Obama Administration to Begin “Largest” Wild Horse Stampede of the Winter

Straight from the Horse's Heart

Story and Photo by Laura Leigh written for “Horseback Magazine“

Despite Pleas and Plans the BLM moves forward with Deadly Stampede

ELY, NEV (Horseback) – The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is preparing to begin the Nevada’s Antelope Complex roundup as early as Sunday, January 23. This roundup is the largest “gather” on the schedule for the winter season. Located in Northeastern Nevada the roundup includes three separate Herd Management Areas (HMA). The Spruce and Goshute HMA’s lie in the Elko district and the Antelope is split between the Ely and Elko district offices.
On January 20 an interview with Ben Noyes, the Wild Horse and Burro specialist Ely district, confirmed much of what this reporter has seen on the range. Noyes confirmed that the horses were in small bands scattered in the HMA and not in numbers expected. He said that this was unusual.
When asked to physically take this reporter out to demonstrate the reasoning for the roundup I was told the request was not likely to be granted as the roundup was pending and the staff was busy. Instead I was provided with three photographs of “range conditions” and a logical explanation for each photograph. A request was made for pictures of horses taken at the same location at the same time to illustrate that these photos represent distressed populations, those photos have not been received.
Of the photos I was given one demonstrates an area where a water source was not operational and the horses actually dug down to open up a space where water was available, not only for themselves to drink but other wildlife. This demonstrates a vital role the horses play on any range.
As the request to be shown BLM’s justification was not met extensive exploration of the southern portion of Antelope was undertaken. Small scattered bands that were not congregated into a small section creating any detriment was observed. The bands observed demonstrated body condition expected in this part of the state at this time of year. Allotment fences were present and cattle were on the range. Forage was noted and water was found in abundance.
A portion of the interview with Noyes covered plans to increase forage on the range. Noyes discussed the possibility of being able to increase Appropriate Management Level (AML) in the future.
Recently the Clan Alpine roundup in Central Nevada was suspended after a pre-roundup census was concluded finding that the previous census was inaccurate.
The observations made personally in the southern portion of Antelope begs the same question as in Clan Alpine. Critics and wild horse advocates ask, could the prior census have been inaccurate? If cattle can currently graze shouldn’t the few bands in Antelope be able to exist undisturbed as the forage projects get underway? If horses only exist on approximately 10% of public land and the current system of warehousing horses has created such a fiscal nightmare… shouldn’t these roundups be held to higher scrutiny before more tax payer dollars are thrown after bad?