Owyhee Complex Roundup 2018: A Critical Examination

Introduction

The 2018Owyhee Complexroundup has sparked significant debate over land management and the treatment of wild horses. Located within the Elko and Winnemucca Districts of theBLM, the Owyhee Complex encompasses several Herd Management Areas (HMAs). This operation, prompted by the Martin Fire, raises questions about theBLM's priorities and the impact on wild horse populations.

Background

The 1.1-million acreOwyhee Complexis located within both the Elko and Winnemucca Districts of theBLMand encompasses the Snowstorm Mountains, Little Owyhee, Rock Creek, Owyhee, and Little Humboldt Herd Management Areas (HMAs). The Complex has been the site of numerous roundups over past years. In 2016, theBLMpermanently removed over 1,400 horses from the public lands in this area. Then as now, horses being removed were in good body condition, raising questions about theBLM's claims that the Complex has inadequate forage to sustain the current population of wild horses living there.

The 2018Owyhee Complexroundup is being conducted as an "emergency" operation due to the Martin Fire, a massive wildfire that, according toBLM, burned 46% of the Little Owyhee HMA and 26% of the Owyhee HMA. However, American Wild Horse Conservation (formerly American Wild Horse Campaign) has confirmed withBLMthat the agency has taken no action to reduce livestock grazing as a result of the fire; instead, it is focusing remedial actions solely on wild horses, even though the protection of wild horses is mandatory, while commercial livestock grazing is a discretionary use of the public lands. TheBLMis also citing the need to "prevent further deterioration of Greater Sage Grouse habitat," continuing a pattern of scapegoating wild horses for habitat damage caused by vastly larger numbers of cattle on the public lands in the area.

TheBLMauthorizes the annual equivalent of over 10,000 cow/calf pairs to graze on the public lands in theOwyhee Complexwhile allowing a maximum of 1,000 wild horses to live in the area.

September 28, 2018

Yesterday, theBLMrounded up and removed 57 wild horses fromOwyhee Complexin the Winnemucca area of Nevada. There were no deaths, and the horses looked to be in good body condition.

TheBLMis moving the trapsite to private land tomorrow, and has said the public is not able to attend the operation.

September 27, 2018

AWHC's field representative was onsite for the seventh day of the Owyhee roundup. 84 horses were captured and removed (studs 39, mares 38, foals 7) and thankfully no deaths. Horses on this day were in Henneke Body Scores of approximately 4's and 5's, which is telling considering theBLMis stating there is not enough forage due to the Martin fire. (See above.)

This roundup has been deadly already with 21 horses euthanized so far, and a total of 936 horses captured. The helicopter roundup is being conducted by Cattoor Wild Horse Roundups, theBLM's primary contractor for capturing and removing wild horses and burros frompublic lands.