Monthly Numbers

Total Treatments: 2346

Total Primers: 1009

Total Boosters: 1337

Total Mares: 1164

A Day in the Life

When a darter/documenter team comes across a herd of Virginia Range wild mares they need to dart, there are quite a few steps to be taken before they can actually dart them! 

First, they have to identify the mares using the wild horse database. Once a mare is identified by her coat color or markings, the team can see her entire darting history. From there, they figure out if she needs her first treatment (her primer) or her second treatment (her booster), or if she is fully inoculated doesn’t need treatment. Once the team has pieced together these important details, they are ready to mix the vaccine and load it up into the dart! When the darter is all set up, he or she slowly moves toward the horses and measures the distance to the mare. This information allows the darter to accurately set the CO2 level so the dart hits its target in the most effective, and safe way possible.

Sounds like a lot of work right? Well, the team isn’t done yet. After the dart is fired and the mare is inoculated, the darter and documenter have to trek out to find the ejected dart! Most teams have developed their own ways to keep track of a fired dart and the recovery rate is very high.

Now they must be finished, right? Nope! The team might have to repeat all these steps for the next mare who needs a treatment. Or maybe it’s the last mare of the day and the team heads home, exhausted and hot. But they’re still not finished! Once home, the darter has to wash and sterilize their kits and syringes, clean their rifle and then enter all the data they’ve collected that day into the Wild Horse Database.

It’s hard work protecting the Virginia Range horses, but it’s good work!

This photo shows the distance the dart teams often have to hike to treat a mare and recover the dart. Be sure to look closely at where the jeep is and where the arrow is pointing. The arrow is where the dart is! Nice job Elena Sullivan. 

No matter the terrain, our teams have it covered!

Many Volunteers, Many Hats

The AWHC fertility control program is a fantastic success. In fact, darters have darted more than 1,100 mares, and given over 2000 treatments in a little over one year. This is unprecedented for a wild horse fertility control program!

The success of this monumental program is due to the tenacity and dedication of the volunteers. These dedicated horse lovers don’t spend all their time darting and documenting for AWHC though. They’re also members of other Virginia Range groups, and when not darting or documenting, they are working on a variety of projects for the VR horses, including rescue, foal care and range management activities. It truly takes a village to protect these horses, and these are the groups who play a key role in this work: Virginia Range Wildlife Protection Association, Wild Horse Preservation League, Technical Large Animal Rescue (LRTC TLAR Team), LBL Equine Sanctuary, and Wild Horse Connection. Thank you all for the work you do!