Wild Horses: December's Challenges for Salt Wells Creek - Part 1
Carol Walker, from Wild Hoofbeats, shares her observations on the challenges faced by wild horses during the December roundup at Salt Wells Creek. This event, driven by pressure from the Rock Springs Grazing Association, led to the removal of hundreds of horses from their natural habitat.
Unexpected Roundup Announcement
A week before Thanksgiving, I received a press release from the BLM Rock Springs office announcing the Adobe Town/Salt Wells Creek Roundup would begin the next day. Despite my regular inquiries since August, this sudden announcement was unexpected. The roundup was likely prompted by demands from the Rock Springs Grazing Association to remove wild horses from private lands in the checkerboard area of the Salt Wells Creek and Adobe Town Herd Areas.
Limited Public Observation
Public observation opportunities were restricted due to the private land involved. Although I couldn't witness the beginning, I was present for the roundup's conclusion. A total of 668 wild horses were removed from Salt Wells Creek, a vast area exceeding one million acres. Only 39 stallions and 40 mares were returned, and three horses died.
The horses were not rounded up on Thanksgiving but were captured the following Saturday without public observation. The contractor, Cattoors, aimed to complete the roundup before an arctic cold front hit Wyoming.
Visiting the Holding Facility
On Monday, I drove up highway I-80 amidst 50-60 mph winds, a precursor to the incoming storm. The release of 40 mares treated with birth control, PZP, was scheduled for Tuesday, so I was determined to be there. Upon arriving in Rock Springs, I visited the Short Term Holding facility, where captured horses undergo testing, vaccinations, and other procedures before being relocated.
The facility is a grim place, where horses are separated by sex and age, enduring a life devoid of freedom. The sight of stallions, not yet gelded, playing in the cold wind was bittersweet, as they hadn't yet resigned to their fate.
Impact of the Storm
The storm arrived with a vengeance, dropping temperatures to zero degrees with severe wind chill. The release of the mares was delayed due to the harsh weather. Returning to the holding facility, I witnessed horses coated in ice and snow, struggling to stay warm without shelter. The dominant horses ate hay, while the timid ones waited their turn.
Wild horses are uniquely adapted to thrive in their natural environment, seeking shelter in gullies and draws. However, trapped in pens, they faced the full force of the storm.
Originally posted by Wild Hoofbeats.