HMA if necessary to provide habitat for wild horses or burros, implement herd management actions, or protect them from disease, harassment, or injury. However, this authority is usually applied in emergencies, not for general management. Despite this, theBLMhas astatutory mandateto protect wild horses, while livestock grazing is permitted only at thediscretionof the Interior Department.

A fiscal emergency exists as wild horse holding facilities are at capacity, consuming most of theBLM’s wild horse and burro program budget. Leaving horses on the range and adjustinglivestockgrazing levels is more cost-effective than removing wild horses. The Tenth Circuit ruling affirmed theBLM’s discretion to implement this alternative, and the National Academy of Sciences recommended it as a more affordable option.

TheBLMoutlined the seasons of use and Animal Units Months (AUMs) for the allotments within the HMA. Over the last 10 years,livestockuse averaged 0% to 72% of that authorized, with an overall average annual use of 51%.

In contrast, theBLManticipated that by Spring 2018, wild horse use would exceed the allocated forage by over 156%. This conclusion was based on theBLM’s AML determination, which the NAS criticized for lacking transparency and scientific support.

TheBLMshould have used the same approach for calculatinglivestockand wild horse influence. An AUM is for a 1,000-pound cow with a calf, but modern cattle require more. TheBLMalso unfairly counts every horse when determining wild horse AUMs, without considering mare/foal pairs.

TheBLMspent millions to round up and remove 151 horses from the Muddy Creek HMA, reducing the population to the low AML. This decision likely aimed to reduce the horse population before winter, when approximately 1,500 cows will graze thepublic lands, despite the sensitivity of the range during this period.