Spring Creek Basin Mustangs

Missing them

15 02 2011

Because of my meetings last week, I wasn’t able to get out to visit the horses, and I’ve been missing them. So I went back through photos from the last visit to pull out some more before I hopefully get back out tomorrow.

I see you, beautiful girl! I was sitting on the edge of a shallow arroyo across from where they were grazing.

Sister girls: Gemma, left, and Terra. Gemma will be a year old April 23, and Terra will be 2 on May 1.

Both girls (this is Terra) love their daddy, Grey/Traveler and can often be found grazing close to him. I don’t know where Terra gets her weird and wondrous blaze marking … I’ve always thought it looks like a swan.

Right at the edge of the little arroyo …

He doesn’t very often give me his full attention anymore – I have to be quick to catch it! So handsome and crazy-intelligent!

I especially love to sit with his band and soak up all his wisdom (and Houdini’s). Linda on Beautiful Mustang has been posting about natural horsemanship and observations of her herd, and passive leadership, which her horse Red exhibits. Grey definitely has that quality, and it showed with the big bands he had before the last two roundups. In fact, all the band stallions seem to have it … and I’ve wondered if that might be part of Mouse’s “problem” in getting a mare. He’s the highest ranking bachelor, but he’s a little gruff and grouchy (though he seems to be mellowing). Kreacher and Steeldust are two excellent examples of deferring to their girls, but when need be, they’re incredibly protective.

Can’t wait to see the horses again!

Comments : 4 Comments »

Categories : Gemma, Grey, Terra

Happy day of love

13 02 2011

You may remember this image from January … Jif and Chrome sharing a brief, quiet moment. I thought it was an appropriate image for Valentine’s Day.

Show someone some love today. Every day.

Happy Valentine’s Day.

Comments : 3 Comments »

Categories : Chrome, Jif

About PZP …

10 02 2011

To offer during the educational programs I plan to do this year ahead of the Spring Creek Basin roundup (scheduled for Sept. 17-21), I created a “brochure” about PZP/PZP-22, and I wanted to share it here, “for more information” as we say in the news biz. I didn’t come up with this information out of thin air. It’s a compilation of the bare surface of what I’ve learned about PZP/PZP-22, and yes, I have offered it for critique and correction to people I think all will agree are experts on the subject: Dr. Jay Kirkpatrick, director of the Science and Conservation Center; Dr. Patricia Fazio, statewide coordinator of the Wyoming Wild Horse Coalition; and Matt Dillon, director of the Pryor Mountain Wild Mustang Center.

I keep pushing these links:

http://pryorwild.wordpress.com/category/pzp/ – extremely informative series about PZP written by Matt –

and

http://pryorwild.files.wordpress.com/2010/08/pzp-qa-third-edition-june-1-2010.pdf – PZP Q&A contributed to by Dr. Kirkpatrick, Dr. Allen Rutberg and Linda Coates-Markle, and compiled and edited by Dr. Fazio. (Matt is working to make this a linkable document on the Pryor Wild blog and the PMWMC website.)

Tonight, I have a big date: my first public education program about the coming roundup and adoption and, hopefully, fertility control program in Spring Creek Basin. I’m nervous. I’m hopeful. I think I’m well-prepared. I’m terrified I’ll freeze (a skilled public speaker, I am not). I’m sure I’ll say something about the roundup, answer a question about the horses to be offered for adoption or sent to Canon City … and crumple, like I did last night in a much smaller meeting.

More information: A scoping notice is to be completed this month for our upcoming EA. I’ll inform you all about that when it’s available, and I hope you’ll comment.

I also hope you’re getting those comments out about McCullough Peaks’ fertility control EA. More information here and here.

There’s a lot going on right now … There are still horror stories about roundups … Here, we’re trying to encourage something workable, something sustainable, something with a better “happy ending” for more wild horses. I think by now, it’s pretty well known how I feel, my background, where I’m coming from. Someone apparently called the president of the Four Corners Back Country Horsemen, the group I’m speaking with tonight, and said, “I know all about that TJ Holmes.” I hope so. Because “TJ Holmes” = “mustang advocate.” Everyone who knows me knows that. 😉

Here’s the “brochure”: PZP-FAQcard-FORBLOG

I prepared this to be used as a jump-start for conversation. Like one of our Wild Bunch members noted last night, sterility after six or seven years of consecutive PZP treatments is not necessarily a con (especially for older mares), and I’ve talked about that here. I hope this proves helpful – the links on the last page lead to much more information about PZP (and many thanks to Pat Fazio for pointing out to me that the links are, indeed, live in the PDF document).

Comments : 11 Comments »

Categories : Advocacy, PZP

A good roll in the dirt

8 02 2011

Thick, fuzzy winter coats must get itchy, shedding or not. We’ve had a wide range of conditions this winter – from crazy-warm (50s?) to very cold (well below zero), multi-day snow events (around New Year’s) to gaping areas without snow. Winter means survival mode for wild animals … but that doesn’t mean there’s no room for a little fun.

Walking up out of an arroyo, Grey/Traveler surprised me by stopping for a roll. Houdini and the girls went on without him. I thought it looked a little steep, but he made it look so easy, I thought he had found a little “bench.”

About to get up … Hi, big, I’m lookin’ at you!

Terra apparently thought this was a capital idea because she came back to investigate while Grey prepared to lie down on his other side …

He didn’t give up his spot, though, so she had to find a steeper spot above him.

And down they go!

She gave it a good effort but didn’t go all the way over.

It must have felt great to both of them because they leaped up with bucks and hops …

… before heading on up the hill to join Houdini and Gemma.

After they disappeared over the top, I went over to explore and was surprised by the angle of the slope where they had rolled – definitely not flat! I’ve seen a lot of places where they’ve obviously rolled, and some spots look like “habitual” places – places they seem to know and roll on frequently. Some, I think, are just found when the mood strikes them. No doubt Terra will remember this as a good place to roll, right up the hill from what seemed to be a water source in warmer weather.

I should add that between last night and this morning, we got about 3 inches of snow on the southwest flank of the La Platas, so hopefully the basin got some snow … which means water this spring and summer! Thanks for the dances! It adds up in every sparkling flake!

Comments : 5 Comments »

Categories : Grey, Terra

More grey

7 02 2011

But nearly full sunshine and blue!

This Grey(/Traveler) …

… and these greys (yes, Terra is going to be grey) …

… and these greys (Gemma is greying even faster than big sister Terra) …

… mama Houdini … getting to be very Alpha-like in her coloring – or lack thereof (still with grey mane and darker tail) …

… daddy Grey and his grey girls …

… those faces …

… bold grey girl checking me out when I first walked past them to the edge of the ridge to look down on Seven’s and Bruiser and Spring …

… shy Gemma … Almost like daddy – every time she’d look up, I’d be too slow with the camera, and she’d had gone back to grazing by the time I got positioned and focused.

North-facing slopes still have quite enough snow for heavy walking. South-facing have much less – even none. So weird to see such lack of snow … but I also remember Februarys past when I’ve driven around the basin on perfectly dry roads. At least snow is in the forecast:

*Dancedancedancewithwildabandondance*

Comments : 2 Comments »

Categories : Gemma, Grey, Houdini, Terra

Shades of soft

5 02 2011

Isn’t she lovely? Fuzzy soft and glowing with health. I love her demeanor – betraying slight attention of me in the direction of her wise eye.

And now you know the lovelies I saw while overlooking the valley where Seven’s and Bruiser and Spring grazed.

Getting so hard to catch the boy in any attitude of attention. Beloved …

Comments : 2 Comments »

Categories : Houdini

Blue skies

5 02 2011

La Sal Mountains

Beauty in all directions.

(Note how much snow has melted. If you’re shoveling … do a little dance for Ma Nature to drop a little our way …)

Comments : 8 Comments »

Categories : La Sal Mountains, Mule deer, Uncategorized

Spring, spotted

3 02 2011

Across the basin or across another coupla-few months? Well, it was feeling like March here lately, until the storm that blasted most of the country and left us with just a skiff of new snow and much colder temps.

This was as close as I got to them, and “this” was not close to where I left the Jeep.

When I entered the basin this morning on frozen ground, it was a balmy 8 degrees. When I decided the thawing mud I was avoiding wasn’t going to be limited to where I was walking, I drove out on “soft” ground … The Jeep’s outside temperature gauge read a downright tropical 26 degrees.

So it’s really hard to see in the pic, but Spring’s with Bruiser! He’s been alone for a while, and I hadn’t seen him for a while, so I suppose it’s only fitting that I find them together (only fitting in human terms).

Very nearby:

Fairly far east of where they were last week – Seven’s band. From left: Seven, Roja, Ze, Shane and Mona (in a fairly straight line across the bottom of the photo).

I also some some other elusive creatures I was happy to spot (though I’ve seen them since I last saw Bruiser): Duke, Twister and Cuatro. Still together and fairly close to Kreacher’s band.

And I got to this spot because I had seen two dark horses beyond a hill and through some trees … but it wasn’t who I thought it might be (though I later saw those horses, too). 😉

I thought it would be a longer trip, but as fast as it warmed up, I really did not want to get stuck in the mud! I did see a number of bands from the interior and had a nice hike and quiet visit with the horses I did walk out to. We have more chance for snow this weekend. I almost hate to wish for it when so much of the country has been slammed (including my brother in the Chicago area and uncle/aunt/cousins in Ohio), but we could sure use some more snow!

Comments : 3 Comments »

Categories : Bruiser, Mona, Roja, Seven, Shane, Spring, Ze

Worth the walk

2 02 2011

After some “heavy” stuff, some more pix from last week’s visit. No one figured out what band surprised me on the backside of Filly Peak with Kreacher’s? With the member I didn’t see the previous week?

How about now?

Seven’s band. From left: Roja, Shane, Ze, Mona and Seven. Definitely missing almost-yearling Spring. I’m hopeful she’s with another band.

I used this with the previous post. That’s Seven and stepdaughter Shane. She’s doing quite well.

Roja and Ze, who will be 2 this year.

Mona. How’s that for a gorgeous background?

Mona and Seven. This was a wonderful, quiet visit with this band, normally so wary.

Handsome!

Seven watched me very carefully in the beginning, but even Roja didn’t seem worried.

Beautiful boy.

My favorite. I like Mona’s and Ze’s and Shane’s faces lined up, Seven calmly watching over them.

What a wonderful visit!

Comments : 3 Comments »

Categories : Mona, Roja, Seven, Shane, Ze

McCullough Peaks fertility control EA

31 01 2011

McCullough Peaks Herd Management Area, east of Cody, Wyo., has a fertility control EA out for review, similar to the Pryor Mountain Wild Horse Range Finding of No Significant Impact/Decision Record.

From the McCullough Peaks EA: “Gathers and removals alone will not address the fundamental problem, which is reproduction by horses remaining on the range.

“The purpose of the Proposed Action is to consider a fertility control treatment program in order to maintain a population of 100 adult wild horses which is also within the AML of 70 – 140 wild horses. The purpose is also to stabilize the population in order to reduce the need for larger helicopter gather and removal operations. The Proposed Action in this EA considers the BLM’s need to help maintain wild horse herd numbers to levels consistent with the AML and to make progress towards achieving standards of rangeland health. The need for the Proposed Action is to maintain the population in a thriving natural ecological balance by maintaining the wild horse population within the AML and to analyze the impacts to the wild horses from utilization of fertility control.”

Please also take the time to read photographer Pam Nickoles’ recent blog post: http://nickolesphotography.wordpress.com/2011/01/26/photo-of-the-week-012511/

Pam has made frequent visits to the McCullough Peaks herd, gotten to know the horses intimately and is very invested in the health and well-being of the herd. Visit her website to see stunning photography of wild horses across the West, including McCullough Peaks.

Reviewers of the EA have 30 days to comment. Comments should be addressed to Patricia L. Hatle, BLM-CYFO, 1002 Blackburn Ave., Cody, WY 82414 and postmarked no later than February 22, 2011. Comments can also be e-mailed no later than close of business on February 22, 2011, to: Cody_wymail@blm.gov

Please do take the time to comment. Pryor Mountain now has an annual fertility control program (as it has in the past), McCullough Peaks would follow that example (and fertility control also has been used there in the past) … and Spring Creek Basin would follow in their footsteps, using fertility control to slow, not stop herd population growth (I’m not a proponent of sterilization, and I’m not sure I like the intense management as is used at Assateague being applied to Western herds). Soon, I’ll be asking you to comment on our EA. I simply ask that you read the EA and comment.

If it helps, use information from my previous blog post: https://springcreekwild.wordpress.com/2011/01/30/love-triangle/ and/or peruse information found here and here to help form educated opinions about the use of fertility control.

The range is not going to be expanded. Mountain lions do not provide sufficient population-control predation. Roundups will continue to happen … hopefully with a move away from helicopters to more humane bait trapping with fewer horses removed and less often than currently. Am I talking about McCullough Peaks or Spring Creek Basin here? Either. Both. Focus on what we CAN do.

The horses are known – they’re documented extensively in McCullough Peaks, as they are in Little Book Cliffs, on Pryor Mountain and at Spring Creek Basin. Volunteers will be used in McCullough Peaks as in the other areas – a woman from FOAL (Friends Of A Legacy) was in my training class at the Science and Conservation Center, and others are already trained.

We – the public, owners of our American mustangs – are being given opportunities to weigh in on the future management of our horses. People ask all the time: What can I do?

Read this document: http://www.blm.gov/pgdata/etc/medialib/blm/wy/information/NEPA/cyfodocs/mcculloughpeakhma.Par.0515.File.dat/2011_ea_fonsi.pdf

Write herd area manager Patricia L. Hatle, BLM-CYFO, at 1002 Blackburn Ave., Cody, WY 82414 before Feb. 22, 2011. Or e-mail Cody_wymail@blm.gov

She needs positive comments to make this annual fertility control program a success. Please support her, read the EA carefully … and, most importantly, support the mustangs of McCullough Peaks.

(Note: All photos taken during my September 2009 visit to McCullough Peaks.)

Comments : 3 Comments »

Categories : Advocacy, Fertility control, McCullough Peaks