February 24, 2010 | Author: Suzanne Roy
The BLM ended halted the highly controversial Calico roundup on February 5, 2010 with 1,922 horses captured. This is 600 fewer horses than the BLM had targeted in its capture plan, which had estimated the horse population in the five Herd Management Areas (HMA’s) at Calico to be 3,040.
According to its press release, the BLM now estimates that 600 horses are left in the Calico Mountains Complex, however to date the agency has been unable to provide exact visual counts of horses left in each Herd Management Area within the complex. If correct, this means that the BLM’s original population count was off by over 500 horses, raising serious questions about the validity of the horse census data upon which the agency is basing its management decisions.
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The death toll from the roundup now stands at 54 horses, making it the most deadly of any recent BLM wild horse capture. The count rises almost daily as Calico horses continue to die at the BLM holding facility in Fallon, Nevada. In addition to the deaths, 30+ pregnant mares aborted their late-term fetuses, raising the death toll even higher.
Among the more egregious deaths:
Two foals who were euthanized due to severe hoof trauma sustained in the helicopter chase over miles of rocky terrain.
A young foal with a heart defect who collapsed and died while being chased by helicopter.
A stallion who was found dead on Feb. 15 "in the pen next to a damaged corral panel. Death attributed to a fractured neck that resulted from collision with corral panel caused by the presence of [an unidentified, low-flying] helicopter on Feb. 14."
A four-year old sorrel mare who was kicked in the head while being transported from the trap pen. According to the BLM gather activity updates, her “eye globe was ruptured with complete prolapse of the iris. This eye could not be saved and would remain a serious physical defect. She was euthanized as an act of mercy.”
A mare who died after going down in the trailer on the four hour journey between the capture site and the Fallon facility.
Mares euthanized at Fallon due to injuries to spine and pelvis.
Numerous horses who died as a result of "failure to adjust to feed."
In an interview, Fallon facility manager John Neill, a BLM employee, frankly acknowledged that the trauma of the roundup was the root cause of most of these deaths. Mr. Neill's insights reveal that no amount of veterinary or other care provided by the BLM to the horses at Fallon can compensate for the damage and trauma these animals have suffered as a result of the roundup itself. Equine veterinary sources consulted by the AWHPC disagree with BLM's previous assertions that poor nutritional condition of the mares was the root cause of the numerous miscarriages (see Abortion in Horses).
“Nutritional deficiencies have not been associated with abortion in mares. In general, if mares are in good condition (body condition of greater than 2 on a scale of 0 to 5, where 5 is very fat), they will carry a foal. Mares that are too thin, however, will not cycle or conceive.”
Equine veterinarian Don Hoglund states: “20-25 abortions in captivity are not likely due to range conditions. Infections, vaccination reaction, but most likely stress is the cause. In fact, that many abortions are cause for concern, anywhere.” Follow BLM's daily updates on the Calico horses here.
These stout horses contradict BLM’s claims that the removals are driven by humane concerns over the threat of starvation on the range.
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