2017 SULPHUR WILD HORSE GATHER
Began Wednesday January 18, 2017
Ended Tuesday, January 31, 2017
Purpose of Gather:
The BLM will gather approximately 700 horses, of those gathered, remove approximately 300 adoptable aged horses, and return approximately 400 horses, including 100-150 mares treated with porcine zona pellucida -22 (also known as PZP-22) back onto the Sulphur HMA.
Details of Gather:
The Sulphur HMA is located in western Iron, Beaver, and Millard counties, Utah approximately 50 miles west of Milford, Utah in the Indian Peak and Mountain Home mountain ranges. The Sulphur HMA contains approximately 265,675 acres.
Helicopter drive-trapping operations are scheduled to begin Wednesday, Jan. 18. Members of the public are welcome to view the daily gather operations, provided the safety of the animals, staff and observers are not jeopardized and operations are not disrupted.
Public Observation:
The BLM will conduct escorted public tours to gather observation sites. Details will be announced daily on the BLM gather hotline, (801) 539-4050.
Participants must provide their own transportation, water and food. The BLM recommends footwear and clothing suitable for harsh winter field conditions. Binoculars and four-wheel drive, high clearance vehicles are also stronglyrecommended. Please note that no public restrooms will be available once the tour begins.
Public Meeting Places:
January 18 - 20 & 24 - 31
The Border Inn on Hwy 50 & 6, at 6:15 a.m. MST.
Leave to gather location at 6:30 a.m.
January 21 - 23
The KB Express Convenience Store/Subway in Milford, Utah at 6:15 a.m.
Leave to gather location at 6:30 a.m.
Adoption Information:
Animals removed from the range will be made available for adoption through the BLM Wild Horse and Burro Adoption Program. Those that are not adopted will be cared for in long-term pastures, where they retain their protection under the 1971 Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act.
Background:
Details on the EA and the gather can be found on the BLM’s planning documents website: https://eplanning.blm.gov/eplanning-ui/project/51689/510. More information on the population control research project is available from the BLM’s Fillmore Field Office at (435)743-3100.
Additional Information:
Public lands will remain open unless closures are deemed necessary due to safety concerns. Outdoor recreationists and visitors to the gather area should be aware that there will be low flying helicopters and should avoid recreational use of drones along Highway 21 and within the Mountain Home area. Brief road closures may also be needed to allow movement of horses during gather operations.
Anyone interested can get updates on Twitter by following @BLMUtah or searching #SulphurGather.
Gather Reports
Wednesday, January 18
Summary: Two members of the public watched on as 127 horses were gathered: 125 by drive-trapped, 2 roped. Most of the horses had body conditions between 3 - 5, however, several had a body condition of 2. Several horses stumbled due to the slick snow conditions. All regained their footing and do not show any signs of injury.
Animals gathered: 127
Animals shipped: 0
Total deaths today: 0
Acute: 0
Chronic/Pre-existing: 0
Thursday, January 19
Summary: One member of the public watched on as 37 horses were gathered via drive-trap. The horses had body conditions between 3 - 5. Several horses stumbled due to the slick snow conditions. All got right to their feet and no injuries were identified.
The Axtell Contract Off-Range Corrals received a load of 50 horses at 12:55 p.m. All horses off-loaded without incident. They seem to be doing well and were given grass, hay, and water.
Animals gathered: 37
Animals shipped: 50
Total deaths today: 0
Acute: 0
Chronic/Pre-existing: 0
Friday, January 20
Summary: One member of the public watched on as 11 horses were gathered via drive-trap. The horses had body conditions between 3 to 5’s with one horse scoring 2.
An approximately 25 year-old dun stud was euthanized due to an enlarged left knee with chronic arthritis. The horse was in a body class 2, was severely lame and exhibited no chance of improvement.
The Axtell Contract Off-Range Corrals received a load of 41 horses today at 1:17 pm from the Sulphur Gather. All horses off-loaded without incident. They seem to be doing well and were given grass, hay, and water.
Animals gathered: 11
Animals shipped: 41
Total deaths today: 1
Acute: 0
Chronic/Pre-existing: 1
Saturday, January 21
Summary: Eleven members of the public watched on as 103 horses were gathered without incident - 99 via drive-trap, 4 via rope. The horses mostly had body conditions of 4's and 5’s, with a couple scoring 2's and 3's.
The Axtell Contract Off-Range Corrals received 75 horses today at 12:10 pm from the Sulphur Gather. All horses off-loaded without incident. They seem to be doing well and were given grass, hay, and water.
Animals gathered: 103
Animals shipped: 75
Total deaths today: 0
Acute: 0
Chronic/Pre-existing: 0
Sunday, January 22
Summary: Three members of the public watched on as 13 horses were gathered via drive-trap. The horses mostly had body conditions of 4's and 5’s, with a couple scoring 3's.
There were a couple notable incidents that took place today. The first was that the contractor's truck was hit by a wild horse this morning on Hwy 21 at mile marker 31 (which is 5-6 miles outside the HMA boundary) as they were traveling to temporary holding. The vehicle sustained some damage but was still drivable and no one in the vehicle was injured. The horse fled the accident scene and has not been located. The second incident occurred while several horses in the band slipped in the snow while being brought into the trap site, All horses jumped up and do not appear to be injured.
The Axtell Contract Off-Range Corrals received 87 horses today at 11:50 am from the Sulphur Gather. All horses off-loaded without incident. They seem to be doing well and were given grass, hay, and water. This brings the total received at the Axtell Facility from the Sulphur Gather to 253 head.
Animals gathered: 13
Animals shipped: 87
Total deaths today: 0
Acute: 0
Chronic/Pre-existing: 0
Monday, January 23
Summary: Gather operations were suspended today due to wind, ice, snow, and white out conditions.
Animals gathered: 0
Animals shipped: 0
Total deaths today: 0
Acute: 0
Chronic/Pre-existing: 0
Tuesday, January 24
Summary: A total of 110 horses were gathered today - 108 via drive-trap, 2 via rope. Most of the horses had body classes of 3's and 4's. There are several horses that had a body score of 2 and are being evaluated in temporary holding for long-term recovery.
Acute: A 3 year-old dun stud entered the trap site with the other horses. He spun around in an attempt to escape and hit two different gates, breaking his neck on the second gate.
Chronic: A 17 year-old grulla mare with a body score of 1.5 was euthanized due to a hopeless prognosis for recovery.
Animals gathered: 110
Animals shipped: 0
Total deaths today: 2
Acute: 1
Chronic/Pre-existing: 1
Wednesday, January 25
Summary: One member of the public watched on as a total of 43 horses were gathered today - 42 via drive-trap, 1 via rope. Most of the horses had body classes of 3's and 4's. There are several horses that had a body score of 2 and are being evaluated in temporary holding for long-term recovery.
Chronic: A 17 year-old dun stud was euthanized due to a large tumor in his right testicle.
Chronic: A 20+ year-old red dun mare, with a body score of 2, was euthanized due to poor prognosis of improvement.
Today, we gathered two studs that are both blind in one eye. The on-site veterinarian and COR will re-evaluate them more closely tomorrow to determine their prognosis for improvement.
The Axtell Contract Off-Range Corrals received 52 head of horses today at 11:50 a.m. from the Sulphur Gather. All horses off-loaded without incident. They seem to be doing well and were given grass, hay, and water. This brings Axtell's total received from the Sulphur Gather to 305 horses.
Animals gathered: 43
Animals shipped: 52
Total deaths today: 2
Acute: 0
Chronic/Pre-existing: 2
Thursday, January 26
Summary: One member of the public watched on as a total of 55 horses were gathered today - 53 via drive-trap, 2 via rope. The horses had body classes of 3's and 4's.
Chronic: A 3 year-old bay stud was euthanized due pre-existing right front shoulder fracture.
Chronic: A 6 year-old black mare with a body score of 2 was euthanized due to poor prognosis for improvement.
Animals gathered: 55
Animals shipped: 0
Total deaths today: 2
Acute: 0
Chronic/Pre-existing: 2
Friday, January 27
Summary: One member of the public watched on as a total of 47 horses were gathered today - 43 via drive-trap, 4 via rope. The horses mostly had body classes of 4 & 5’s, a couple 3’s, and one 2.
Chronic: A 5 year-old dun mare with a body score of 2 was euthanized due to its weak condition and poor prognosis for improvement.
Chronic: A 20 year-old grulla stud with a body score of 2 was euthanized due to poor prognosis for improvement.
Chronic: A 15 year-old bay stud was euthanized due to a serious physical defect (blindness) and dangerous characteristics.
Chronic: A 5 year-old sorrel stud was euthanized due to a serious physical defect (blindness).
The Axtell Contract Off-Range Corrals received 47 head of horses today at 12:10 p.m. from the Sulphur Gather. All horses off-loaded without incident. They seem to be doing well and were given grass, hay, and water. This brings Axtell's total received from the Sulphur Gather to 358 horses.
Animals gathered: 47
Animals shipped: 53
Total deaths today: 4
Acute: 0
Chronic/Pre-existing: 4
Saturday, January 28
Summary: One member of the public watched on as a total of 58 horses were gathered today - 56 via drive-trap, 2 via rope. The horses mostly had body classes of 4 & 5’s, some 3’s, and a couple 2's.
Chronic: A 20 year-old bay mare with a body score of 2 was euthanized due to its weak condition and poor prognosis for improvement.
Acute: A 3 year-old bay mare was euthanized due to multi-limb lameness and poor prognosis for recovery.
Animals gathered: 58
Animals shipped: 0
Total deaths today: 2
Acute: 1
Chronic/Pre-existing: 1
Sunday, January 29
Summary: One member of the public watched on as a total of 51 horses were gathered today - 48 via drive-trap, 3 via rope. The horses mostly had body classes of 3 & 4’s, some 5’s, and one with a body class of 2.
Acute: An 8 year-old bay mare was euthanized due to multi-limb lameness and poor prognosis for recovery.
Chronic: A 6 year-old sorrel mare was euthanized due to severe lameness (due to stringhalt) and a poor prognosis for improvement.
Chronic: A 2 year-old sorrel stud was euthanized due to its weak condition and poor prognosis for improvement.
Chronic: A 20 year-old grulla mare was euthanized due to weak condition and poor prognosis for improvement.
Animals gathered: 51
Animals shipped: 0
Total deaths today: 4
Acute: 1
Chronic/Pre-existing: 3
Monday, January 30
Summary: One member of the public watched on as a total of 140 horses were released today. Of the horses released, 80 mares were treated with PZP 22. Two horses were euthanized due to chronic conditions.
Chronic: A 20 year-old bay stud was euthanized due to a serious physical defect (blindness).
Chronic: A 4 year-old grulla mare was euthanized due to its weak condition and poor prognosis for improvement.
Animals gathered: 0
Animals shipped: 0
Total deaths today: 2
Acute: 0
Chronic/Pre-existing: 2
Horses released: 140
Mares treated: 80
Tuesday, January 31
Summary: A total of 52 horses were released back onto the range today, bringing the total released cumulative to 192 horses. No mares were treated with PZP 22 today. A total of 75 horses were shipped to Axtell Contract Off-Range Corrals. Due to weak conditions and poor prognosis for improvement, 11 horses were euthanized.
Acute: A 4 year-old bay stud was euthanized due to multi-limb lameness and poor prognosis for recovery.
Chronic: A 4 year-old grulla stud was euthanized due to a serious physical defect (blindness).
Chronic: A 8 year-old black mare was euthanized due to its weak condition and poor prognosis for improvement.
Chronic: A 4 year-old black mare was euthanized due to its weak condition and poor prognosis for improvement.
Chronic: A 5 year-old black mare was euthanized due to its weak condition and poor prognosis for improvement.
Chronic: A 8 year-old sorrel mare was euthanized due to its weak condition and poor prognosis for improvement.
Chronic: A 3 year-old sorrel mare was euthanized due to its weak condition and poor prognosis for improvement.
Chronic: A 5 year-old black mare was euthanized due to its weak condition and poor prognosis for improvement.
Chronic: A 8 year-old dun mare was euthanized due to its weak condition and poor prognosis for improvement.
Chronic: A 10 year-old sorrel mare was euthanized due to its weak condition and poor prognosis for improvement.
Chronic: A 4 year-old black mare was euthanized due to its weak condition and poor prognosis for improvement.
Animals gathered: 0
Animals shipped: 75
Total deaths today: 2
Acute: 1
Chronic/Pre-existing: 10
Horses released: 52
Mares treated: 0