Sign RTF’s anti-roundup petition here. Please consider a contribution to the Wild Horse Defense Fund, which makes it possible for RTF to have humane observers on the ground at roundups. Having an active voice has proven valuable for holding BLM and contractors accountable for the humane handling of wild horses, pressing for improvements to humane standards, and educating policymakers and the public about how tax dollars are being used.
Three mares, two studs and one foal were captured at the Owyhee Complex in Northern Nevada on Tuesday, a day which included the first public viewing of helicopter trapping operations since the second phase of the roundup began last Friday.
During the first three days, by comparison, 440 wild horses were captured and nine horses died. Trapping operations were postponed on Monday due to poor weather conditions.
After the six were captured on Tuesday, the Bureau of Land Management’s contractor began moving the trap site.
Because of “private land access issues,” the BLM is only allowing the public to view the helicopter trapping operations on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
RTF humane observer Steve Paige was only allowed to photograph temporary holding pens from a nearby road on Friday and Saturday before being asked not to take photos of horses in trailers coming down the road. On Tuesday, he was allowed to tour temporary holding as well as view the roundup.
Altogether, 1,216 wild horses have been captured, so far, and at least 16 have died, since the roundup began on Nov. 2. Of those captured, 198 wild horses have been returned to the range — including 94 mares treated with PZP-22 fertility control vaccine.
During the second phase of the roundup, BLM plans to capture 920 wild horses and remove 650 from the range. During the first phase, 770 wild horses (297 studs, 329 mares, 144 foals) were captured.
Captured wild horses are being transported from temporary holding to the Palomino Valley Wild Horse and Burro Adoption Center near Reno, Nevada. Horses that are not adopted will later be taken to BLM off-range pastures.
BLM justifies the roundup as an effort to “remove excess wild horses in order to prevent further deterioration of Greater Sage grouse habitat within the Sagebrush Focal Area (in northern Elko and Humboldt Counties. Overpopulation of wild horses leads to the degradation of rangeland resources, which adversely impacts habitat for other species as well as the horses themselves.”
Photos from Tuesday, Nov. 22:

Six wild horses are chased into the trap between two Judas horses, which are trained to lead horses into the pen.
Previously:
Owyhee roundup: Three wild horses euthanized, Nov. 22, 2016
Owyhee roundup: Death toll rises to 13 wild horses, Nov. 21, 2016
Owyhee roundup: 140 wild horses captures; three more die, Nov. 20, 1016
Owyhee roundup: 140 wild horses captured, another dies, Nov. 19, 2016
Owyhee roundup: Second phase begins without public observation, Nov. 18, 2016
Owyhee roundup: Phase ends with release of 45 mares, Nov. 16, 2016
Owyhee roundup: Two wild horses die, 42 released, Nov. 15, 2016
Owyhee roundup: First phase nears end with 32 more wild horses captured, Nov. 14, 2016
Owyhee roundup: 70 more wild horses captured, Nov. 13, 2016
Owyhee roundup: Total wild horses captured tops 600, Nov. 12, 2016
Owyhee roundup: 114 more Nevada wild horses captured, Nov. 7, 2016
Owyhee roundup: Third Nevada wild horse dies, 128 more captured, Nov. 6, 2016
Owyhee roundup continues: 36 wild horses captured, Nov. 5, 2016
Owyhee roundup: Two Nevada wild horses dead, 122 captured, Nov. 4, 2016
BLM to roundup hundreds of horses from Nevada’s Owyhee Complex, Oct. 25, 2016