The McCullough Peaks wild horses
What can you do to help McCullough Peaks wild horses right now?
McCullough Peaks Bait & Trap Roundup Update
McCullough Peaks Wild Horses Removed:
Removed on January 22, 2024: • Kat Billou (born December 2022) • Skydancer (born September 2023) • Bandero (born late summer/early Fall 2023) • Brumby (born April 2022) Removed on February 22, 2024: • Thora (born August 2023) • Trinity aka Red Robin (born May 2019) • Juniper (born May 2021) • Tabasco (born Sept 2021) Removed on February 23, 2024 • Kentucky, age 4 (born May 2020) • Tomahawk, age 4 (born Jan 2020) Removed on February 27, 2024 • 1 stallion, 2 mares Removed on March 2, 2024 • San Jose (2009) • Black Beauty (2011) Removed March 5, 2024 • 13 horses Removed March 6, 2024 • 12 horses from the big, east herd; still waiting to find out which horses will be permanently removed Removed March 7, 2024 • 9 horses from the big, east herd Friday, March 8, 2024 • 10 horses returned to the range include the stallions Traveler, Running Bear, and SS Surprise, and mares Miley, Chevron, Crowheart, Paintbrush, Tarpan, Palette, and Story Girl BLM has announced they are done with the roundup as of March 8, 2024. Forty nine horses were removed in total, 1 died (RIP Kat Billou), and 10 returned, leaving 38 at the Rock Springs holding facility. |
UPDATE: February 23, 2024
On Thursday, February 22, BLM trapped 14 wild horses at McCullough Peaks. They released 10 and kept 4 including the 6 month old filly Thora (daughter of Thor), 3 year old stallion Tabasco, 4 year old mare Trinity aka Red Robin, and 3 year old mare Juniper. These 4 horses were immediately shipped 278 miles south to the Rock Springs holding facility. On Monday, January 22, 2024, BLM trapped 10 of the McCullough Peaks wild horses. They released 6 and kept 4: two colts/stallions and two fillies/mares. On Wednesday, January 24, 2024, the 4 captured horses were shipped to the Rock Springs holding facility in southern Wyoming. Sometime between the trapping and the shipping, the 13-month old filly Kat Billou died from a head injury. UPDATE: per the BLM has stated that the 4 foals captured were left in a holding pen overnight unattended. The next morning, Kat Billou was found dead. The veterinarian determined she died from head trauma. This could have been from trying to escape and hitting the poles/panels in the enclosure. Chasing Horses Wild Horse Advocates has put together this blog post with a number of ways you can help to bring attention to the senseless death of this beautiful young filly. You can read it here. I have written a press release that should be submitted to your local papers. You can find it here. Carol Walker wrote a letter to the editor that you can use talking points to write your own from, see it here. Here is a complete list of the 39 McCullough Peaks horses removed:
• Kat Billou (2023 - 2024 RIP ) • Bandero (2023, young brother to Brumby) • Brumby (April 2022) • Skydancer (Sept 2023) • Trinity / Red Robin (2019) • Juniper (2021) • Tabasco (Sept 2021) • Thora (Aug 2023) • Kentucky (May 2020) • Tomahawk (Jan 2020) • Tala (Jan 2023) • Tempest (2022) • Top Gun (2020) • Black Beauty (age 12) • San Jose (2009) • Lily • Songaa (age 7) • Shiloh (2022) • Ms Pac Man • Deya • Misu / Moonshadow (2018) • Choppy (2023) • Stormrider (March 2023) • Scooter (3) • Deyton (Feb 2022) • Lark • Twilight (2021) • Smoke (age 14) • Meeka • Garth (2011) • Boreal (age 13) • Las Vegas (2009) • Stillwater (age 12) • Kiamichi (2013) • Sable • Riot (aka Sayre/Sorcerer) (2017) • Sargent (2018) • Merlin (2022) • Magic (2021, brother to Merlin) |
The bait & trap gather of this beloved herd started November 27, 2023 and could last until March 2024 (or until the Bureau of Land Management meets its goals). We have to make our voices heard by the thousands if we want to stop this unwarranted gather. Use these tips below to get started!
To find your US Representative, go here: www.house.gov/representatives/find-your-representative
There are two ways to make your voice heard. Go to the Reps website and use their Contact page to send an email. Then, call the number to their DC office and read the script to the staffer/intern who answers the phone. Ask for their email address so you can send additional information in the coming days and weeks. I am working on letters you can send them with vital information that they need to know. We must keep in constant contact with our Reps so that they not only understand how important this issue is, but also so that they will take action. Congress hears more from the ranchers, grazing associations, and BLM than they do from wild horse advocates. We need to change that. #butimjustonepersonsaid300millionpeople |
January 30, 2024 Action Item
This letter was written by a fellow wild horse advocate and she offered to share it so you can send it to your US Representative. To copy and paste the script, please find the post here: www.facebook.com/saveourwildhorses Here is the script: “I am writing today as a taxpayer who cares deeply about the welfare of our wild horses and burros to request a halt to the ongoing McCullough Peaks wild horse bait trap removal. Last week, a yearling died of a head injury, caused by the roundup operations. This death was cruel, unnecessary, and preventable. Kat Ballou had been separated from her mother and left unattended overnight with three other young horses who were also removed from their mothers. This negligent treatment of federally-protected wild horses must not be allowed to continue. Although WY elected officials are notoriously hard-nosed and anti-wild horse, this is not just WY, this is a federal thing happening on federal lands, and I hope you as my elected representatives will listen with open heart to our voices. This removal is in direct contradiction to BLM written policy and it is being conducted in an unethical and immoral way, and the BLM agency needs to be held accountable and to do better by the horses and the tax paying public! Additionally, the Environmental Assessment for this roundup states that peak foaling season begins February 1st and that the agency must avoid wild horse roundups six weeks before the start of this time to allow for young foals to be born. With February 1st here, and one preventable foal fatality already having occurred, I am asking you to help convince Congress and the BLM to halt the McCullough Peaks bait trap roundup immediately. The Bureau of Land Management is corrupted by private interests (livestock ranching, etc) and is out of control when it comes to wild horse and burro issues. The McCullough Peaks HMA had no business being included on the list for wild horse removals as it is a small herd on a huge expanse of public land and is managed with fertility control. Thank you for your consideration“ |
On November 13, 2023, the Bureau of Land Management put out a press release stating that the McCullough Peaks wild horse bait & trap gather would begin on November 27. You can read the press release here: https://www.blm.gov/press-release/bait-trap-gather-begin-mccullough-peaks-wild-horse-herd-management-area
3. Call the Bureau of Land Management Director, Tracy Stone-Manning, and ask her to stop this roundup of the McCullough Peaks wild horses. Give her the facts and say how important this herd is to you and your family:
• This is an aging herd. 1/3 of the herd is over the age of 15, 22 are over the age of 20. Many will die over the winter, which could bring the numbers well below the low Appropriate Management Level if removed. • Genetic viability of the herd is a real concern. Dr. Gus Cothran states a viable herd needs at least 150 breeding adults. This herd will collapse if all the younger horses are removed and all the older mares are treated with GonaCon. • The remote bait trapping plan is not acceptable and is dangerous for the horses. • This is one of the most beloved wild herds in the country and people from all around the world travel to Cody, WY to visit them. If the herd is gathered, then the American and International public will lose even more faith in the Bureau of Land Management's ability to properly run the Wild Horse and Burro Program. • This herd has been successfully darted with PZP since 2013 with just a 2% growth rate and is a model for a darting program. Tracy Stone Manning: Ph: 202.208.3801 Be polite! Threats and yelling will only hurt the horses chances. Would you do something for someone who yells at you? No, so don't yell at her. We need to be mature and professional in our actions so that we are taken more seriously as wild horse advocates. |
Time is ticking and the wild horses of McCullough Peaks need our voices today. Please don't hesitate, take the actions below immediately.
1. Call your member of the House of Representatives and say: "I am calling Rep. _________ today to ask her/him for an immediate moratorium on all wild horse & burro roundups until Congress can investigate the Bureau of Land Management's wasteful spending of taxpayer dollars and mismanagement of the Wild Horse & Burro Program." Then go to her/his website and email that message to them as well (change it from 'I am calling...' to 'I am writing..." Then call him/her a few days later and ask if the Rep. got the message and if you can provide more information. Use the facts under #3 to the left to give to your Rep. Tell them the is of the upmost importance to you and your family. Don't know who your Rep is? Go here to find out: www.house.gov/representatives/find-your-representative 2. If you have visited the town of Cody, WY specifically to see the horses, call, send an email & a letter to the Cody Chamber of Commerce today about why you visited Cody and how much money you spent. Tell them you have visited or plan to visit just to see the wild horses of McCullough Peaks. Tell them you won't visit if the Bureau of Land Management reduces the herd to just 70 horses, which is the plan. Tell them the herd is in danger of extinction if the BLM reduces their number to just 70 because of the aging older horses and the use of a permenant sterilant called GonaCon. Cody Chamber of Commerce: info@codychamber.org 836 Sheridan Avenue, Cody, WY 82414 Ph: 307.587.2777 Be polite, mature, and professional in your call/letter/email! Yelling and threats will only hurt the horses chances. Be specific about how much money you spent and what businesses you spend money at. 3. See to the left for number 3 4. Contact media in Wyoming and ask them to print a pro-wild horse article about how much the McCullough Peaks wild horses mean to the American public and how this roundup is a waste of taxpayer dollars. Talk about how much money these horses bring into the state and specifically the town of Cody in tourism dollars. Talk about how if the horses are removed, that less people will visit. Talk about the success of the Pryor Mountain wild horses and how the town of Lovell, WY embraces the herd and understands how the Pryor wild horses bring in much needed tourism dollars. Write a Letter to the Editor and submit it to your local paper. It's so easy and you can use the facts under #3. 5. If you live in Wyoming, contact your local State Representative and Assemblyperson. Tell them you want to the roundup stopped and talk about how much tourism dollars the McCullough Peaks wild horses bring into the state. Give examples of photographers who you know have visited, your friends, and yourself. Tell them the horses are not overpopulated and that the McCullough Peaks range is the healthiest it's ever been. Tell them that the genetic viability of the herd is at risk with so many of the horses at at elderly age. |
UPDATE August 14, 2023: The commenting period for the McCullough Peaks EA ended on Saturday night 8/12. 6,016 comments were submitted! Thank you to everyone who took the time to support our beloved herd.
Public comments are now due on the McCullough Peaks EA by August 12th, 2023. You can participate in a Zoom meeting on this issue on Sunday, August 6th at 6pm EST / 3pm PST or use the points below to craft your public comment. PLEASE, keep your public comment professional, calm, and based on facts. Overly emotional comments will only hurt the wild horses of McCullough Peaks, not help them.
Submit your comment here no later than August 12th: eplanning.blm.gov/eplanning-ui/project/2022012/510 and click on Participate Now |
https://www.blm.gov/sites/blm.gov/files/policies/IM2009-018_att1.pdf
https://reports.blm.gov/report/RAS/33/Allotment-Information
https://reports.blm.gov/report/RAS/33/Allotment-Information
§ 4710.5 Closure to livestock grazing.:
www.ecfr.gov/current/title-43/subtitle-B/chapter-II/subchapter-D/part-4700/subpart-4710/section-4710.5?fbclid=IwAR1Fx2e4MiUFqTwUvomfshA72mSWIwhFvFD-kAsWhc0D5PBSx4CdG82zuBc
www.ecfr.gov/current/title-43/subtitle-B/chapter-II/subchapter-D/part-4700/subpart-4710/section-4710.5?fbclid=IwAR1Fx2e4MiUFqTwUvomfshA72mSWIwhFvFD-kAsWhc0D5PBSx4CdG82zuBc
https://www.blm.gov/press-release
https://eplanning.blm.gov/eplanning-ui/home
https://www.blm.gov/sites/default/files/docs/2022-12/National%202023%20%20Gather%20Sched.pdf
The McCullough Peaks HMA has been removed from the Gather Schedule above because it is now scheduled for November 2023 and the FY 2023 schedule ends on October 31.
https://eplanning.blm.gov/eplanning-ui/home
https://www.blm.gov/sites/default/files/docs/2022-12/National%202023%20%20Gather%20Sched.pdf
The McCullough Peaks HMA has been removed from the Gather Schedule above because it is now scheduled for November 2023 and the FY 2023 schedule ends on October 31.
Previous Action Due on February 7th, 2023
Public comments on the McCullough Peaks Scoping letter are due by February 7th! This is the first Public Comment period; there will likely be a second one in the late summer or fall.
We provided suggested comments and fact source links for your Public Comment on the Scoping Letter to the BLM. Emotional, angry, or non-relevant Public Comments will be ignored by the Bureau of Land Management and, in fact, may actually hurt our cause. We must be seen as knowledgeable, mature, and calm advocates.
After you read the slideshow presentation, you can make your Public Comment here. Make your voice count! Check back here often for more information, tips on comments, and links to sources you can use in your Public Comment.
300 letters is good, 3,000 is great, 30,000 is a resounding roar
As of February 2, there are just over 2,200 comments. Please submit yours and let's reach 3,000 by February 7th! The wild horses of McCullough Peaks are counting on us - let's get it done.
After you read the slideshow presentation, you can make your Public Comment here. Make your voice count! Check back here often for more information, tips on comments, and links to sources you can use in your Public Comment.
300 letters is good, 3,000 is great, 30,000 is a resounding roar
As of February 2, there are just over 2,200 comments. Please submit yours and let's reach 3,000 by February 7th! The wild horses of McCullough Peaks are counting on us - let's get it done.