Roundup Report: Surprise Complex, October 2021
The Surprise Complex, encompassing the Massacre Lakes, Bitner, Nut Mountain, Wall Canyon, High Rock, and Fox Hog Herd Management Areas (HMAs), spans nearly 400,000 acres in Nevada. The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) estimates that approximately 1,300 to 1,700 horses reside in the Complex. However, the BLM's Appropriate Management Level (AML) for the Complex is set at an unscientifically low 283-496 wild horses and zero burros.
Despite plans to round up about 1,220 horses and permanently remove 1,050 wild horses from the Complex, the BLM continues to authorize thousands of cows to graze in overlapping allotments.
It is time for the BLM to manage wild horse habitat for the wild horses.
This roundup will cost taxpayers at least $341,600 to capture these 1,220 beloved horses from the Complex. Of these, only approximately 170 are planned for return, leading to a lifetime cost of approximately $61 million to house the remaining 1,050 horses in government holding corrals. The contractor for this roundup is Shayne Sampson.
Additionally, taxpayers bear the cost of federally-subsidized livestock grazing on public lands. The federal grazing fee remains at its 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.
We will update this report as the operation progresses.
Roundup Report
Cumulative Totals
Total Captured: 1,216
Total Deaths: 21
October 14, 2021
The roundup concluded today. There was one death: a three-year-old reportedly born with "crooked knees leading to enlarged ankles."
October 13, 2021
93 wild horses lost their freedom today.
October 12, 2021
36 wild horses were captured today.
October 11, 2021
No operations today due to high winds, but there was one death.
- One stallion, estimated to be over 20 years old, was euthanized for having a club foot.
October 10, 2021
104 wild horses were captured today, and there were five deaths.
- One mare, estimated to be over 30 years old with a Henneke Body Condition Score of 2 and reportedly bad teeth, was euthanized.
- One mare, estimated to be over 20 years old, was euthanized for a “possible neurological/spinal condition, ambulatory issues.”
- One yearling was euthanized for “crooked legs, lame.”
- One stallion was euthanized for having a “complete club foot.”
- One stallion, estimated to be over 20 years old, with a preexisting injured knee, was euthanized.
October 9, 2021
86 wild horses were captured today.
October 8, 2021
128 wild horses were captured today, and there was one death.
- One foal, estimated to be a yearling, was reportedly unable to bear weight on its right front leg and was euthanized for a “poor prognosis for recovery.”
October 7, 2021
132 wild horses were captured today. Operations were cut short due to adverse weather.
October 6, 2021
82 wild horses were captured today. Operations were cut short due to adverse weather.
October 5, 2021
No wild horses were captured today. 66 (34 mares and 32 stallions) were released to their Herd Management Areas after the mares were treated with fertility control. There were four deaths.
- One stallion suffered a broken neck during loading.
- Two mares, estimated to be over 20 years old, with sway backs and a Henneke Body Condition Score of 2, were euthanized for a “poor prognosis for recovery.”
- One stallion, estimated to be over 20 years old, with a sway back and a Henneke Body Condition Score of 2, was euthanized for a “poor prognosis for recovery.”
October 4, 2021
45 wild horses were captured today. BLM noted, “We are investigating the possibility of pigeon fever in some horses. Further tests are being ordered.”
October 3, 2021
69 wild horses were captured today, and there were two deaths.
- One stallion, estimated to be older than 20 years old, with a Henneke Body Condition Score of 2, was euthanized for a “poor prognosis for recovery.”
- One stallion, estimated to be older than 30 years old, with a Henneke Body Condition Score of 2, was euthanized for a “poor prognosis for recovery.”
October 2, 2021
69 wild horses were captured today.
October 1, 2021
65 wild horses were captured today, and there was one death.
- One foal, estimated to be one month old and an orphan, died. BLM reports the colt was “showing obvious signs of poor nutrition and dehydration.”
September 30, 2021
133 wild horses were captured today, and there were two deaths.
- One mare, estimated to be older than 25 years old, with a Henneke Body Condition Score of 1, was euthanized for a “poor prognosis for recovery.”
- One stallion, estimated to be older than 30 years old, with a Henneke Body Condition Score of 1, was euthanized for a “poor prognosis for recovery.”
September 29, 2021
32 wild horses were captured today, and there were two deaths.
- One mare, estimated to be older than 25 years old, with a Henneke Body Condition Score of 1, was euthanized for a “poor prognosis for recovery.”
- One mare, estimated to be older than 25 years old, with a Henneke Body Condition Score of 2, is reported as “died” instead of euthanized.
September 28, 2021
142 wild horses were captured today, and there were two deaths.
- One stallion, estimated to be older than 25 years old, with a Henneke Body Condition Score of 2-3, was euthanized for “weak condition with a poor prognosis for recovery.”
- One mare, estimated to be older than 25 years old, with a Henneke Body Condition Score of 1, died. BLM corrected its report to read that the mare was not euthanized but died.