Bible Springs Roundup: July 28, 2014 - A Detailed Account

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) roundup in Utah's Bible Springs Complex began on July 28, 2014. This action was initiated to appease ranchers who threatened to illegally round up wild horses if theBLMdid not. The operation targeted 140 wild horses for removal from the Blawn Wash Herd Management Area (HMA). In 2002, theBLMtraded away the most productive part of the HMA to the state of Utah, which leased the land to ranchers. Consequently, theBLMzeroed out the HMA, setting the Allowable Management Level (AML) to zero and planning to eliminate wild horses from thispublic landsarea designated by Congress as wild horse habitat.

Update August 5, 2014:BLMUtah Roundup is officially over. 143 wild horses were captured and removed from the Blawn Wash HMA. Two horses died in the helicopter roundup. (See Day 3)

An additional 36 horses (17 stallions, 12 mares, and 7 foals) were captured outside the Sulphur HMA along Highway 21. 30 horses were permanently removed while 6 (1 stallion, 3 mares, and 2 foals) were released back into the Sulphur HMA. All horses have been taken from their homes on the range, separated from their families, and transported to holding pens, including the ones seen in this updated video on the Utah roundup by Caroline Kraus.

Following are reports from AWHC observers present at the roundup. Special thanks to AWHC supporter and advisor andAMERICAN MUSTANGThe Movie producer Ellie Phipps Price, Utah photographer Kelly Jay, and videographer Caroline Kraus for attending the roundup and witnessing the helicopter stampede and capture of the Bible Springs Complex wild horses.

July 28, 2014: DAY 1

Approximately 35-40 horses were captured today during the Utah Bible Springs Complex roundup. The captured horses, including a handful of foals and yearlings, were all in good condition despite rancher claims that horses were starving on the range.

Photos courtesy of Kelly Jay.

Day 2:

25 horses were rounded up and removed from the range, which included 11 studs, 10 mares, and 4 foals. The captured horses were in good body condition.

The following photos were taken today of formerly wild horses in theBLM's Delta holding facility, showing the conditions that await the horses captured this week in Utah. Some of the horses at the Delta facility have been in these pens for three years or longer.

Day 3:

31 horses were rounded up and removed from the range, which included 10 studs, 15 mares, and 6 foals. These horses were also in good body condition.

There were 2 reported deaths:

• One sorrel mare age 7, body condition 3 was euthanized due to a pre-existing fracture of the right rear hock.
• One gray filly age 1, body condition 4 died due to impact with a corral panel at temporary holding.

Click here to seeBLMdaily updates on roundup.

Press Releases:

Welfare Ranching Trumps Public Opinion:BLMBegins Utah Roundup to Appease Ranchers

Record Number of Americans Protest Wild Horse Roundup Scheduled to Appease Handful of Utah Ranchers

Statement in Response toBLM’s Capture of Wild Horses in Southern Utah

News:

Utah Horse Roundup Stirs Controversy And Debate

Horse Deaths, Controversy Plague Utah Wild Horse Gather

Utah wild horse roundup removes 143 from range

Round-up of wild horses gets under way in Utah

BLMto round up wild horses Monday

Deadline on wild horses comes and goes

Utah weighs in onBLMplan for southern Utah's wild horses

Under pressure,BLMOK’s roundup of 140 wild horses

Whether Utah horses are native species is at heart of debate

Wild Horse Advocates Fight Against Horse Roundup

Record Number of Americans Protest Wild Horse Roundup Scheduled to Appease Handful of Utah Ranchers

Wild horse advocates floodBLMwith roundup opposition

Iron County callsBLMhorse roundup a 'joke'

BLMPressured to Bring Wild Horse Population Under Control

Ranchers' next target: wildlife

BLMto pull 200 horses from Utah's West Desert

200 wild horses slated for roundup,BLMsays

Iron County,BLMbring in first herd of wild horses

Utah officials: Feds should round up wild horses

Counties deploy new Utah law in fight over wild horses

Faxes pour into Utah Governor's Office Protesting Anti-Mustang Stand

Wild Horse Numbers In Utah Encourage Land Management Discussion

Utah ranchers sue to force reduction in wild horse population

Utah ranchers sueBLM, demand removal of wild horses

State Wildlife Board sounds off toBLMoverwild horse management

Under pressure, UtahBLMfast-tracks plea to round up wild horses

Gov. Gary Herbert slammed for wild horse comments

Herbert Says Utah Should Take Control of Wild Horse Herds

Wild horses targeted for roundup in Utah rangeland clash

Iron County, feds work together to corral horses

‘Feral’ horse roundup is on in Iron County

Trib Talk: Wild horse roundup – Iron County vs. federal law?

Bureau of Land Management held hostage by Iron County Commissioners

Amid criticism, Iron County,BLMplan wild horse roundup

Utah county cites ‘hypocrisy’ in Clark County roundup

Iron County to feds: Remove wild horses or we will