Tuesday, October 25
Summary: Operations commenced this morning for the Great Divide Basin Wild Horse Gather at the Pack Saddle Trap. Two helicopters were used for gather operations. A total of 218 horses were gathered. Three semi-truck loads of horses (136 animals) were transported to the Rock Springs Wild Horse Holding Facility. It is anticipated two loads of studs (approximately 75-80 horses) will be shipped to Gunnison, Utah, tomorrow. Weather conditions were fair today with temperatures ranging from the high 30’s to the low 40’s.
Animals gathered: 220 (originally counted as 218)
Animals shipped: 136
Total Deaths Today: 0
Acute: 0
Chronic/Pre-existing: 0
Wednesday, October 26
Summary: Operations continued Wednesday at the Pack Saddle Trap. Due to weather conditions and high winds, the helicopters did not fly and no horses were gathered. After a recount of yesterday’s gather numbers, it was discovered 220 horses were actually gathered not 218, so the total has been changed to reflect the correct number. Two loads of studs (72 horses) were shipped to Gunnison, Utah. Weather conditions were windy with temperatures ranging from the low 20’s to the low 40’s.
Animals gathered: 0
Animals shipped: 72
Total Deaths Today: 0
Acute: 0
Chronic/Pre-existing: 0
Thursday, October 27
Summary: Operations continued Thursday at the Pack Saddle Trap. Three semi-truck loads of horses (96) were shipped to the Rock Springs Wild Horse Holding Facility. Weather conditions were great with sunny skies and temps in the 40’s.
Animals gathered: 137
Animals shipped: 96
Total Deaths Today: 0
Acute: 0
Chronic/Pre-existing: 0
Friday, October 28
Summary: Following gather operations, the Pack Saddle Trap was dismantled and moved to a new site in the Bush Rim/Bar X Road area where gather operations will commence tomorrow. Two semi-truck loads of stud horses (53) were shipped to Gunnison, Utah. The weather forecast for Saturday calls for sunny skies, temperatures in the 40’s and breezy conditions.
Animals gathered: 12
Animals shipped: 53
Total Deaths Today: 0
Acute: 0
Chronic/Pre-existing: 0
Saturday, October 29
Summary: Gather operations commenced this morning around the Bush Rim Trap. Three helicopters were used to gather a total of 99 horses. Weather conditions were breezy with temperatures in the 40’s and operations were shut down early due to windy conditions.
Animals gathered: 99
Animals shipped: 0
Total Deaths Today: 0
Acute: 0
Chronic/Pre-existing: 0
Sunday, October 30
Summary: Gather operations continued Sunday at the Bush Rim Trap. Two helicopters were used to gather 34 horses. Weather conditions were windy with temperatures in the 40’s. Following gather operations for the day, the Bush Rim Trap was dismantled and moved to a new site in the Desert Springs area where gather operations will continue Monday.
Animals gathered: 34
Animals shipped: 0
Total Deaths Today: 0
Acute: 0
Chronic/Pre-existing: 0
Monday, October 31
Summary: Gather operations continued Monday at the Desert Springs Trap. Three helicopters were used to gather 85 wild horses. Weather conditions were windy with temperatures in the 50’s. One load of studs (36 horses) was shipped to Gunnison, Utah, and one colt with a poor body condition was shipped to Rock Springs to be seen by a veterinarian. Today was the first gather related death.
Animals gathered: 85
Animals shipped: 37
Total Deaths Today: 1
Acute: 1*
Chronic/Pre-existing: 0
* One mare with severe injuries sustained in the holding pen was humanely euthanized following BLM protocol. The APHIS veterinarian was consulted.
Tuesday, November 1
Summary: Bad weather including snow, slick roads and low visibility is suspending wild horse gather operations in the Great Divide Basin near the Bar X Road east of Rock Springs, Wyo. We will try again when the weather clears.
Animals gathered: 0
Animals shipped: 0
Total Deaths Today: 0
Acute: 0
Chronic/Pre-existing: 0
Wednesday, November 2
Summary: Gather operations resumed Wednesday at the Desert Spring Trap in the Great Divide Basin near the Bar X Road east of Rock Springs, Wyo. Two helicopters were used to gather 182 wild horses. One colt with a poor body condition was shipped to Rock Springs to be seen by a veterinarian. Weather conditions were sunny skies with temperatures in the 30’s.
Animals gathered: 182
Animals shipped: 1
Total Deaths Today: 1
Acute: 1*
Chronic/Pre-existing: 0
* One colt with a severe leg injury was humanely euthanized following BLM protocol. The APHIS veterinarian was consulted.
Thursday, November 3
Summary: Gather operations continued Thursday at the Desert Springs Trap Site near the Bar X Road east of Rock Springs, Wyo. Two helicopters were used to gather 34 wild horses. Four semi-truck loads of mustangs (188 horses) were shipped to Cañon City, Co. Weather conditions were sunny skies with temperatures in the 40’s.
Animals gathered: 34
Animals shipped: 188
Total Deaths Today: 0
Acute: 0
Chronic/Pre-existing: 0
Friday, November 4
Summary: Gather operations continued Friday for a final day at the Desert Springs Trap Site near the Bar X Road east of Rock Springs, Wyo. Two helicopters were used to gather 57 wild horses. One semi-truck load of horses (36 mares) were shipped to Cañon City, Co. Following gather operations, the Desert Springs Trap began to be dismantled. Weather conditions were sunny skies with temperatures in the 40’s.
Animals gathered: 57
Animals shipped: 36
Total Deaths Today: 0
Acute: 0
Chronic/Pre-existing: 0
Saturday, November 5
Summary: The Desert Springs Trap Site has been completely dismantled to be moved to a new trap site in the Bitter Creek area where gather operations will reconvene Sunday. Weather conditions included snow with temperatures in the 30’s.
Animals gathered: 1
Animals shipped: 0
Total Deaths Today: 0
Acute: 0
Chronic/Pre-existing: 0
Sunday, November 6
Summary: The new Black Rock Trap Site was fully assembled today in the Bitter Creek area east of Rock Springs, Wyo. Gather operations were suspended today due to high winds. Two semi-truck loads (83 horses) were shipped from the Desert Springs temporary holding facility to Cañon City, Co. Weather conditions were windy with temperatures in the 30’s.
Animals gathered: 0
Animals shipped: 83
Total Deaths Today: 0
Acute: 0
Chronic/Pre-existing: 0
Monday, November 7
Summary: Gather operations resumed today at the Black Rock Trap Site in the Bitter Creek area east of Rock Springs, Wyo. Two helicopters were used to gather 139 horses. Weather conditions were partly sunny skies with temperatures in the 30’s.
Animals gathered: 139
Animals shipped: 0
Total Deaths Today: 0
Acute: 0
Chronic/Pre-existing: 0
Tuesday, November 8
Summary: Gather operations continued Tuesday at the Black Rock Trap Site in the Bitter Creek area east of Rock Springs, Wyo. Two helicopters were used to gather 80 horses. Two semi-truck loads (86 horses) were shipped from the Desert Springs temporary holding facility to CañonCity, Co. Weather conditions were sunny skies with temperatures in the 30’s.
Animals gathered: 80
Animals shipped: 86
Total Deaths Today: 0
Acute: 0
Chronic/Pre-existing: 0
Wednesday, November 9
Summary: Gather operations continued Wednesday at the Black Rock Trap Site in the Bitter Creek area east of Rock Springs, Wyo. Two helicopters were used to gather 20 horses. One semi-truck load (32 horses) were shipped from the Desert Springs temporary holding facility to Cañon City, Co. Weather conditions were sunny skies with temperatures in the 30’s.
Animals gathered: 20
Animals shipped: 32
Total Deaths Today: 0
Acute: 0
Chronic/Pre-existing: 0
Thursday, November 10
Summary: Gather operations moved Thursday to a new Superior Trap Site northeast of Rock Springs, Wyo. One helicopter was used to gather 7 horses. After gather operations, the trap was dismantled and will be moved to a new location tomorrow. One semi-truck load (45 horses) were shipped from the Desert Springs temporary holding facility to Cañon City, Co. Mares that had been previously gathered were treated with fertility control. One hundred thirty-nine mares and studs were released back into the Great Divide Basin HMA today. Weather conditions were sunny skies with temperatures in the 30’s.
Animals gathered: 7
Animals shipped: 45
Mares fertility treated: 55
Animals returned to the HMA: 139
Friday, November 11
Summary: Operations are now complete for the Great Divide Basin Gather. Two helicopters were used to gather 25 horses from outside the HMA at a new Boars Tusk Trap Site. These horses will be transported to the Red Desert Complex Gather's temporary holding facility in Baroil, Wyo. and then shipped to Cañon City, Co. arriving Nov. 14. Three semi-truck loads (100 horses) were shipped from the Desert Springs temporary holding facility to Cañon City, Co. Weather conditions were sunny skies with temperatures in the 30’s.
This is the final report for the Great Divide Basin Wild Horse Gather. With the release of 139 horses back to the HMA Thursday, Nov. 10, the Great Divide Basin HMA is now estimated to be within the low appropriate management level range. Operations are expected to resume this weekend for the second phase of the Red Desert Complex Gather (Lost Creek and Stewart Creek HMAs).
Animals gathered: 25
Animals shipped: 125
Total Deaths Today: 1
Acute: 1*
Chronic/Pre-existing: 0
* One stud horse injured its neck while being loaded and was humanely euthanized following BLM protocol. The APHIS veterinarian was consulted.
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A death labeled as "acute" is when an animal dies or is euthanized due to acute injuries or medical conditions brought about by the gather and removal process including those that occur during capture, sorting and holding at the gather site. This term will include animals that die for known or unknown reasons thought to be related to gather activities.
A death labeled as "chronic/pre-existing" is when an animal dies or is euthanized for reasons related to chronic or pre-existing conditions such as body condition, lameness, serious physical defects, etc. This term will include animals that are euthanized for conditions not brought about by the gather activity.