Roundup Report: Conger Wild Horses, August 2021
The Conger Herd Management Area (HMA) spans 151,506 acres in Utah. The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) estimates there are 340-355 wild horses, including 2021 foals. However, the BLM's low Appropriate Management Level (AML) for the HMA is set at 40-80 horses, a figure criticized for being unscientifically low.
In 2016, the BLM decided to conduct a “population control” research roundup for the Conger and Frisco HMAs, in collaboration with the United States Geological Survey (USGS) and Colorado State University (CSU). The Frisco herd served as the control group, while the Conger herd had some geldings introduced for study purposes. Once the study concluded, the plan was to remove wild horses to achieve AML in both HMAs.
In 2020, the BLM removed 143 wild horses from the Frisco HMA, where the AML is 30-60. Now, the focus is on Conger, with the BLM implementing this decision as an “emergency” action.
Despite claims of insufficient forage and water for the wild horses, the BLM continues to authorize thousands of cattle and sheep to graze in the Complex. The Skunk Springs, Ledger Canyon, Conger Spring, Buckskin, Painter Spring, Browns Wash, Crystal Peak, Red Rock, Beaver Lake, Frisco, and Wah Wah Lawson allotments are within the two HMAs. A total of 18 livestock operators are authorized to graze livestock in these allotments annually, using 40,021 Animal Unit Months (AUMs) of forage each year.
It is time for the BLM to manage wild horse habitat for the wild horses.
This roundup will cost taxpayers at least $255,000 to remove 300 horses and will incur a lifetime cost of approximately $15 million to house these horses in government holding corrals. Additionally, taxpayers fund federally subsidized livestock grazing on public lands. The federal grazing fee remains at a historic low of $1.35 per animal per month, a steep discount due to taxpayer subsidies. Estimates suggest the overall cost to taxpayers for the federal grazing program could be as much as $500 million annually.
Soon, it will be challenging to find horses in this area, with tax-subsidized cows replacing the iconic wild horses.
American Wild Horse Conservation (formerly American Wild Horse Campaign) is on the ground to shed light on the BLM’s actions.
Roundup Report
Total Horses Gathered: 213
Total Deaths: 1
August 21, 2021
The final day of the Conger wild horse roundup saw 9 horses captured with no deaths.
August 20, 2021
16 wild horses were captured today, with no deaths reported.
August 19, 2021
13 wild horses were rounded up today, with no deaths.
August 18, 2021
15 wild horses lost their freedom today, with no deaths.
August 17, 2021
Today, American Wild Horse Conservation’s field representative was the only public member onsite, witnessing the Conger roundup with an exceptional view of all trap operations. 12 horses were rounded up, with four needing to be roped by contractors on horseback. The horses entering the trap had a Body Condition Score (BCS) of 3.
Contractors attempted to capture a family of horses, including a mare with a radio collar and her young foal. Knowing the foal could not keep up with the helicopter stampede, they roped the foal and flew it back to the trap before chasing its dam. The mare avoided the trap, so the team chased her towards the trap area, where seven people on horseback roped her. Later, at the temporary holding, the mom and baby were reunited, and the dam had her collar removed.
(Dam of the foal avoiding the trap)
(Dam roped)
(dam in the trap)
(mom and baby reunited)
August 16, 2021
It was hot and smoky in the Conger HMA today, with temperatures varying by location. The roundup continued with 27 horses captured. One horse and one foal were roped on horseback. American Wild Horse Conservation’s field representative was the only one documenting the roundup, with an exceptional view of all trap operations. Horses captured from the north end of the HMA appeared thin, with body scores of 2 to 3.
August 15, 2021
15 wild horses lost their freedom today. American Wild Horse Conservation’s field representative was the only one present, with an exceptional view of all trap operations. One horse and two foals were roped on horseback, and one band of four scattered in all directions, making an escape. Throughout the day, temperatures varied by location. Horses from the north end appeared thinner, with body scores of 2-3.
August 14, 2021
47 wild horses were captured in the Conger roundup today.
August 13, 2021
The Conger roundup continued with 20 horses captured. American Wild Horse Conservation's field representative was the only public member onsite, with a good view of the trap site. Horses were entering the trap with body scores of 3 to 4. One horse jumped the trap and made a daring escape, and an entire band avoided capture. A foal was left behind as its dam was stampeded into the trap, but it was roped and brought in. It was heartbreaking to watch this beautiful band of wild horses make their last run.
August 12, 2021
Approximately 20 wild horses were captured from the Conger HMA. Five wild horses had to be roped to be brought in. Four members of the public were onsite. Contractors captured two mares with GPS collars, which were removed at temporary holding. A horse jumped the trap, and a band escaped by breaking through the trap wings. Many of these horses have been captured previously, making them more difficult to trap. We walked around temporary holding and had a good view of the trap site.
August 11, 2021
19 wild horses from the Conger HMA lost their freedom today. The horses were stampeded by a new helicopter contractor, Rocking A Livestock. American Wild Horse Conservation’s field representative was the only public member onsite, with a good view of the trap site. The BLM and USGS aim to capture about 12 mares fitted with GPS collars that could not be removed remotely after the research study ended. However, two collared mares escaped the trap and avoided capture. Horses are coming off the land with body conditions of 3 and 4 on the Henneke body scale.