Fertility Control Update
By the Numbers
Total Mares Treated: 1,801
Newly approved property access has allowed volunteers to reach horses that were inaccessible in the past. Thanks to the dedication of the documenters and darters working in that area, 25 previously untreated mares have been treated with fertility control.
In another remote location with very elusive horses, perseverance has resulted in an additional 30 mares being treated. Dedication and commitment make our program work all across the range!
These volunteers are proving to those who say it cannot be done in more remote areas that indeed it CAN!
L: Certified Darter, Elena, in the field with her CO2 powered dart rifle. R: The simple delivery dart.
Collaborative Partnerships Work!
With the smoke gone and the arrival of cooler temperatures, our volunteer darters and documenters are out in full force. These hardworking people are much appreciated and valued. They are the boots on the ground, working every day to do on-range management of wild horses. This program is CRITICAL to the future of wild horses, and their habitat, and is watched worldwide.
We recently acquired permission to administer fertility control on a large piece of land and the horses living there are being documented and darted quickly. It is important for the community and businesses to know that unless we have their permission to dart on their property, we are unable to treat the wild mares that are located there. Fortunately, most of the properties we contact are supportive of our program.
Our community and property-owner relationships not only help stabilize herd growth but also protect public drivers and the range habitat. We could not do it without them! They are an important part of this successful program!
The Virginia Range!