2020 Paisley Desert Emergency Wild Horse Gather

GATHER COMPLETE - OCTOBER 21, 2020

Purpose of Gather:

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Lakeview District, Lakeview Field Office will begin an emergency wild horse gather on October 9, 2020 on the Paisley Desert Herd Management Area (HMA) located about ten miles northeast of Paisley in Lake County, Oregon.

The action is needed due to the lack of water and the wild horses’ declining health associated with herd overpopulation.

All horses identified for removal will be transported to the BLM’s Wild Horse Corrals in Hines, Oregon, where they will be checked by a veterinarian and readied for the BLM’s wild horse and burro Adoption and Sale Program.

Details of Gather:

The BLM plans to gather and remove approximately 750 wild horses from the Paisley Desert HMA. The BLM will conduct gather operations using the helicopter-drive trapping/roping, capture, and transportation of wild horses from trap sites to the BLM’s Wild Horse Corrals in Hines, Oregon.

Background:

The appropriate management level (AML) for the Paisley Desert HMA is 60 to 150 horses. Based on a June 2019 survey flight, the current estimate is that there may be as many as 1,050 horses (including foals) within the area. The BLM’s priority is to conduct safe, efficient, and successful wild horse and burro gather operations while ensuring humane care and treatment of all animals gathered. The BLM and its contractors will use the best available science and handling practices for wild horses while meeting overall gather goals and objectives following the Comprehensive Animal Welfare Policy.

Public Observation:

Members of the public are welcome to view the gather operations, provided that doing so does not jeopardize the safety of the animals, staff and observers, or disrupt gather operations. The BLM will escort the public to gather observation sites located on public lands. Once gather operations have begun, those who want to view the gather operations must call Lisa McNee, Public Affairs Specialist, at (541) 947-6811 to receive specific instructions on each days’ meeting location and time.

Adoption Information:

All horses identified for removal will be transported to the BLM’s Wild Horse Corrals in Hines, Oregon. They will be checked by a veterinarian and readied for the BLM’s wild horse and burro Adoption and Sale Program. For information on how to adopt or purchase a wild horse or burro, visit www.blm.gov/whb.

Weekly Gather reports

October 21, 2020
Animals gathered: 0
Animals shipped: 40
Total Deaths Today: 0

October 20, 2020
Animals gathered: 36 (10 stallions, 18 mares, 8 foals)
Animals shipped: 127
Total Deaths Today: 3

• A 4 year old mare was humanely euthanized due to blindness.
• A 2 year old mare was humanely euthanized due to blindness.
• A 16 year old stallion was humanely euthanized due to a pre-existing leg injury.

October 19, 2020
Animals gathered: 75 (31 stallions, 32 mares, 12 foals)
Animals shipped: 91
Total Deaths Today: 0

October 18, 2020
Animals gathered: 123 (46 stallions, 50 mares, 27 foals)
Animals shipped: 94
Total Deaths Today: 1

• A 3 year old mare was humanely euthanized due to blindness.

October 17, 2020
Animals gathered: 116 (41 stallions, 53 mares, 22 foals)
Animals shipped: 0
Total Deaths Today: 1

• A male palomino foal was humanely euthanized due to a pre-existing leg injury.

October 16, 2020
Animals gathered: 52 (20 stallions, 23 mares, 9 foals)
Animals shipped: 60
Total Deaths Today: 2

• A 7 year old grey stallion was humanely euthanized due to club foot.
• A 6 year old pinto stallion was humanely euthanized due to a pre-existing fury in rear left leg.

October 15, 2020
Animals gathered: 41 (11 stallions, 21 mares, 9 foals)
Animals shipped: 60
Total Deaths Today: 1

• A 15 year old black stallion was euthanized due to blindness caused by a missing eye.

October 14, 2020
Animals gathered: 106 (32 stallions, 47 mares, 27 foals)
Animals shipped: 54
Total Deaths Today: 2

• A 2 year old black stallion was euthanized due to blindness caused by a missing eye.
• A 4 year old crimello stallion was euthanized due to blindness in both eyes.

October 13, 2020
Animals gathered: 0 (0 stallion, 0 mare, 0 foal)
Animals shipped: 22
Total Deaths Today: 0

October 12, 2020
Animals gathered: 45 (16 stallions, 18 mares, 11 foals)
Animals shipped: 102
Total Deaths Today: 0

October 11, 2020
Animals gathered: 114 (56 stallions, 38 mares, 20 foals)
Animals shipped: 32
Total Deaths Today: 3

• A 4 year old pinto mare (BCS 2.5) was humanely euthanized due to a pre-existing sway back condition.
• A 6 year old sorrel stallion (BCS 3) was humanely euthanized due to a pre-existing lordosis condition.
• A 6 month old pinto filly (BCS 1) was found on the range in lateral recumbency and was humanely euthanized. This horse was not gathered and her emaciated condition occurred prior to today's gather.

October 10, 2020
Animals gathered: 0 (0 stallion, 0 mare, 0 foal)
Animals shipped: 0
Total Deaths Today: 0