Roundup Report: West Douglas Herd Area, September 2023
The West Douglas Herd Area (HA) is located in northwest Colorado, near the 190,000-acre Piceance-East Douglas Herd Management Area (HMA). Unlike the Piceance HMA, which allows a maximum of 235 horses, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has set a population level of zero for the West Douglas HA, citing terrain and lack of summer range as reasons.
The BLM has contracted with Warner Livestock to use helicopters to round up and remove the remaining 68-120 wild horses from the HA, starting around September 1.
The agency claims the land cannot support wild horses, yet permits thousands of privately owned cows to graze in two allotments within the HA.
- The BLM permits 631 cows from June 5 to October 31 to graze on the West Douglas/Red Rock pasture in the Twin Butte allotment, entirely within the mustangs' habitat.
- The BLM permits 1,158 cows from November 1 to June 12 to graze on the Winter/Spring pasture in the Twin Butte allotment, also entirely within the mustangs' habitat.
- The BLM permits 774 cows from June to October 31 to graze on the West Creek pasture in the Twin Butte allotment, 34% of which is within the mustangs' habitat.
This roundup will cost taxpayers at least $187,000 to remove these horses and will incur a lifetime cost of $3.2 to $5.7 million to house them in government holding corrals.
*According to BLM estimates, it costs up to $48,000 to care for one wild mustang or burro in a holding facility over its lifetime.
Roundup Report
The roundup concluded with 122 wild horses captured and 4 deaths.
September 8, 2023
6 mustangs were captured.
September 7, 2023
12 horses were captured, and one death occurred after the BLM euthanized a senior stallion for "lameness".
September 6, 2023
11 wild horses were captured, and one death occurred after the BLM euthanized a stallion for an "infected abscess". A total of 104 mustangs have been captured so far, with 3 deaths.
September 5, 2023
12 wild horses were captured, and one death occurred after the BLM euthanized a stallion for "coming in with a broken leg".
September 4, 2023
16 wild horses were captured, and one death occurred after the BLM euthanized a stallion with "blindness or eye abnormality".
The operation began at 7:50 am and ended at 4:50 pm. According to AWHC’s observer, the same methods as the previous day were used, where four cowboys rounded up a foal by rope and then attempted to bring in the rest of the family by helicopter. Contractors appear to be consciously separating mares and foals to carry out this procedure.
Today, a family escaped up a hill, and a beautiful stallion ran closely past our observation area.
Images by WilsonAxpe PhotoAdvocacy for AWHC
September 3, 2023
34 wild horses were captured.
The West Douglas herd has been experiencing a greater impact further south compared to previous days. The trap site is mostly hidden by bushes and vehicles, while the helicopter operation is mostly hidden by large rock formations. During one run, a foal became exhausted from the stampede and was captured by cowboys (unseen by observers). It was then transported and later reunited with its mother, who was brought in earlier by helicopter. It seems that there isn't much of this costly and excessive roundup left to complete.
September 2, 2023
5 wild horses were captured.
Five mustangs from Colorado’s West Douglas roundup were captured yesterday. Thankfully, there were no deaths.
But, can we talk about excess? There are 17 staff and contractors on-site at the trap, which the BLM says is too dangerous for the public to be anywhere near. So dangerous that they keep us up to a half mile away, the view almost entirely obstructed. Yesterday, 10 of the contractors — four of which had ropes on horseback — brought in a single wild horse that the helicopter failed to capture.
September 1, 2023
34 wild horses were captured.