July Fertility Control Update
Updated Numbers
Total Treatments: 4,091
Total Primers: 1,429
Total Boosters: 2,662
Total Mares Treated: 1,531
Welcome new awhc darters
Mid June, the Science & Conservation Center made the trip to our area to conduct a fertility control darting class. Five darters were successfully trained and are already in the field with our experienced darters learning the tricks of the trade! Join AWHC in welcoming Debbi Engelke, Brenda Davis, Bob Holleman, Diana Fowler, and Caroline Kreiser!
Outstanding Success
The Virginia Range has varied terrain from flat ground to extremely rocky steep areas, to sloping hillsides. The wild horses also have varied toleration for humans and vehicles, depending on their location. AWHC’s volunteer darters, documenters, and spotters are in all areas and constantly finding ways to get into remote areas to look for horses that may not be in our system yet. Their efforts are so impressive every single day in all types of weather. These are the people who keep the fertility control program running smoothly.
Recently we received photos of darter Chuck Staton sitting in a blind to dart horses. Chuck and Terry, another AWHC darter, have been leaving items in the area that have their scent so the horses would recognize that as a nonthreatening scent. It worked because Chuck darted 6 mares that day!
With approximately 3,200 horses documented as living on the Virginia Range, from the Carson River to the south, and north to Highway 80, it is estimated that abut half that number are mares (some are foals), which is about 1,650. Darters have treated about 1,500 mares and breeding age fillies! What a huge success. And, this year there are fewer foals on the range compared to last year at this time. The team is just beginning the third year of the program so these numbers demonstrate that darting on a large range without removing horses, can be done, and IS being done. Kudos Volunteers … you make it happen!
Chuck Staton in the blind