Wyoming Checkerboard Roundup: Media Updates

Press Releases

November 4, 2021

Author

Amelia Perrin

Wyoming Wild Horse Roundup

Media Update: January 13, 2022

History’s largest wild horse roundup sees deadliest week since the start of operation

Bureau of Land Management (BLM) kills 12 federally protected horses in seven days

The death toll of the largest wild horse roundup in history, underway now in Wyoming, reached 28 this week, as 12 federally-protected wild horses lost their lives in the last seven days in the massive helicopter capture operation.
Of the deaths this week, 11 were noted as chronic or preexisting and one wild horse broke its back during the operation.
In total, the BLM reports that 9 wild horses died as a result of acute injuries sustained in the helicopter chase and trapping operation, with an additional 19 deaths classified by BLM as “pre-existing” from mostly non-life-threatening conditions like “mare with bad knees,” “club foot” and “swayback.”
This is the final stage of the massive roundup that began in October in a 3.4 million-acre habitat area in and around the Wyoming Checkerboard. Current operations are located in the White Mountain/Little Colorado Herd Management Areas (HMAs) north of Rock Springs. The area includes the Pilot Butte Wild Horse Viewing Loop where the population will be slashed to a mere 200 horses on 200,000 acres of public land, a density of one horse per 1,000 acres.
Since the start of this massive operation, 3,647 wild horses have been captured. By its end, the BLM intends to round up a total of 4,000 wild horses and permanently remove 3,555 of them from the range. The remaining horses will be returned to the wild after mares (female horses) are treated with fertility control (either a fertility control vaccine or untested IUDs).
As deaths mount, AWHC continues to press the BLM to require contractors to install cameras in the helicopters and the trap pens to increase public transparency of the entire roundup process. This was recommended by noted animal behaviorist Temple Grandin in a 2012 report commissioned by Cattoor Livestock Roundups, but the BLM refuses to require video monitoring as part of the lucrative government contracts it hands out for wild horse roundups.
This roundup is part of the 2020 plan that greenlit the mass removal of America’s iconic wild horses and burros from the public lands that they call home while allowing millions of private livestock to graze on the public lands designated as wild horse habitat.

Wyoming Wild Horse Roundup

Media Update: January 11, 2022

Largest federal wild horse roundup in history sees 8 deaths in 5 days

Bureau of Land Management (BLM) helicopters continue operation in the White Mountain/Little Colorado Herd Management Areas (HMAs)

Within the last five days, 8 wild horses have been euthanized, bringing the death toll of the roundup to 24 wild horses, 9 of those occurred as a direct result of the operation.
The recent causes of death include clubbed feet (a condition that is non-life-threatening), pre-existing broken legs, blindness, and swayback (another non-life-threatening condition).
In the White Mountain/Little Colorado HMAs, the BLM plans on capturing 1,040 wild horses and permanently removing 881. The remaining 159 will receive either an immunocontraceptive vaccine or untested IUDs.
The ongoing roundup aims to capture over 4,000 wild horses and will permanently remove over 3,500 from the 3.4 million acres of land called the Wyoming Checkerboard.
AWHC’s onsite observers have noted that temperatures during the operation were bitter cold (13 degrees) and horses appeared exhausted.

Wyoming Wild Horse Roundup

Media Update: January 7, 2022

Four wild horses perish as largest federal roundup in history resumes

Bureau of Land Management (BLM)’s Wyoming Checkerboard roundup restarts in the White Mountain/Little Colorado HMAs

After a month’s hiatus, the largest roundup in history resumed in the White Mountain/Little Colorado Herd Management Areas (HMAs)
The first day of this operation saw the deaths of four federally protected wild horses. One horse broke its back during the operation, the other three were classified as chronic/pre-existing and included a broken leg, a club foot, and a swayback.
The contractor for the final portion of this roundup is Sampson Livestock.
In the White Mountain/Little Colorado HMAs, the BLM plans on capturing 1,040 wild horses and permanently removing 881. The remaining 159 will receive either an immunocontraceptive vaccine or be administered untested IUDs.
The ongoing roundup aims to capture over 4,000 wild horses and will permanently remove over 3,500 from the 3.4 million acres of land called the Wyoming Checkerboard.
AWHC has observers onsight who reported that public observation continues to be minimal with observers being placed a mile and a half away from the trap site with no visibility into the trap itself. This means that observers cannot see the most dangerous portion of the helicopter stampede when the horses are packed together in a small space and panic ensues when they realize there is no escape.

Wyoming Wild Horse Roundup

Media Update: November 29, 2021

Two wild horses break their necks while running from federal helicopters in ongoing Wyoming roundup

Roundup operations move to the Adobe Town HMA, after concluding in Salt Wells Creek with 942 wild horses captured

Two wild mustang mares died yesterday at the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Wyoming wild horse roundup after breaking their necks by crashing into panels while being chased into the trap by a helicopter.
Roundup operations are now located in Adobe Town Herd Management Area (HMA), with the same helicopter contractor Sampson Livestock roundup with the goal of capturing 1,137 wild horses and permanently removing 728 wild horses from this 479,000-acre area, 93% of which is public land.
As of November 21, 2021, BLM helicopters concluded operations in the Salt Wells Creek HMA. During the 16-day operation, 942 federally protected wild horses were captured and three were killed; two were noted as pre-existing and one died from a traumatic injury sustained during the operation.
On Friday (November 26) the BLM released approximately captured 42 wild stallions back into the Salt Wells HMA. This is three less than the agency had planned to release and is a lower number than should have been released based on the BLM's capture totals, leaving the population numbers under the appropriate management level (AML) designated for this area in violation of federal law.

Later this week, the agency plans to release approximately 45 mares back into the Salt Wells HMA after treating 38 of the mares with the PZP 22 fertility control vaccine and implanting IUDs in 7 additional mares. Advocates are concerned about the BLM’s use of IUDs in wild mares due to lack of research and lack of follow-up monitoring and observation to ensure the safety of the mares and to study the effects of the unproven (in wild horses) fertility control method.
Since the start of the Wyoming Checkerboard roundup on October 7, 2021, 2,262 (952 stallions, 920 mares, and 460 foals) wild horses have been brutally rounded up by helicopters from the Checkerboard habitat that spans five HMAs and 3.4 million acres.

Wyoming Wild Horse Roundup

Media Update: November 10, 2021

BLM Wyoming Wild Horse Roundup Concludes in Great Divide Basin Herd Management Area, leaving six dead and over 1,000 permanently removed

The federal operation has now moved to the Salt Wells HMA south of Rock Springs

As of November 5th 2021, federal helicopters have departed the Great Divide Basin Herd Management Area (HMA). During the nearly month-long wild horse roundup operation, 1,072 federally-protected animals were captured and removed from the wild, six horses were killed and at least four-months-old foals were orphaned.
The roundup in the Great Divide Basin ended short of the BLM’s goal of capturing 1,308 wild horses from the HMA. As a result, no wild horses were treated with fertility control and released back into the HMA. Reportedly, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) applied for a four-day extension to meet the capture goal, but it was denied because the contractors did not meet the federal Covid-19 vaccine mandate for federal employees and contractors.
The roundup has restarted in the Salt Wells Creek HMA with a new contractor, Sampson Livestock. To date, 151 wild horses have been rounded up and removed. There has been one death so far, attributed to a “pre-existing” broken leg. It is anticipated that the BLM will also euthanize a number of horses at the holding facility due to clubfoot issues. By killing the horses at the holding facility, the BLM does not have to report the deaths in their roundup-related totals.
Public observation continues to be minimal with observers being placed a mile and a half away from the trap site with no visibility into the trap itself. This means that observers cannot see the most dangerous portion of the helicopter stampede when the horses are packed together in a small space and panic ensues when they realize there is no escape.
AWHC raises concerns about the welfare of the horses as it relates to the chasing on horseback and roping of several stallions, including the sweat-soaked stallion pictured below. AWHC continues to press the BLM to require contractors to install cameras in the helicopters and the trap pens to increase public transparency of the entire roundup process and to ensure the Comprehensive Animal Welfare Guidelines are followed.

On November 13 2021, Samson Livestock wranglers were deployed to herd private cattle out of the trap area so more wild horses could be stampeded into pens. AWHC’s observer reported that there are significantly more cattle than horses in this area. This decimation of Wyoming’s wild horse population is based on the agency’s goal of allocating 90% of the forage on the public lands in the area to commercial livestock grazing.
One defiant stallion fought hard for his freedom for over 30 minutes, evading the helicopters but was ultimately roped and captured by three men on horseback.
After the roundup in this HMA, the BLM plans to leave a mere 251 horses on 1.2 million acres (1 horse per 4,781 acres).

Wyoming Wild Horse Roundup

Media Update: November 3, 2021

BLM Wyoming Wild Horse Roundup Continues as Abuse Allegations Mount

American Wild Horse Conservation (formerly American Wild Horse Campaign) files complaint seeking halt to roundup pending investigation of potential animal welfare violations

Sweat-soaked mare, chased by helicopter, collapses and is roped.

As of November 1, 946 wild horses (339 stallions, 413 mares and 194 foals) have been captured in the massive Bureau of Land Management helicopter roundup that began on October 7 in the Great Divide Basin Herd Management Area (HMA) northeast of Rock Springs.
New controversy swirls over a Rock Springs resident’s photographs showing a band of sweat-soaked wild horses being chased by helicopter, with one mare collapsing from apparent exhaustion yet still being chased and roped.

At least 4 foals have been orphaned, including two previously undisclosed foals sent by BLM to foster care and a two-month-old who was left alone in the wild overnight.

At least 3 traumatic deaths have occurred, including a horse who broke his neck after crashing into the trap panels, a horse who was euthanized after breaking his leg, and a mare who collapsed and died after being chased by the helicopter.
The American Wild Horse Conservation today sent a complaint to the BLM seeking a halt to the roundup pending investigation of ongoing animal welfare violations, full disclosure over the deaths and orphaning of foals in the roundup, and installation of video cameras on helicopters and in the trap and holding pens to ensure transparency and compliance.
Quotes:

“Leaving a two-month-old foal alone in the wild without his mother, chasing wild horses to exhaustion and traumatizing them to the point where they break their necks and limbs is unacceptable,” said Suzanne Roy, American Wild Horse Conservation Executive Director. “The serious animal welfare concerns at the ongoing Wyoming wild horse roundup warrant a halt to the helicopters pending a full investigation by the BLM and implementation of measures to guarantee humane treatment of these federally-protected animals and icons of the American West.”

“No wild horse should be chased and pursued to the point of exhaustion and collapse by the contractors hired by the BLM to conduct helicopter roundups and the BLM must fully investigate this matter,” said noted wildlife photographer Carol Walker who has photographed the Great Divide Basin wild horses and observed BLM roundups for many years. “The BLM’s cruel and costly management of wild horses by helicopter roundup shows a complete disregard for the welfare of these cherished animals. These wild horses belong to us, the American people, not to the Bureau of Land Management and they need to be treated with respect, care and dignity.”

More information:

AWHC Complaint to the BLM

AWHC Wyoming Checkerboard Roundup Reports

BLM Rock Springs Wild Horse Gather Reports

Media Update October 17, 2021

Photo by Kimerlee Curyl Photography

Largest wild horse roundup in U.S. history continues today (Day 10) in bitter cold conditions in the Great Divide Basin Herd Management Area (HMA) northeast of Rock Springs, Wyoming.
Capture total to date: 235 (114 mares, 52 foals, 69 stallions), with four deaths. One horse sustained a broken leg while being loaded into a trailer; three otherwise healthy horses were killed because they had a club foot (non-life threatening condition).
Yesterday (Oct 15), a foal (horse under 1 year of age) was found alone on the range. Hunters reported it as “being very young and alone near an oil pad.” It is unclear at this time whether BLM or the contractor was able to locate and rescue the foal.
The helicopter contractor, Cattoor Livestock Roundups, has a history of controversy surrounding foals left on the range alone after their mothers were captured in helicopter drives. (See recent roundup reports from Colorado and Nevada.)
The BLM is blocking meaningful public observation of the roundup by placing observers very far from the trap even though observation of this federal operation is a First Amendment right.

Taken with a powerful telephoto lens, this photo by Carol Walker Living Images shows the extent of what public observers can see.

Roundup continues today with American Wild Horse Conservation observer Carol Walker, Living Images Photography onsite. Follows the coverage: Daily reports, @freewildhorses); Carol Walker on Instagram & Facebook; Kimerlee Curyl Photography on Instagram & Facebook.

Wyoming Wild Horse Roundup

Media Update

Photo by WilsonAxpe Photography

Largest wild horse roundup in U.S. history continues on 3.4 million acres in southern Wyoming.
To date, 143 horses have been captured, including 74 mares, 36 foals, 33 stallions, in the helicopter capture operation that began on October 7 in the Great Divide Basin Herd Management Area northeast of Rock Springs.
High winds have grounded the helicopter and cancelled roundup activities for the last 2 days (Oct. 12 & 13).
The American Wild Horse Conservation (AWHC) has observers onsite at the roundup, filing daily reports with photographs and video. Follow their reports on Instagram and Facebook (@FreeWildHorses). Also follow Lynn Hanson, Carol Walker, Scott Wilson for additional reports.
This week, AWHC launched a national public awareness campaign KeepWYWyld.com, aimed at halting the roundup and protecting Wyoming’s iconic wild horse population.
The campaign, unveiled at a webinar last night, will raise awareness through billboards, canvassing, information sessions and virtual rallies. The group’s national petition has garnered 24,000 signatures in less than a week.
Local political support for the effort includes Rock Springs City Councilperson Tim Savage who said of the roundup, “This isn’t a management plan, it’s an eradication plan.” In a locally-published op-ed, Savage highlighted the damage the decimation of the area’s wild horse herds will cause to the local ecotourism economy.
The roundup, which is being conducted by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), aims to capture more than 4,000 federally-protected wild horses from 5 Herd Management Areas (HMAs) -- Little Colorado, White Mountain, Great Divide Basin, Salt Wells Creek and Adobe Town -- with 3,550 wild horses targeted for permanent removal from the wild.
Massive action is precursor to the eradication of most of the wild horse population in this area.
Captured horses are being trucked to holding pens in Rock Springs and Wheatland, where these free-roaming animals who range across millions of acres will be confined in crowded feedlot-like conditions that provide just 700 square feet per horse.