The Surprise Complex (Complex) includes the Massacre Lakes, Bitner, Nut Mountain, Wall Canyon, High Rock, and Fox Hog Herd Management Areas (HMAs) and spans nearly 400,000 acres in Nevada. The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) currently estimates that approximately 1,300 - 1,700 horses call the Complex home. However, the BLM’s unscientifically low Appropriate Management Level (AML) for the Complex – the number of horses the agency claims that the range can sustainably support in conjunction with other animals and resource uses – is 283-496 wild horses and 0 burros.

While the BLM plans to roundup about 1,220 horses and permanently remove 1,050 wild horses from the Complex, but at the same time the BLM continues to authorize thousands of cows to graze in allotments that overlap the Complex. 

It is time for the BLM to manage wild horse habitat for the wild horses. 

This roundup will cost the taxpayers at least $341,600 to just roundup these 1,220 beloved horses from the Complex. Of that only approximately 170 are planned for return to the Complex, so the removal will also bring along with it the lifetime cost of approximately $61 million to house the remaining 1,050 horses for the remainder of their lives in government holding corrals. The contractor for this roundup is Shayne Sampson.

On top of that, the taxpayer foots the bill for federally-subsidized livestock grazing on public lands as well. The federal grazing fee remains at its historic low of $1.35 per animal per month. That’s a steep discount, thanks to the taxpayer subsidies that prop up this federal entitlement program. (Estimates indicate that the overall cost to taxpayers for the federal grazing program could be as much as $500 million annually.

We will update this report as the operation progresses.

ROUNDUP REPORT

Cumulative Totals

Total Captured: 1216

Total deaths: 21 

October 14, 2021: The roundup concluded today. There was one death today, a three year old that was reportedly born with "crooked knees leading to enlarged ankles"

October 13, 2021: 93 wild horses lost their freedom today.

October 12, 2021: 36 wild horses were captured today.

October 11, 2021: No operations today due to high winds, but there was 1 death.

• One stallion the BLM estimated to be over 20 years old was euthanized for having a club foot. 

October 10, 2021: 104 wild horses were captured today and there were 5 deaths.

• One mare the BLM estimated to be over 30 years old with a Henneke Body Condition Score of 2 and reportedly bad teeth, was euthanized.
• One mare the BLM estimated to be over 20 years old was euthanized for “possible neurological/spinal condition, ambulatory issues.”
• One yearling BLM euthanized for “crooked legs, lame.”
• One stallion the BLM euthanized for having a “complete club foot.”
• One stallion the BLM estimated to be over 20 years old, and reported the horse to have a preexisting injured knee was euthanized.

October 9, 2021: 86 wild horses were captured today.

October 8, 2021: 128 wild horses were captured today and there was 1 death.

• One foal the BLM estimated to be a yearling, was reportedly not able to bear weight on its right front leg and was euthanized for “poor prognosis for recovery.”

October 7, 2021: 132 wild horses were captured today. Operations were cut short due to adverse weather.

October 6, 2021: 82 wild horses were captured today. Operations were cut short due to adverse weather.

October 5, 2021: No wild horses were captured today. 66 (34 Mares and 32 Stallions) were released to their Herd Management Areas after the mares were treated with fertility control. There were 4 deaths.

• One stallion suffered a broken neck during loading.
• Two mares the BLM estimated to be over 20 years old, with sway backs and Henneke Body Condition Score of 2 were euthanized for “poor prognosis for recovery.”
• One stallion the BLM estimated to be over 20 years old, with a sway back and Henneke Body Condition Score of 2 was euthanized for “poor prognosis for recovery.”

October 4, 2021: 45 wild horses were captured today. BLM noted “We are investigating the possibility of pigeon fever in some horses. Further tests are being ordered.” 

October 3, 2021: 69 wild horses were captured today, and there were 2 deaths.

• One stallion the BLM estimated to be older than 20-years-old, and a Henneke Body Condition Score of 2, was euthanized for “poor prognosis for recovery.”
• One stallion the BLM estimated to be older than 30-years-old, and a Henneke Body Condition Score of 2, was euthanized for “poor prognosis for recovery.”

October 2, 2021: 69 wild horses were captured today.

October 1, 2021: 65 wild horses were captured today, and there was 1 death.

• One foal the BLM estimated to be 1-month-old and an orphan died. BLM reports the colt was “showing obvious signs of poor nutrition and dehydration.”

September 30, 2021: 133 wild horses were captured today, and there were again 2 deaths.

• One mare the BLM estimated to be older than 25-years-old, and a Henneke Body Condition Score of 1, was euthanized for “poor prognosis for recovery.”
• One stallion the BLM estimated to be older than 30-years-old, and a Henneke Body Condition Score of 1, was euthanized for “poor prognosis for recovery.”

September 29, 2021: 32 wild horses were captured today, and there were 2 deaths.

• One mare the BLM estimated to be older than 25-years-old, and a Henneke Body Condition Score of 1, was euthanized for “poor prognosis for recovery.”.
• One mare the BLM estimated to be older than 25-years-old, and a Henneke Body Condition Score of 2, is reported as “died” instead of euthanized.

September 28, 2021: 142 wild horses were captured today, and there were 2 deaths. 

• One stallion the BLM estimated to be older than 25-years-old, and a Henneke Body Condition Score of 2-3, was euthanized for “weak condition with a poor prognosis for recovery.”
• One mare the BLM estimated to be older than 25-years-old, and a Henneke Body Condition Score of 1, died. BLM corrected it’s report to read that the mare was not euthanized but died.