Friends,
Many have reached out to me about the New York Times story, which has been picked up by multiple news outlets, including the Seattle Times, regarding wild horses being sold to buyers intent on shipping them to slaughterhouses in Canada. History is repeating and the fight to end this abhorrent practice is decades old and never-ending.
In 2010, when I was first creating Wild Love Preserve and leading up to the Challis BLM’s 2012 helicopter roundup, there was an individual in Nevada who had been able and then was finally nailed for buying and shipping large numbers of wild horses across the border to slaughter in Mexico. This was playing out just prior to a time when I was working on the logistics of our first-of-its-kind mass adoption of Challis wild horses not otherwise adopted from this 2012 roundup. The BLM was concerned about the timing and appearance, but came to realize that holding Wild Love Preserve and me to the highest bar with the purchase of Authority horses and our mass adoption was beneficial to their image at a dark time. This turned out to be the second largest adoption in the BLM’s history; however, it was the first of its kind in nature and intent.
To that, the BLM is conducting a 2026 helicopter roundup on the Challis Herd Management Area (HMA) in September. The last roundup was in 2019, which followed the 2012 roundup. Because of Wild Love Preserve’s collaborative work on the range with the BLM since 2013, the time between roundups has been extended to 7 years versus 2-3 years. Bait trap gathers have been used on occasion, and we have proven through action that humane management with the fertility vaccine PZP-1YR is effective when implemented. As per our mission, Wild Love Preserve remains committed to Challis wild horses removed from the range that are not otherwise adopted. As we have done since 2012, Authority horses are always secured first.
A lot is going on right now, and challenges are plentiful. Natural cause conditions from extreme drought and mega wildfires from lightning strikes have impacted normal operations at the preserve. Thankfully, winds have been in our favor and spared the preserve to date, but we still have another 4 to 6 weeks of fire season, so we remain on high alert. The current economic landscape has resulted in skyrocketing prices from diesel to hay, equipment, repairs, and supplies. The video above shares footage of our horses moving into the hills, but when wildfires hit on July 15, everyone had to be moved back down to the river field for safety. This, in turn, has required the purchase of additional hay for continued daily feeding versus them roaming and grazing in the wild hills.
While times are tricky across the board, my appreciation is immeasurable for those who continue to support Wild Love Preserve because you make our work possible. You literally help us help them in a lasting manner, and that is something special that resonates in all wild hearts. We are fundraising to address the costs of operations, winter hay, equipment, and supplies. As well, we have additional acreage to purchase at $1000 per acre and are raising funds on that front. The video below outlines activity, progress, and goals here at Wild Love Preserve. I’m also sharing some photos of current status because I am not able to be on the computer like I used to due to daily boots-on-the-ground work outside with the horses and daily operations.
Thank you so much for considering a donation at this point in time and for choosing to make a lasting difference in wild lives and wild places for future generations to equally experience and nurture.
Warmly, Andrea + Our Whole Wild Crew
Watch the video above. We are still building out the Preserve. This is an expansive, multi-faceted, multi-year undertaking with lasting results as a wildness legacy project that protects, preserves, and nurtures our interconnected whole for generations to come. We are raising funds for the next phases of our massive perimeter fencing project so we can release our 250+ wild horses to freely roam the entirety of the preserve in their chosen family bands. This is a very large and encompassing project, and as you can imagine, the costs are steep, especially in the current economic climate. We have many miles of wildlife-friendly perimeter fencing to build, roads to cut in for access, springs to develop for water sources for wild horses and all wildlife, fields to plant, habitats to restore, hay to purchase, and many more logistics and projects to tackle as part of our operations. If you would like to help with a tax-deductible donation, your support will have an immediate positive impact in wild lives and places. Thank you for your consideration.
