Roundup Report: Stinkingwater HMA, August 2021
The Stinkingwater Herd Management Area (HMA) in Oregon spans 71,893 acres of public lands. In June 2021, a BLM aerial survey documented 449 horses in and around the HMA. However, the BLM's Appropriate Management Level (AML) for the area is set at a mere 40 to 80 horses, a number criticized for being unscientifically low.
As a result, August 2021 saw the removal of approximately 390 wild horses from their natural habitat to meet the AML.
At the same time, the BLM authorizes 609 cow/calf pairs (or 7,308 Animal Unit Months (AUMs)) to graze in the HMA. It is time for the BLM to manage wild horse habitat for the wild horses. For example, with just a 35% reallocation of livestock AUMs to wild horses, the AML would rise from a max of 80 to 293 individuals!
Roundup Report
Total Horses Removed: 401
Total Deaths: 3
August 21, 2021
Today, seven horses were removed in the Stinkingwater roundup. There were no deaths, and the horses removed had Body Condition Scores (BCS) of 4-5.
August 20, 2021
Thirty horses were stampeded into the trap today. A 12-year-old dun stallion was euthanized due to a "pre-existing condition of blindness/eye abnormality." The horses removed had BCS scores of 4-5.
August 19, 2021
Today, 29 wild horses were rounded up and permanently removed from the Stinkingwater HMA. The horses coming into the trap were at a healthy BCS of 4-5. The operation ended early due to windy conditions.
August 18, 2021
Forty-one horses were removed in the Stinkingwater roundup. The horses coming into the trap were at a healthy BCS of 4-5. The operation ended early due to windy conditions.
August 17, 2021
Today, 56 wild horses were captured from their homes. The horses coming into the trap were scoring a healthy weight of 4-5s on the Henneke Body Score chart. The operation ended early due to windy conditions.
August 16, 2021
Today was the second day of the Stinkingwater roundup, and 76 horses lost their freedom. According to the BLM, one yearling was euthanized due to a pre-existing condition of "physical defect of severe chronic skin lesions covering over half of the body, indicative of autoimmune disease" with a poor prognosis for recovery.
The horses in the trap were at a healthy BCS of 4-5, and the weather was sunny with smoke cover aloft. There were two members of the public in attendance today.
August 15, 2021
The roundup of the Stinkingwater wild horses began today. On the first day of the operation, 162 wild horses were stampeded into the trap, forever losing their freedom. According to the BLM, one colt (male baby horse) was euthanized due to a pre-existing condition of “blindness/eye abnormality.” The horses removed came into the trap with a healthy weight, scoring 4s and 5s on the Henneke Body Score Chart.
There were three public observers in attendance, and the weather was sunny with smoke cover aloft.