McCullough Peaks Alert

When it rains, it pours. Not only is the Pryor Wild Horse Herd in deep trouble. So is the nearby McCullough Peaks Horse Herd outside Cody, Wyoming.

I consider this the sister herd to the Pryors, just 45 minutes away from Lovell, WY and only 60 miles or so from the Pryors. Before the last BLM round up a few years ago, the McCullough Peaks wild horse herd was a robust 500 or so animals. Many of the remaining 200 are colorful paints and pintos. Some have the blood of Buffalo Bill Cody’s prized Cleveland Bays coursing through their veins. Legend has it that when Buffalo Bill quit his Wild West Show days in the early 1900s, he released his Cleveland Bays in the McCullough Peaks. I have a friend who adopted a yearling from the herd several years ago and she had her colt blood-tested and the results show guess what? Yep, he has rare Cleveland Bay markers in his genetic make-up!

Regardless of the fascinating history and the gorgeous colors and conformation of these wild horses, the new BLM plan (which is driven by the State Office in Wyoming), calls for the removal of all but 70 horses. If that isn’t disastrous enough, they want to give a two-year infertility shot to all or some of the mares that will be returned to freedom. If this isn’t shocking enough, consider that the Herd Area is 110,000 acres and can certainly support a viable herd!

This planned removal is not rocket science---the BLM is trying to do away with the herd which is so popular with those in NW Wyoming and photographers and tourists around the U.S. Attached is a recent picture taken by Colorado photographer, Carol Walker, showing the smashing colors which still persist in the herd. Pam Nickoles, another Colorado equine photographer, has taken many pictures of these photogenic animals.

McCullough Peaks was one area I considered documenting years ago for Marty Stouffer’s Wild America series until Raven and his wild horse family on the Pryors showed up every time I came there and stole my heart.

But, I still visit the McCullough Peaks herd often and had the great pleasure of riding on two 50-mile endurance rides in the herd area in 2005 and 2006. What a thrill it was to ride with wild horses. Bachelor stallions raced by my horse and me and, although we tried to keep up with them, they left us in the dirt. The three stallions stopped to look back as if to say “Come on. What’s taking you so long?” Then they raced away out of sight. I will never forget the beautiful black and white bachelor who dared come within a hundred feet or so of us. I wonder if he still roams free? His obvious joy at being wild was written all over his shining body.

An outraged comment is essential from all of you. Let BLM know how disastrous their plan would be for this once large herd. There are four alternatives to select from and I personally will be choosing the No Action alternative which would keep the helicopters grounded for at least this year.

You can read the Scoping Letter for the round up by going to http://www.blm.gov/wy/st/en/field_offices/Cody.html, then click on McCullough Peaks HMA Gather 2008.

Comments are due by July 3. Send them via E-mail to Cody_wymail@blm.gov. Include in the subject line: McCullough Peaks HMA Scoping Comments.

Go here to see my comments.

Or send your comments by mail to;
Patricia L. Hatle, Range/Wild Horse Specialist
BLM, Cody Field Office
P.O. Box 518
Cody, Wyoming 82414

Happy Trails,
Ginger Kathrens
Volunteer Executive Director
The Cloud Foundation, Inc.
A Colorado Non-Profit