2015 West Douglas Wild Horse Gather
Gather Complete
9/16/15-9/24-15
Purpose of Gather:
The gather was necessary to address the removal of excess wild horses to maintain and restore a thriving natural ecological balance and multiple use relationship within the White River Field office, restrict wild horse use to areas where they were found at passage of the Wild Free Roaming Horses and Burros Act that have been designated as Herd Management Areas through land-use planning documents, and reduce (slow) population growth rates.
Details of Gather:
The BLM humanely gathered 167 excess wild horses in the White River Field Office using a helicopter gather method. The BLM is committed to maintaining healthy wild horse herds in the most appropriate locations in the White River Field Office to ensure the long-term health of the wild horses and public lands.
Public Observation:
The gather has been completed, so there are no public viewing opportunities. The public viewing opportunity information is being left on the webpage for reference.
When can I visit?
Each day of the gather will be open for public viewing. Please call the gather hotline at 970-878-3818 for information about daily public viewing opportunities. The BLM will update the hotline nightly for information on where and when to meet as well as expected viewing conditions.
The BLM is committed to providing opportunities for public access while securing public safety in this rugged and remote area of the White River Field Office.
Know before you go:
BLM staff and the public will caravan to designated viewing sites from predetermined locations each day. You must bring your own high-clearance, four-wheel drive vehicle to access the viewing sites.
Some public viewing areas may require a short hike to access. Please be prepared to be outside in the elements for an extended period. There will be no facilities in the area.
The contractor and operations chief will establish public viewing areas near each trap site that are safe and unlikely to affect operations. Some days and some public viewing areas will accommodate public access better than others.
If you have binoculars or a telephoto lens, you may want to bring them to get a better view.
Because this gather will take place outside the Herd Management Area, each trap site will likely contain small groups of horses.
The length of gather operations may vary day by day.
Gather Reports
Wednesday, September 16
Summary: Completed the gather early due to high winds. Maximum drive distance was less than 5 miles.
Animals gathered: 23
Animals shipped: 62
Total Deaths Today: 0
Acute: 0
Chronic/Pre-existing: 0
Thursday, September 17
Summary: No issues to report today.
Animals gathered: 54
Animals shipped: 0
Total Deaths Today: 0
Acute: 0
Chronic/Pre-existing: 0
Friday, September 18
Summary: No issues to report today.
Animals gathered: 16
Animals shipped: 77
Total Deaths Today: 0
Acute: 0
Chronic/Pre-existing: 0
Saturday, September 19
Summary: Set up new trap site today.
Animals gathered: 15
Animals shipped: 0
Total Deaths Today: 0
Acute: 0
Chronic/Pre-existing: 0
Sunday, September 20
Summary: One horse died when it fell and was stepped on by another horse. A foal was roped to avoid mare-foal separation. It is uninjured and paired with its mother.
Animals gathered: 25
Animals shipped: 31
Total Deaths Today: 1
Acute: 1
Chronic/Pre-existing: 0
Monday, September 21
Summary: No issues to report today.
Animals gathered: 8
Animals shipped: 0
Total Deaths Today: 0
Acute: 0
Chronic/Pre-existing: 0
Tuesday, September 22
Summary: One foal had to be euthanized after breaking its leg during gather operations. See full report below.
Animals gathered: 17
Animals shipped: 32
Total Deaths Today: 1
Acute: 1
Chronic/Pre-existing: 0
Wednesday, September 23
Summary: The gather total reached 167 today, so gathering operations have ceased. The remaining horses at holding will be transported to Canon City on Sept. 24.
Animals gathered: 10
Animals shipped: 0
Total Deaths Today: 0
Acute: 0
Chronic/Pre-existing: 0
Thursday, September 24
Summary: No issues today.
Animals gathered: 0
Animals shipped: 26
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.