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Wednesday, September 19, 2012

BLM COMPLETES EMERGENCY ROUNDUPS IN NEVADA AND OREGON; BURRO ROUNDUP STILL UNDERWAY NEAR LAS VEGAS

American Wild Horse Preservation Campaign


September 19, 2012
Just Captured: Wild Horses from Pancake Complex in temporary holding after September 2012 BLM roundup. Photo by BLM.
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM)has announced the completion of two emergency roundups that have removed a total of 208 wild horses from the range in Nevada and Oregon.

Pancake HMA Nevada

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The BLM Ely District, Egan Field Office in Nevada announced the conclusion of  the Pancake Herd Management Area (HMA) Emergency Wild Horse Roundup on Thursday, Sept. 13. On Sept. 12-13, the BLM captured and removed 124 wild horses from the southern end of the HMA in south-central Nevada, about 30 miles west of Ely or 80 miles northeast of Tonopah, Nev. The agency said that the roundup was necessary due to low forage and water resources as a result of drought in the area.
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Pancake HMA mustangs captured in BLM roundup September 2012. BLM photo.
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The horses were transported to the Palomino Valley Center outside Reno, Nevada. No deaths were reported as a result of this roundup. The capture operation was conducted via helicopter stampede, despite the viability of less traumatic capture methods through bait/water trapping. BLM reported the condition of most of the captured horses as being 2-3 on the Henneke scale.
More information on the roundup found on BLM’s official Pancake Emergency “Gather” page.

Jackies Butte, Oregon

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The Longdraw fire reportedly burned 75% of the Jackies Butte HMA

 The BLM’s Vale, Oregon Field Office is reporting the conclusion of an emergency roundup in the Jackies Butte HMA. The action, which took place on August 7, 2012, captured 85 and removed 85 of the estimated 90 wild horses living in the HMA. The roundup was initiated in the aftermath of a lightning-sparked wildfire. The Long Draw fire burned approximately 75  percent of the 65,211-acre HMA.
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There were seven fatalities associated with the roundup. One mare broke her leg after getting it stuck in the trap panel and was euthanized by the BLM. Six horses were euthanized by BLM due to “debilitating injuries suffered during the wildfire.”
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Aside from the horses with severe burn injuries, BLM is reporting that the majority of the captured horses had body conditions of 3-5 or better on the Henneke scale. The horses will be held in sex-segregated pens at the Burns Corral until the range regenerates, after which some will be returned to the range to achieve the low allowable management level of 75 horses in this HMA.
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For more information, please see BLM’s report on the Jackies Butte emergency roundupand the Decision Record for the action.
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Paisley Desert HMA

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Paisley Desert mustangs in trap. BLM roundup August 2012. BLM photo.
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On August 29, the BLM reported that an “emergency” roundup in the Paisley Desert HMA in southern/central Oregon was completed, with 193 wild horses captured and removed from the range. Although the BLM claimed that The BLM determined that “the emergency removal of the Paisley Desert wild horse herd is needed to ensure their survival until fall/winter moisture comes,” most of the captured horses to be in average body condition (3-4 on the Henneke scale). “None of the captured horses showed symptoms of dehydration or sickness due to lack of water,” BLM reported. The agency had begun hauling water to the horses six days before the roundup began.
For more information, please see the BLM’s “gather” report and press release on the roundup.

Red Rock Burros

Las Vegas Review-Journal Photo of Blue Diamond Burro Capture
As of September 19, 2012, the BLM is reporting that it has captured 20 of 30 “nuisance” burros living in the Blue Diamond community outside of Las Vegas. The agency reports that the burros became habituated to people after being fed by area residents and travelers along Route 159 and have become a safety hazard. At least 15 burros have been struck by vehicles in the area in the last two years. On Saturday, September 22, 2012, the BLM will hold an adoption for the captured burros at the BLM’s Oliver Ranch in Red Rock Canyon.
For more information, please read news reports here and here.

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