2017 Antelope (Water Canyon) Wild Horse Gather
Gather operations concluded on Thursday, Nov. 2, 2017
Purpose of Gather:
Implementation of phase two of the 10-year Water Canyon Wild Horse Growth Suppression Pilot Program, which has the purpose of stabilizing and maintaining a wild horse population of 30-35 animals within the Water Canyon portion of the Antelope Herd Management Area (HMA), about 60 miles north of Ely, Nev. The management number is based on range conditions, water availability and acreage comparisons, as well as seasonal movement during the summer and drier winter months.
To achieve program goals, the BLM will gather all the horses in the area. Management objectives are to maintain a 50/50 ratio of studs to mares. All mares released will be retreated with the fertility-control vaccine GonaCon-Equine to reduce foaling rates and overall population growth.
The BLM implemented phase one of the program in fall/winter 2015. The BLM gathered 53 wild horses using hay and water. The BLM treated 15 mares selected for release with the aforementioned fertility-control vaccine, which has an expected efficacy of about two years. The BLM removed and offered to the public through the BLM Wild Horse and Burro adoption program the 31 excess horses.
Details of Gather:
The bait and water trap gather began Monday, Sept. 25, 2017. BLM staff conducted the gather.
Public Observation:
There was no public observation due to the nature of bait and water trapping.
Adoption Information:
The BLM transported excess horses to the Indian Lakes off-range corrals in Fallon, Nev., or Delta Wild Horse and Burro Facility, in Delta, Utah, where they will be prepared for adoption through the BLM Wild Horse and Burro adoption program. For information on how to adopt a wild horse, visit http://www.blm.gov/whb. Unadoptable wild horses will be cared for in off-range pastures, where they retain their "wild” status and protection under the 1971 Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act.
Background:
The BLM is facing formidable challenges in managing population growth of wild horses and burros.
Gathering horses, placing them into private care, and using short-term contraception have been the key tools available to the BLM to manage population growth. The BLM has placed over 230,000 wild horses and burros into private care since 1971. However, adoption rates have declined in recent years and in order to sustain healthy horses on healthy rangelands, the BLM has been renting pastures and corrals for un-adopted animals. There are approximately 50,000 un-adopted horses in “off-range holding”.
Controlling wild horse and burro population growth in the West is paramount to keeping healthy horses and burros roaming free on healthy rangeland, while reducing the costs of off-range holding. In order to do this, the BLM needs more effective and efficient contraception tools.
In its 2013 report to the BLM, the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) found that no highly effective, easily delivered and affordable fertility-control methods were currently available for use on wild horses and burros.
The Water Canyon Wild Horse Growth Suppression Pilot Program provides the BLM the opportunity to determine the efficacy of GonaCon-Equine on a small group of wild horses in a controlled environment with the possibility of expanded usage in future years, depending on the study’s results.
The BLM’s investment in research will ensure tools to control population growth are safe and humane to the horses and burros, are good for overall health of the herds, and are effective in controlling growth rates. The research will position the BLM to successfully manage population growth, ensuring healthy herds of free-roaming horses and burros and vibrant ecosystems for years to come.
Supporters of the Water Canyon Wild Horse Growth Suppression Pilot Program include the Northeastern Great Basin Resource Advisory Council, the Lincoln, Nye, and White Pine County Commissions and Nevada Department of Agriculture. Local resident and wild horse advocate Jeanne Nations is the Volunteer Project Coordinator.
Gather Reports
Thursday, Nov. 2
Summary: No horses were gathered and removed today. Today's temperatures ranged from the low 20s to low 60s; skies were mostly sunny.
Animals gathered: 0 (0 Studs, 0 Mares, 0 Foals)
Animals shipped: 0
Animals Treated with Fertility Control: 0
Total Deaths Today: 0
Acute: 0
Chronic/Pre-existing: 0
Wednesday, Nov. 1
Summary: No horses were gathered and removed today. Today's temperatures ranged from the low 20s to low 60s; skies were mostly sunny.
Animals gathered: 0 (0 Studs, 0 Mares, 0 Foals)
Animals shipped: 0
Animals Treated with Fertility Control: 0
Total Deaths Today: 0
Acute: 0
Chronic/Pre-existing: 0
Tuesday, Oct. 31
Summary: No horses were gathered and removed today. Today's temperatures ranged from the low 20s to low 60s; skies were mostly sunny.
Animals gathered: 0 (0 Studs, 0 Mares, 0 Foals)
Animals shipped: 0
Animals Treated with Fertility Control: 0
Total Deaths Today: 0
Acute: 0
Chronic/Pre-existing: 0
Monday, Oct. 30
Summary: No horses were gathered and removed today. Today's temperatures ranged from the low 20s to low 60s; skies were mostly sunny.
Animals gathered: 0 (0 Studs, 0 Mares, 0 Foals)
Animals shipped: 0
Animals Treated with Fertility Control: 0
Total Deaths Today: 0
Acute: 0
Chronic/Pre-existing: 0
Sunday, Oct. 29
Summary: No horses were gathered and removed today. Today's temperatures ranged from the low 20s to low 60s; skies were mostly sunny.
Animals gathered: 0 (0 Studs, 0 Mares, 0 Foals)
Animals shipped: 0
Animals Treated with Fertility Control: 0
Total Deaths Today: 0
Acute: 0
Chronic/Pre-existing: 0
Saturday, Oct. 28
Summary: No horses were gathered and removed today. Today's temperatures ranged from the low 20s to low 60s; skies were mostly sunny.
Animals gathered: 0 (0 Studs, 0 Mares, 0 Foals)
Animals shipped: 0
Animals Treated with Fertility Control: 0
Total Deaths Today: 0
Acute: 0
Chronic/Pre-existing: 0
Friday, Oct. 27
Summary: No horses were gathered and removed today. Today's temperatures ranged from the low 20s to low 60s; skies were mostly sunny.
Animals gathered: 0 (0 Studs, 0 Mares, 0 Foals)
Animals shipped: 0
Animals Treated with Fertility Control: 0
Total Deaths Today: 0
Acute: 0
Chronic/Pre-existing: 0
Thursday, Oct. 26
Summary: No horses were gathered and removed today. Today's temperatures ranged from the low 20s to low 60s; skies were mostly sunny.
Animals gathered: 0 (0 Studs, 0 Mares, 0 Foals)
Animals shipped: 0
Animals Treated with Fertility Control: 0
Total Deaths Today: 0
Acute: 0
Chronic/Pre-existing: 0
Wednesday, Oct. 25
Summary: No horses were gathered and removed today. Today's temperatures ranged from the low 20s to low 60s; skies were mostly sunny.
Animals gathered: 0 (0 Studs, 0 Mares, 0 Foals)
Animals shipped: 0
Animals Treated with Fertility Control: 0
Total Deaths Today: 0
Acute: 0
Chronic/Pre-existing: 0
Tuesday, Oct. 24
Summary: No horses were gathered and removed today. Today's temperatures ranged from the low 20s to low 60s; skies were mostly sunny.
Animals gathered: 0 (0 Studs, 0 Mares, 0 Foals)
Animals shipped: 0
Animals Treated with Fertility Control: 0
Total Deaths Today: 0
Acute: 0
Chronic/Pre-existing: 0
Monday, Oct. 23
Summary: No horses were gathered and removed today. Today's temperatures ranged from the low 20s to low 60s; skies were mostly sunny.
Animals gathered: 0 (0 Studs, 0 Mares, 0 Foals)
Animals shipped: 0
Animals Treated with Fertility Control: 0
Total Deaths Today: 0
Acute: 0
Chronic/Pre-existing: 0
Sunday, Oct. 22
Summary: No horses were gathered and removed today. Today's temperatures ranged from the low 20s to low 60s; skies were mostly sunny.
Animals gathered: 0 (0 Studs, 0 Mares, 0 Foals)
Animals shipped: 0
Animals Treated with Fertility Control: 0
Total Deaths Today: 0
Acute: 0
Chronic/Pre-existing: 0
Saturday, Oct. 21
Summary: No horses were gathered and removed today. Today's temperatures ranged from the low 20s to low 60s; skies were mostly sunny.
Animals gathered: 0 (0 Studs, 0 Mares, 0 Foals)
Animals shipped: 0
Animals Treated with Fertility Control: 0
Total Deaths Today: 0
Acute: 0
Chronic/Pre-existing: 0
Friday, Oct. 20
Summary: No horses were gathered and removed today. Today's temperatures ranged from the low 20s to low 60s; skies were mostly sunny.
Animals gathered: 0 (0 Studs, 0 Mares, 0 Foals)
Animals shipped: 0
Animals Treated with Fertility Control: 0
Total Deaths Today: 0
Acute: 0
Chronic/Pre-existing: 0
Thursday, Oct. 19
Summary: No horses were gathered and removed today. Today's temperatures ranged from the low 20s to low 60s; skies were mostly sunny.
Animals gathered: 0 (0 Studs, 0 Mares, 0 Foals)
Animals shipped: 0
Animals Treated with Fertility Control: 0
Total Deaths Today: 0
Acute: 0
Chronic/Pre-existing: 0
Wednesday, Oct. 18
Summary: No horses were gathered and removed today. Today's temperatures ranged from the low 20s to low 60s; skies were mostly sunny.
Animals gathered: 0 (0 Studs, 0 Mares, 0 Foals)
Animals shipped: 0
Animals Treated with Fertility Control: 0
Total Deaths Today: 0
Acute: 0
Chronic/Pre-existing: 0
Tuesday, Oct. 17
Summary: No horses were gathered and removed today. Today's temperatures ranged from the low 20s to low 60s; skies were mostly sunny.
Animals gathered: 0 (0 Studs, 0 Mares, 0 Foals)
Animals shipped: 0
Animals Treated with Fertility Control: 0
Total Deaths Today: 0
Acute: 0
Chronic/Pre-existing: 0
Monday, Oct. 16
Summary: No horses were gathered and removed today. Today's temperatures ranged from the low 20s to low 60s; skies were mostly sunny.
Animals gathered: 0 (0 Studs, 0 Mares, 0 Foals)
Animals shipped: 0
Animals Treated with Fertility Control: 0
Total Deaths Today: 0
Acute: 0
Chronic/Pre-existing: 0
Sunday, Oct. 15
Summary: No horses were gathered and removed today. Today's temperatures ranged from the low 20s to low 60s; skies were mostly sunny.
Animals gathered: 0 (0 Studs, 0 Mares, 0 Foals)
Animals shipped: 0
Animals Treated with Fertility Control: 0
Total Deaths Today: 0
Acute: 0
Chronic/Pre-existing: 0
Saturday, Oct. 14
Summary: No horses were gathered and removed today. Today's temperatures ranged from the low 20s to low 60s; skies were mostly sunny.
Animals gathered: 0 (0 Studs, 0 Mares, 0 Foals)
Animals shipped: 0
Animals Treated with Fertility Control: 0
Total Deaths Today: 0
Acute: 0
Chronic/Pre-existing: 0
Friday, Oct. 13
Summary: The BLM today released 21 horses (12 mares, 8 studs, 1 foal). Today's temperatures ranged from the low 20s to low 60s; skies were mostly sunny.
Animals gathered: 0 (0 Studs, 0 Mares, 0 Foals)
Animals shipped: 0 (0 Mares, 0 Studs, and 0 Foals)
Animals Treated with Fertility Control: 12
Total Deaths Today: 0
Acute: 0
Chronic/Pre-existing: 0
Thursday, Oct. 12
Summary: Nine horses with a Henneke Body Condition Score of 4 were transported today to the Indian Lakes Off-Range Corral, in Fallon, Nev. Today's temperatures ranged from the low 20s to low 60s; skies were mostly sunny.
Animals gathered: 0 (0 Studs, 0 Mares, 0 Foals)
Animals shipped: 9 (4 Mares, 4 Studs, 1 Foal)
Animals Treated with Fertility Control: 0
Total Deaths Today: 0
Acute: 0
Chronic/Pre-existing: 0
Wednesday, Oct. 11
Summary: Ten horses were gathered and removed today with a Henneke Body Condition Score of 4. Today's temperatures ranged from the low 20s to low 60s; skies were mostly sunny.
Animals gathered: 10 (4 Studs, 5 Mares, 1 Foal)
Animals shipped: 0
Animals Treated with Fertility Control: 0
Total Deaths Today: 0
Acute: 0
Chronic/Pre-existing: 0
Tuesday, Oct. 10
Summary: No horses were gathered and removed today. Today's temperatures ranged from the low 20s to low 60s; skies were mostly sunny.
Animals gathered: 0 (0 Studs, 0 Mares, 0 Foals)
Animals shipped: 0
Animals Treated with Fertility Control: 0
Total Deaths Today: 0
Acute: 0
Chronic/Pre-existing: 0
Monday, Oct. 9
Summary: No horses were gathered and removed today. Today's temperatures ranged from the low 20s to upper 50s; skies were mostly sunny.
Animals gathered: 0 (0 Studs, 0 Mares, 0 Foals)
Animals shipped: 0
Animals Treated with Fertility Control: 0
Total Deaths Today: 0
Acute: 0
Chronic/Pre-existing: 0
Sunday, Oct. 8
Summary: No horses were gathered and removed today. Today's temperatures ranged from the low 20s to upper 50s; skies were mostly sunny.
Animals gathered: 0 (0 Studs, 0 Mares, 0 Foals)
Animals shipped: 0
Animals Treated with Fertility Control: 0
Total Deaths Today: 0
Acute: 0
Chronic/Pre-existing: 0
Saturday, Oct. 7
Summary: One horse was gathered and removed today with a Henneke Body Condition Score of 4. Today's temperatures ranged from the low 20s to mid 50s; skies were sunny.
Animals gathered: 1 (1 Stud, 0 Mares, 0 Foals)
Animals shipped: 0
Animals Treated with Fertility Control: 0
Total Deaths Today: 0
Acute: 0
Chronic/Pre-existing: 0
Friday, Oct. 6
Summary: No horses were gathered today but 2 horses were shipped to the Delta Wild Horse and Burro Facility in Delta, UT to prepare them for adoption. Temperatures ranged from the mid 50s to the low 20s; skies were sunny.
Animals shipped: 2 (0 Studs, 1 Mare and 1 Foal)
Animals Treated with Fertility Control: 0
Total Deaths Today: 0
Acute: 0
Chronic/Pre-existing: 0
Thursday, Oct. 5
Summary: No horses were gathered today but 8 horses were shipped to the Indian Lakes Facility in Fallon, NV to prepare them for adoption. Temperatures ranged from high 50s to the low 20s; it was partly cloudy with intermittent rain throughout the day
Animals gathered: 0 (0 Studs, 0 Mares, 0 Foals)
Animals shipped: 8 (2 Studs, 4 Mares and 2 Foals)
Animals Treated with Fertility Control: 0
Total Deaths Today: 0
Acute: 0
Chronic/Pre-existing: 0
Wednesday, Oct. 4
Summary: There were 3 horses gathered and removed today with Henneke Body Condition Score of 4. Weather was sunny with a high of 56 degrees
Animals gathered: 3 (1 Stud, 1 Mare, 1 Foal)
Animals shipped: 0
Animals Treated with Fertility Control: 0
Total Deaths Today: 0
Acute: 0
Chronic/Pre-existing: 0
Tuesday, Oct. 3
Summary: There were 11 horses gathered and removed today with Henneke Body Condition Score of 4. Weather conditions turned cold with intermittent rain. The high was 55 degrees with the low in the mid 20s.
Animals gathered: 11 (3 Studs, 7 Mares, 1 Foal)
Animals shipped: 0
Animals Treated with Fertility Control: 0
Total Deaths Today: 0
Acute: 0
Chronic/Pre-existing: 0
Monday, Oct. 2
Summary: No horses were gathered today but 8 horses were shipped to the Indian Lakes Facility in Fallon, NV to prepare them for adoption.
Animals gathered: 0
Animals shipped: 8 (4 Studs, 2 Mares, 2 Foals)
Animals Treated with Fertility Control: 0
Total Deaths Today: 0
Acute: 0
Chronic/Pre-existing: 0
Friday, Sept. 29
Summary: There were 10 horses gathered and removed today with Henneke Body Condition Score of 4. Weather conditions are typical for this time of year, i.e., mostly sunny to sunny skies with high temperatures ranging from the mid to upper 60s and low 70s. Lows range from the mid to upper 30s and low 40s. No horses will be gathered over the weekend; gathering operations will resume on Monday, October 2.
Animals gathered: 10 (5 Studs, 4 Mares, 1 Foal)
Animals shipped: 0
Animals Treated with Fertility Control: 0
Total Deaths Today: 0
Acute: 0
Chronic/Pre-existing: 1
One 2-year old black stud was humanely euthanized in accordance with IM NoL2015-070 due to “A chronic or incurable disease, injury, lameness, or serious physical defect (blind) and had poor or hopeless prognosis for recovery”.
Thursday, Sept. 28
Summary: There were no horses gathered today
Animals gathered: 0
Animals shipped: 0
Animals Treated with Fertility Control: 0
Total Deaths Today: 0
Acute: 0
Chronic/Pre-existing: 0
Wednesday, Sept. 27
Summary: There were 8 horses gathered and removed today with Henneke Body Condition Score of 4. Weather conditions are typical for this time of year, i.e., mostly sunny to sunny skies with high temperatures ranging from the mid to upper 60s and low 70s. Lows range from the mid to upper 30s and low 40s.
Animals gathered: 8 (1 Stud, 4 Mares, 3 Foals)
Animals shipped: 0
Animals Treated with Fertility Control: 0
Total Deaths Today: 0
Acute: 0
Chronic/Pre-existing: 0
Tuesday, Sept. 26
Summary: Today was the first day horses gathered and removed for a total of 6. Weather conditions are typical for this time of year, i.e., mostly sunny to sunny skies with high temperatures ranging from the mid to upper 60s and low 70s. Lows range from the mid to upper 30s and low 40s.
Animals gathered: 6 (5 Studs, 1 Mare, 0 Foals)
Animals shipped: 0
Animals Treated with Fertility Control: 0
Total Deaths Today: 0
Acute: 0
Chronic/Pre-existing: 0
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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.