As many of you know, the BLM will be conducting a bait gather through March 15th with the goal of removing approximately 35 horses from the McCullough Peaks herd. FOAL will use this page to provide updates about the horses that are removed, along with names, descriptions, and photos to the extent that we are able. As the adoption process unfolds, you can also expect to find more information about how to adopt available horses.
FOAL is not directly involved in the gather process. If you wish to learn more about the gather, or specific outcomes, please visit: https://www.blm.gov/programs/wild-horse-and-burro/herd-management/gathers-and-removals/wyoming/2023-2024-mccullough
UPDATES
Notice from FOAL dated 04/09/2024:
The McCullough Peaks bait trap gather concluded on March 9, 2024. A total of 39 horses were gathered and relocated to the Rock Springs Wild Horse holding facility. More information about adoption will be released as soon as it is available.
FOAL understands that the BLM is mandated to keep the wild horse population within established appropriate management levels (AML's). It is also our considered opinion that the best way to maintain AML in the McCullough Peaks Wild Horse Herd Management Area (HMA) is to maintain consistent adherence to a strict, recommended schedule for administering PZP to the mares in the HMA. Unfortunately, in 2022 due to a variety of reasons, several mares were not inoculated with PZP in a timely fashion. As a result, more foals were born in 2023 (12).
FOAL continues to be committed to assist the BLM with their use of PZP in any possible and practical way that we are able. It is our strong recommendation that the PZP program be given full-scale priority moving forward.
FOAL also understands that by the BLM definition of "adult horse", any foal that remains within the herd on January 1 automatically is classified as an "adult horse". Like it or not, that is the current BLM system, and the wild horse managers are mandated to operate within the system.
The bait gather, as administered this year, has not gone as planned. It has proven to be expensive, labor-consuming, and emotionally stressful for the managers. It has raised the ire of wild horse advocates. And, it has tragically resulted in the death of one horse. It is FOAL's sincere hope that improved bait trap management will be observed moving forward.
An accurate assessment of the horse population this coming Spring, will likely reveal a clearer picture of the population count. We understand that the EA stipulates that the goal is to bring the herd count to 140 adult horses. Accordingly, another, smaller gather may be needed to bring the herd to AML during next fall and winter.
Notice from FOAL dated 01/25/2024:
Soon after the discovery, FOAL was informed by the BLM that a very unfortunate circumstance occurred during the bait-trap gathering of wild horses in the McCullough Peaks Wild Horse Herd Management Area.
On January 22, 10 horses were captured. Among those 10 horses was a mare with her foal, a filly, named Kat Ballou, born in December 2022. The BLM decided to release the above-mentioned mare, along with 5 other horses, retaining the foal and 3 other horses to be held in a short-term holding corral overnight before shipping the 4 to a BLM holding facility in Rocky Springs, where they were to be processed and then offered for adoption.
Although the 4 horses in the corral appeared to be calm and quiet when the BLM left the area late in the evening, when they returned early the next morning, they found the filly dead in the corral. A veterinarian determined that the horse died of head trauma, likely from running into a post in the corral.
FOAL has no authority to mandate BLM management decisions. However, FOAL has made the following suggestions:
Going forward with any gathering of wild horses, during the selection process to decide which horses should be released and which be retained, those selections should be made based upon consultations involving at least two people who have made extensive observations involving herd dynamics of the herd being gathered. Whenever a strong bond is observed between a mare and her offspring, that pair of animals should not be separated. Either they should both be released, or they should both be retained.
Interested in Adopting a McCullough Peaks Wild Horse?
Here’s a basic breakdown of the steps to take to adopt a wild horse:
- Review the criteria and complete an application for adoption. Both can be found at: https://www.blm.gov/programs/wild-horse-and-burro/adoptions-and-sales/adoption-program After your application is submitted, expect about a week for processing time before receiving your notification of approval. Once approved, your application is valid for one year.
- Keep an eye on the “Bureau of Land Management – Wyoming” Facebook page. That is where the online corral adoption dates will be published.
- Once the online corral opens for the McCullough Peaks horses, people with approved adoption applications will be able to place bids for horses they are interested in adopting. Minimum bids start at $125. The highest bidder will win, and if they choose not to adopt the horse, then the offer goes to the next highest bidder.
- After winning the bid, you will be asked to pick up your horse. Expect that within 6 months of adopting the animal, you will receive a site visit to inspect your accommodations for the adopted horse. If anything is found to be incompatible with expectations, the horse may be removed from your care, or you may be offered an opportunity to correct the situation.
- After a year of caring for the horse, the BLM or an approved vet will need to sign off on the release of title for the horse.
A comprehensive explanation of the process, and guidelines can be found on the BLM website listed above.
The McCullough Peaks mares will be available for adoption to qualified adopters in the May 6-13 Online Corral Adoption. New adopter applications should be submitted at https://wildhorsesonline.blm.gov/ by May 4th to allow adequate time for review.
McCullough Peaks mares have been added to the online corral! People can start browsing the photos https://wildhorsesonline.blm.gov/Animals and information and get their adoption applications submitted ahead of time. Four mares were not included in the May adoption because they either have had foals in Rock Springs or are pregnant. They would all be available at a later adoption after the foals have been weaned.
Horses gathered and removed:
| Date Removed | Name | Description | Photo | Online Adoption Corral Number
|
Status |
| 01/22/2024 | Bandero | Bay stallion with unique crescent star.
Born: 08/13/2023 |
 |
Tbd | Shipped to Rock Springs Wild Horse Holding Facility |
| 01/22/2024 | Brumby | Light buckskin stallion.
Born: 04/19/2022 |
 |
Tbd | Shipped to Rock Springs Wild Horse Holding Facility |
| 01/22/2024 | Kat Ballou | Sorrel mare with blaze face.
Born: 12/26/2022 |
 |
Tbd | Died – Veterinarian determined horse died due to head injury |
| 01/22/2024 | Sky Dancer
|
Seal Brown (almost black) filly.
Born: 09/13/2023 |
 |
9288 | Shipped to Rock Springs Wild Horse Holding Facility
|
| 02/22/2024 | Red Robin | Sorrel tobiano paint mare
Born: 05/21/2019 |
 |
9291 | Shipped to Rock Springs Wild Horse Holding Facility
|
| 02/22/2024 | Juniper | Red and white paint mare
Born: 05/05/2021 |
 |
Foaled in mid April at holding facility, should go up for auction after weaning. | Shipped to Rock Springs Wild Horse Holding Facility |
| 02/22/2024 | Tabasco | Red bay tobiano paint stallion
Born: 09/23/2021 |
 |
Tbd | Shipped to Rock Springs Wild Horse Holding Facility
|
| 02/22/2024 | Thorsdottir
AKA Thora |
Charcoal splash paint filly
Born: 08/23/2023 |
 |
9289 | Shipped to Rock Springs Wild Horse Holding Facility
|
| 02/23/2024
|
Kentucky | All black stallion with a star.
Born: 05/12/2020 |
 |
Tbd | Shipped to Rock Springs Wild Horse Holding Facility |
| 02/23/2024 | Tomahawk | Bay tobiano stallion with lots of white.
Born: 03/05/2020 |
 |
Tbd | Shipped to Rock Springs Wild Horse Holding Facility |
| 02/27/2024 | Tala's Treasure | Bay Filly with star.
Born: 01/13/2023 |
 |
9292 | Shipped to Rock Springs Wild Horse Holding Facility |
| 02/27/2024 | Tempest | Bay tobiano filly, white stockings and star.
Born: 04/17/2022 |
 |
Tbd | Shipped to Rock Springs Wild Horse Holding Facility |
| 02/27/2024 | Top Gun | Bay tobiano stallion.
Born: 08/07/2020 |
 |
Tbd | Shipped to Rock Springs Wild Horse Holding Facility |
| 03/02/2024 | Black Beauty | Black mare.
Born: 2011 |
 |
9319 | Shipped to Rock Springs Wild Horse Holding Facility |
| 03/02/2024 | San Jose | Grey stallion.
Born 2009 |
 |
Tbd | Shipped to Rock Springs Wild Horse Holding Facility |
| Lily
#1709 |
Black mare, white star, two hind socks
Born: 2017 |
 |
9320 | Shipped to Rock Springs Wild Horse Holding Facility | |
| Songaa
#1906 |
Light red bay mare.
Born: 2019 |
 |
9317 | Shipped to Rock Springs Wild Horse Holding Facility | |
| Shiloah
AKA Stanza #2209 |
Bay mare with star. LH sock
Born: 05/17/2022 |
 |
9310 | Shipped to Rock Springs Wild Horse Holding Facility | |
| Ms. Packman
#1104 |
Bay tobiano mare, upside down teardrop turning into race, white mane
Born 2011 |
 |
Foaled in mid April at holding facility, should go up for auction after weaning. | Shipped to Rock Springs Wild Horse Holding Facility | |
| Deya
#1708 |
Bay mare, white star
Born: 2017 |
 |
9315 | Shipped to Rock Springs Wild Horse Holding Facility | |
| Misu
AKA Moonshadow #1807 |
Black and white tobiano mare, 4 stockings
Born: 2018 |
 |
9314 | Shipped to Rock Springs Wild Horse Holding Facility | |
| Tchoupitoulas
AKA Troubador #2308 |
Buckskin stallion with black mane, tail and muzzle with star
Born: 05/03/2023 |
 |
Tbd | Shipped to Rock Springs Wild Horse Holding Facility | |
| Storm Rider
#2304 |
Sorrel tobiano stallion, wide blaze, 4 high stockings, star shaped patches on l. side and r. shoulder
Born: 03/21/2023 |
 |
Tbd | Shipped to Rock Springs Wild Horse Holding Facility | |
| Scooter
#2112 |
Color….Black & white tobiano stallion, 4 high stockings, white patches on withers and over croup, big blazeBorn: 05/05/2021 |
 |
Tbd | Shipped to Rock Springs Wild Horse Holding Facility | |
| Deyton
aka Deyaton #2201 |
Bay mare, white star
Born: 02/12/2022 |
 |
TBD | Shipped to Rock Springs Wild Horse Holding Facility | |
| Lark
#0902 |
Black mare, large white star, right hind sock
Born: 2009 |
 |
9312 | Shipped to Rock Springs Wild Horse Holding Facility | |
| Twilight
#2105 |
Black mare, with unique roaned out blaze.
Born 04/04/2021 |
 |
9318 | Shipped to Rock Springs Wild Horse Holding Facility | |
| Smoke
#1020 |
Black Mare
Born: 2010 |
 |
9311 | Shipped to Rock Springs Wild Horse Holding Facility | |
| Meeka
#1705 |
Dark brown bay mare with star
Born: 2017 |
 |
9316 | Shipped to Rock Springs Wild Horse Holding Facility | |
| Las Vegas
#0945 |
Black tobiano stallion, 4 stockings, blaze, white tail
Born: 2009 |
 |
Tbd | Shipped to Rock Springs Wild Horse Holding Facility | |
| Garth
#1008 |
Sorrel tobiano stallion, white star, circle spot on r. side belly
Born: 2010 |
 |
Tbd | Shipped to Rock Springs Wild Horse Holding Facility | |
| Boreal
#1012 |
Grey to white stallion
Born: 2010 |
 |
Tbd | Shipped to Rock Springs Wild Horse Holding Facility | |
| Stillwater
#1200 |
Sorrel/chestnut stallion, upside down teardrop star
Born: 2012 |
 |
Tbd | Shipped to Rock Springs Wild Horse Holding Facility | |
| Kiamichi
#1304 |
Sorrel blaze stallion, red mane, r. nostril grey skin
Born: 2013 |
 |
Tbd | Shipped to Rock Springs Wild Horse Holding Facility | |
| Doc Holiday
AKA Sayre #1702 |
Black tobiano stallion, star, four white legs.
Born: 2017 |
 |
Tbd | Shipped to Rock Springs Wild Horse Holding Facility |
| Sargent...........
#1810 |
Black and white tobiano stallion, square star attached to blaze
Born: 2018 |
 |
Tbd | Shipped to Rock Springs Wild Horse Holding Facility | |
| Merlin
#2204 |
Black tobiano stallion
Born: 04/14/2022 |
 |
Tbd | Shipped to Rock Springs Wild Horse Holding Facility | |
| Moki
#1801 |
Bay tobiano stallion.
Born: 2018 |
 |
Tbd | Shipped to Rock Springs Wild Horse Holding Facility | |
| Magic
#2109 |
Solid bay stallion, tiny star, thin vertical snip.
Born: 04/10/2021 |
 |
Tbd | Shipped to Rock Springs Wild Horse Holding Facility | |
| Istaga
#1124 |
Bay Stallion, 2 hind socks, star.
Born: 2011 |
 |
Tbd | Shipped to Rock Springs Wild Horse Holding Facility |