A tale of two mustangs

Friday, January 26, 2007

By Melanie Stein

While camping on a hunting trip on the Bridger-Teton National Forest in October 2006, a bear strolled through and spooked Monte Haas’ 13 wild mustangs, scattering them into the night.

Haas was able to recover all but two of the mustangs in short order – but those remaining two have been evading capture ever since and are now roaming inside Grand Teton National Park.

The mustangs are non-native to this area, says Jackie Skaggs from the Public Affairs office at the Park. “Horses and cattle sometimes get loose, but it is the ranchers’ responsibility to capture [the animals] and get them out of the Park,” Skaggs said.

Haas has been attempting to do so for some time. “I have been up three times since mid December to try and catch them. Park Rangers tried to catch them – but it’s almost impossible to catch a mustang – and they scared them,” said Haas.

Wednesday, the mustangs were on the south side of Blacktail Butte, even with the Gros Ventre campground entrance, and inside Park boundaries.

The higher-ups in the Park weren’t very helpful, Haas said, and threatened to kill the mustangs.

Haas repeatedly told them they were federal horses, owned by the Bureau of Land Management, but he said Park officials “thought we turned them loose because we didn’t want them.”

The BLM protects and manages wild horse and burro populations in the western United States but also offers some for adoption and sale to individuals, as a means of maintaining herd size. Haas adopted his mustangs last August, and although they are under his care, he will not legally own them for a year.

Haas has a disability that prevents him from being as active as he’d like. The Park wouldn’t use their snowmobiles, wouldn’t net the horses, and wouldn’t dart them, said Haas.

“We care about those horses a lot and want them back.”

Finally, Haas called Senator Craig Thomas, a family friend who he thought could help.
 
“When Craig called them, [they sang] a different song,” Haas said.

When asked about the Park’s willingness to help retrieve the horses, Skaggs commented that Park Rangers had tried to capture them several times and had been in touch with Haas. She did not know about any other specifics.

This week the Park Service has allowed Haas and a small group of riders to try and coax the horses down from Blacktail Butte.

On the first day, Haas and another rider were successful in leading the horses down the Butte toward the road by laying small amounts of hay.

The horses have been surviving by grazing and “seem to be healthy and finding food,” said Skaggs.

But, they have not been eating large quantities and Haas believes they are hungry and that laying food will help reacquaint the mustangs with humans.

Haas is trying to get close enough to “throw a loop,” or lasso the mustangs.

Another alternative would be forcing the horses down the hill and through a funnel of people and riders to the trailer.

“We love those horses,” said Haas. “We want them back.”

Nearing the end of the day Thursday, Haas, with the help of local non-profit Horse Warriors and some kind passersby, was successful in coaxing the horses into a makeshift pen at the bottom of the Butte.

"We were so happy we cried," said Sandy Maxon, Haas' mother.

Photo by Melanie Stein. Haas and friend begin their trek up Blacktail Butte to try and capture the mustangs.
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A tale of two mustangs | Planet JH News Article: General News

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