2020 Swasey Mountain Wild Horse Gather

Wild Horse and Burro Logo

Helicopter Gather --- Began: July 15, 2020    Ended: July 24, 2020

Water Trap ---  Began September 11, 2020   Ended: October 6, 2020

Overview

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Fillmore Field Office (FFO) is scheduled to gather and remove wild horses from within the Swasey HMA. The Swasey Herd Management Area (HMA) is approximately 120,113 acres of Federal and State lands located fifty miles west of Delta, Utah.

Background

The BLM FFO has proposed the Swasey Wild Horse Gather Plan to gather to remove excess wild horses from within the Swasey HMA. In addition, once the AML has been reached, any mares released back to the HMA would be treated with a fertility control measures. The Swasey Herd Management Area (HMA) is approximately 120,113 acres of Federal and State lands located fifty miles west of Delta, Utah. The AML for the Swasey HMA is 60-100 wild horses. The current population is estimated at 865 animals.

The FFO plans to gather 800 excess wild horses to achieve gather objectives within the HMA. There are two gathers on the National Gather Schedule. The first gather will be using a helicopter method, if 800 wild horses are captured, then there will not be a second gather. If the gather objective is not met via helicopter method, then a water trap gather method will be scheduled in August to reach AML. A population growth suppression and sex ratio adjustment would be implemented upon reaching AML.

Since 1978, approximately 900 wild horses have been gathered and removed from the Swasey HMA. In 1978, 1984, 1990, 1993, 1996, 1999, 2003, 2007, 2009, and 2013 gathers were conducted in or adjacent to the HMA.

Horses removed from the Swasey gather are tentatively planned to be shipped to the Axtell Off-Range Corrals in Axtell, Utah. Those horses to be released back into the HMA will be shipped to the Delta Wild Horse Facility in Delta, Utah for treatment.

Public Observation

 Gather operations will begin on Wed. July 15 and individuals should meet at Maverik located at 44 North US Highway 6, Delta, Utah where tours will depart at 6:00 a.m. MDT. The BLM Utah gather hotline (801) 539-4050 will be, updated daily with information about the gather.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention COVID-19 guidelines for visiting parks and recreational facilities will be followed. These guidelines, along with the number of visitors present each day, will determine the observation locations.The following COVID-19 guidelines will apply:

  • Always stay at least six feet from others. Avoid gathering with others outside of your household.
  • Wash hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom, before eating, and after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.
  • Bring hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol to use if soap and water are not available.
  • Do not attend the gather if you are sick with COVID-19, recently exposed (within 14 days) to someone with COVID-19, or do not feel well.

Daily Report

Wednesday, July 15, 2020

Summary: 150 horses were gathered today.  Most body scores were 3-5.  There were two with body scores of 2. There were 27 members of the public viewing the event. 

Animals gathered: 150 (60 stallions, 24 mares, 0 foals)
Animals shipped: 84 (39 horses to Axtell Off-Range Corrals and 45 horses to Delta WHB Facility)

Total Deaths Today:  0
Acute: 0
Chronic/Pre-existing: 0

 

Thursday, July 16, 2020

Summary: 103 horses were gathered today.  Most body scores were 3-4.  There were seven with body scores of 2. There were 6 members of the public viewing the event. 

Animals gathered: 103 (37 stallions, 46 mares, 20 foals)
Animals shipped: 124 (93 horses to Axtell Off-Range Corrals and 31 horses to Delta WHB Facility)

Total Deaths Today:  0
Acute: 0
Chronic/Pre-existing: 0

 

Friday,  July 17, 2020

Summary: 56 horses were gathered today.  Most body scores were 3-4.  There were seven with body scores of 2. There were 15 members of the public viewing the event. 

Animals gathered: 56 (19 stallions, 23 mares, 14 foals)
Animals shipped: 101 (85 horses to Axtell Off-Range Corrals and 16 horses to Delta WHB Facility)

Total Deaths Today:  0
Acute: 0
Chronic/Pre-existing: 0

 

Saturday,  July 18, 2020

Summary: 56 horses were gathered today.  Most body scores were 3-4.  There were seven with body scores of 2. There were 3 members of the public viewing the event. One 5 year old mare was fatally injured after hitting a panel.

Animals gathered: 89 (27 stallions, 44 mares, 18 foals)
Animals shipped: 88 (53 horses to Axtell Off-Range Corrals and 35 horses to Delta WHB Facility)

Total Deaths Today:  1
Acute: 0
Chronic/Pre-existing: 0

 

Sunday,  July 19, 2020

Summary: 61 horses were gathered today.  Most body scores were 3-4.  There were 14 with body scores of 2. Two scored 1.5. There were 6 members of the public viewing the event. 

Animals gathered: 61 (17 stallions, 32 mares, 12 foals)
Animals shipped: 61 (37 horses to Axtell Off-Range Corrals and 24 horses to Delta WHB Facility)

Total Deaths Today:  0
Acute: 0
Chronic/Pre-existing: 0

 

Monday,  July 20, 2020

Summary: 47 horses were gathered today.  Most body scores were 3-5.  There were five with body scores of 2. There were 4 members of the public viewing the event. 

Animals gathered: 47 (24 stallions, 15 mares, 8 foals)
Animals shipped: 25 (all to Delta WHB Facility)

Total Deaths Today:  0
Acute: 0
Chronic/Pre-existing: 0

 

Tuesday, July 21, 2020

Summary: 19 horses were gathered today.  Most body scores very low.  Five horses scored 1, ten horses scored 2, and the rest scored between 3-4. There were 4 members of the public viewing the event. One horse was humanely euthanized due to a pre-existing condition.

Animals gathered: 19 (7 stallions, 8 mares, 4 foals)
Animals shipped: 3 horses to Delta WHB Facility

Total Deaths Today:  1
Acute: 0
Chronic/Pre-existing: 1

 

Wednesday, July 22, 2020

Summary: 42 horses were gathered today.  Most body scores were 3-5.  There were two with body scores of 2. There were 3 members of the public viewing the event. 

Animals gathered: 42 (14 stallions, 18 mares, 10 foals)
Animals shipped: 10 horses to Delta WHB Facility

Total Deaths Today:  0
Acute: 0
Chronic/Pre-existing: 0

 

Thursday, July 23, 2020

Summary: 27 horses were gathered today.  Most body scores were 3-4.  There were four with body scores of 2, and one horse scored 1.5. There were 2 members of the public viewing the event. 

Animals gathered: 27 (11 stallions, 11 mares, 5 foals)
Animals shipped: 59 (48 horses to Axtell Off-Range Corrals and 11 horses to Delta WHB Facility)

Total Deaths Today:  0
Acute: 0
Chronic/Pre-existing: 0

 

Friday,  July 24, 2020

Summary: 9 horses were gathered today.  Most body scores were 3-5.  There was one horse with a  body scores of 2. There were 5 members of the public viewing the event. 

Animals gathered: 9 (2 stallions, 5 mares, 2 foals)
Animals shipped: 9 (6 horses to Axtell Off-Range Corrals and 3 horses to Delta WHB Facility)

Total Deaths Today:  0
Acute: 0
Chronic/Pre-existing: 0

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The following entries are for the Water Trap Gather at Swasey HMA
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Friday, September 11, 2020

Summary: 23 horses were gathered today.  Most body scores were 1-4. Two horses were humanely euthanized today.  One was missing his left eye.  The other was suffering from an old break in her left hind ankle. 

Animals gathered: 23 (11 stallions, 7 mares, 5 foals)
Animals shipped: 21 (Axtell Off-Range Corral)

Total Deaths Today:  2
Acute: 0
Chronic/Pre-existing: 2

 

Friday, September 17, 2020

Summary: 11 horses were gathered today.  Most body scores were 1-4. One horse died instantly while hitting a panel.  

Animals gathered: 11 (5 stallions, 4 mares, 2 foals)
Animals shipped: 10 (Axtell Off-Range Corral)

Total Deaths Today:  1
Acute: 1
Chronic/Pre-existing: 0

 

Friday, September 26, 2020

Summary: 15 horses were gathered today.  Most body scores were 1-4. Four horses were humanely euthanized.  All four horses had a body condition unable to maintain or improve. 

Animals gathered: 15 (4 stallions, 8 mares, 3 foals)
Animals shipped: 11 (10/6/20 to Axtell Off-Range Corral)

Total Deaths Today:  4
Acute: 0
Chronic/Pre-existing: 4