The National Park Service and the BLM removed a mare and foal today.
Kerry is the 2010 daughter of Ireland and Prince. Her foal, a colt was born in June. You can see more photos of Kerry and her foal by clicking on KERRY.
We all thought Kerry had died in the winter of 2010-2011. But she survived on her own as a yearling and was discovered by Lori (PMWMC). She was with Durango.
Alex was especially fond of Kerry. You can read his post about her and Kitalpha by clicking on ALEX.
PLEASE DO NOT TAKE KITALPHA. Please allow one of these strong and surviving horses to live out their life on the range.
How many more days of this? And how are they all of a sudden trapping horses on the Dryhead? Just curious
I am afraid I do not have an answer for you Lola, I wish I did. This is just heartbreaking and I wish it would stop.
I was wondering the same thing Lola. How are they suddenly getting these horses?
My guess is that they are herding the horses.
I agree with Lori, there are more males in the Dryhead than females and it seems they want to keep it that way.
I wish Kerry would stay, she is beautiful, beautiful, beautiful! Kerry and Kayenta were probably the flashiest fillies!
I did read in the EA today that they could herd, (I think I read that right )and that they could use water trap baiting (which I strongly disagree with). Maybe they are doing one or both of those…
This is not good news to come home to from a hard day at work 🙁 And one of the things that bothers me the most is that if there are good reasons that we just aren’t aware of for taking more of the horses from the mid and lower elevations, chances are our concerns aren’t going to matter enough for us to get a good, clear explanation from those responsible. If there’s anything I hate, it’s being ignored. Now, it’s my guess that they aren’t going to stop until they have caught their maximum projected number of 40 horses, NOT counting foals. You guys that are keeping a tally—exactly what # are we at with Kerry. I’m thinking that they are taking mares with foals because there is such a large crop of foals this year, which would contribute to a need for another gather fairly soon. Let’s hope they can get it together soon with the PZP program so that the birth control efforts will be much more effective from here on in. I know that the administration of that program is costly, but so is a gather and adoption, and preventing the overpopulation would be so much less heart wrenching!!!
I do think it would be interesting to know the data on what draws the most people to the Bad Pass Highway area of the Recreation Area, the horses and Bighorn sheep, or the hiking and boating, and other water activities, as well as the camping at Barry’s landing. Perhaps those numbers are available to be used in our comments. If anyone on here knows where to go for that info, please let me know. I’d like to research the subject so I would be taken seriously.
Thaks, Sandy, for the update. Hang in there…
Thanks Linda. Well, we might not be able to get them to stop before 40, as it seems that is what they intend to do. But those of us that really care about these horses will be continuing to work on this. As for removing the foals, I just think that part was bad luck, because those horses were already on the first two tiers (except Joviana) and just happened to have foals. It sure does not make it any less painful. Even though they don’t count the foals in the removal, it is still double the pain for us.
We are at 38 horses and 6 foals now Linda.
I guess they don’t want any mares or foals in the Dry Head area…Hmmm…maybe they don’t want any population growth at all in the Park! They would have hardly any visitors in the Park if not for the horses…they (whoever they are) better pay attention!!!!!
This is just making me sick!
ENOUGH!!!!!!!!
I am sick over this one Lori…well any here in the DH.
I couldn’t agree more with you Lori!
Thanks, Sandy, you know how I feel…
I was really hoping they wouldn’t find her. At least Durango still has Icara and isn’t alone. I am so over this “management” of the horses.
I believe that the Park Service has had a huge influence on the removal of these Dryhead horses. I don’t like how this is going. Do they want to at some point remove all of these horses? I encourage you to contact them and let them know how you feel. You can click on National Park Service (above) for all of their contact information.
They also have a facebook page. They posted a picture of Kerry and Maclean to show them off– so I doubt they would mind letting the public know that those very beautiful horses they showcased are now removed. Publicity can work both ways, and the internet can be more powerful than a phone call to someone that won’t listen anyway.
To add to Shawn’s comment this is the mission statment for the NPS posted to to their facebook page.”…to promote and regulate the use of the…national parks…(which purpose is to conserve the scenery and the natural and historic objects and the wild life therein) and to provide for the enjoyment of the same in such manner and by such means as will leave them unimpaired for the enjoyment of future generations.” I’ve added brackets around the the part that I find most important. I think the NPS needs to be reminded that the horses are a historic part of the park and it may be going against their own mission statement if they want to remove all of them in that area.
Oh I will definitely be contacting them. I’ve had enough with them involving themselves in this. I’ve had enough with all the outside groups who don’t reflect the public opinion having influence on these horses. The numbers are well boyond contained at this point. This land legally belongs to the horses. I will not sit by and watch this turn into another situation like what happened with the forest service. Which, people may say what they want, but I believe the forrest service lands belong to the horses as well. And while there is being action taken to make that legal, whatever the outcome may be, the dryhead is already and always has been LEGALLY part of the horse range.
I am disappointed, disgusted and angry. I have supported this “gather”, even though it was gut-wrenching. But these last few removals, to me, seem unnecessary. The horses in this area have a wide range, the area isn’t overgrazed, in my opinion, but naturally dry and… these horses are definitely not thin. It is now just about numbers. The three cohorts were to be downsized and it was desired that males should outnumber females. Well, that has been done pretty much. The 2009 group (J names), originally numbering 20, now contains 7 males, 4 females), 2010 (K), originally 25, has been down-sized to 3 males and 4 females and 2011, originally 18 – only 2 males and 3 females. Is it really necessary to take it any more? As for the new foals, there are 16 on the mountain top with more to come, but with the recent removal of Kerry and Maclean, now only 3 in the Dryhead. (You can adjust those numbers accordingly if Cecelia and her foal should be placed in the Dryhead). Is it REALLY necessary to continue this? And although we are all excited about the new foals, what’s going to happen to them in a couple years?
I couldn”t agree with you more Joy! and Sarah too! and of course you Sandy!!!
This was the first designated public Wild Horse Range in the good old United States of America. This land is theirs. The numbers are too few in the Dry Head area…and they want more? Not fair to the horses at all.
The future of the Dryhead horses does not look very good,with so many male horses and older mares,there are only 2 mares(by the PZP plan) that can eventually have foals in the next 3-4 year.And they are both in Merlin’s band.I hope they will not take Jewel and Kitalpha
I’m hoping the same thing. They’re probably looking for Jewel since she has a foal with her but hopefully she will outsmart them! And I’m hoping Kitalpha and Bristol stay hidden too.
If they continue, I think it will definitely be a “J”. I thought Johnston, Johan or Chief Joseph, but Joseph is Tier 3. Johan is Tier 2, but they have already removed siblings Katrina and Liesl. Who knows now — they don’t seem to be going by the Tiers any more… I hopr they all run up to the top of the mountain.
I think it will be Jewel. They removed Lewis, so they should not be removing Johnston. It was supposed to be one or the other. But who knows if they will stick to that. I really do not want it to be Jewel. It would really be good if she could stay with Fools Crow. He needs a younger mare.
And Jewel is Tier 1, unfortunately. For further input, got to Big Horn’s FB page and check the “Recent Posts by others” section… there’s another photo there on which people can also make comments 🙂
I really hope she stays with Fools Crow too. I want to see a little Fools Crow baby next year! I understand why they’re on PZP but it really messes with things because some stallions seem to only end up with these “non reproducing” mares which means no foals. There are so few mares now in the dryhead I don’t know how many of the bachelors will ever end up with a mare let alone a band.
I just knew this was coming in the Dryhead. 🙁 I’ve got to find some more effective way of dealing with it. I’m open to suggestions.
Think about your trip next year. All this will behind us and we can focus on who is left, the new foals that may be born and the beautiful sunrises that we will see in Lower Sykes, the Dryhead or on the mountain top with horses napping in front of us.
I am saying this in hopes it also helps me deal with it. 🙁
Just saw Kitalpha and Bristol when I was up there this morning. I hope they went into hiding after I left