Where are the East Side Horses?
Where are the East Side Horses?
I'm not worried, it's an expansive landscape and I imagine they're somewhere green and safe.
Mostly this post is to document the health of the landscape and riparian areas at the start of cattle grazing season. BLM is proposing an emergency round-up of the Carter Resrvoir Wild Horses and bring the herd from an estimated 400 down to 35-25, with remaining horses treated with birth control. Reasons stated include range and riparian degradation. The BLM offers nothing to show effects of wild horses vs cattle. They simply state that because wild horses are on the HMA year round, they produce more damage... Clearly this is not the case. The cattle just showed up to a pristine range, no evidence of damage while cattle were absent but horses present.
It's a fickle business this wild horse documenting .... being migratory animals one can never be quite sure for how long they will linger in any one place.
Over the winter, while cattle allotment gates on public lands remain open, wild horses, along with pronghorn and mule deer, are frequently found at lower elevations where forage is more available.
With the warming and snowmelt of spring, wildlife returns to more remote, higher elevations.
Once cattle grazing season starts, gates to livestock allotments on Public Land are closed, and wild horses of the Carter Reservoir Herd become split into East and West side bands.
Earlier this spring and foaling season, the "East Side" bands frequented a particular valley and water hole, which remains in prime condition for incomming cattle.
Yesterday I went adventuring looking for these horses ... I drove then hiked along Carter Reservoir Road towards the reservoir. I got as far as the Sand Creek headwaters, but saw no sign of recent horse activity.
I passed through natural springs and riparian zones which were pristine all Spring, until I came upon areas starting to show affect of recently released cattle. I can't post the smell, but it was there.
Sometimes after cattle herding activity, and during hunting season, the horses make themselves scarce.
It's a vast and wondrous landscape, I look forward to peaceful days with my East Side friends again soon!
Carter Reservoir Wild Horse HMA
Surprise Valley Field Office, CA
Hays Canyon Range, Gerlach, NV
June 9, 2025
