Roundup Report: Fish Creek Herd Management Area
The Fish Creek Herd Management Area (HMA) roundup, conducted by Cattoor Livestock Roundup Company began on January 6, 2025. This removal is not only cruel and unnecessary, but is a direct threat to a herd with a rare and unique genetic legacy. Among the horses in this HMA are curly-coated wild horses—a trait that sets this herd apart from others across the West. Despite this, $127,195.00 in taxpayer funds is being spent on this operation to remove them from their home.
Spanning 230,675 acres south of U.S. Highway 50, the Fish Creek HMA is home to an estimated 245 wild horses following the Spring 2024 foaling season. The BLM’s unscientific Appropriate Management Level (AML) is just 101-170 horses—far too few to maintain a genetically healthy herd.
The BLM plans to capture and permanently remove 144 of these unique horses, stripping them from the range and sending them to the Winnemucca Off-Range Corral in Nevada. Families will be separated, and the survival of this special genetic trait may be at risk.
American Wild Horse Conservation is on the ground, documenting this roundup. Read on for our daily reports
January 8, 2025:
Weather: Sunny and Clear, 9 - 36 degrees, no wind.
Summary:
Observers had a good view of the trap and approach. One young foal lagged behind during the roundup, but was later pushed toward the trap by a wrangler on horseback, assisted by a Judas horse. A single adult horse was roped during the operation. Steam could be seen rising from the horses once they were in the trap.
Daily Total: 71
Animals Gathered: (32 Stallions, 39 Mares, and 0 Foals)
Animals Shipped: 39 (21 Stallions, 17 Mares and 1 Foal)
Deaths: 0
January 7, 2025: Weather: 20°F
Summary:
Visibility was somewhat obstructed, with observers positioned approximately 0.7 miles behind the trap. There was no view of the horses as they approached the trap, and only a limited view as they were pushed in. Operations were already underway when observers arrived, with two helicopters being used to push horses toward the trap.
Daily Total
Animals Gathered: 19 (12 Stallions, 7 Mares, and 0 Foals)
Animals Shipped: 39 (14 Stallions, 24 Mares and 1 Foal)
Deaths: 0
January 6, 2025: 55 wild horses were captured in five runs. AWHC’s on the ground observer documented two runs, as the contractors had already made three runs before the arrival of observers.
Our observer was placed .7 miles behind the trap, with a limited view of the horses as they were brought into the trap.
It was snowing at temporary holding, and there were no injuries. The horses appeared in good body condition averaging 4.5
