05/30/2024
Many, if not all, of the McCullough Peaks wild horses were negatively impacted by the recent roundup. The 39 horses removed will never know freedom again, but some of the horses remaining on the range are having difficulty adjusting to the drastic changes they face. One such horse is the 18-year-old stallion, Running Bear. You may remember that Running Bear and his entire family were removed from the range and brought to short-term holding during the last week of the roundup. His family included co-lead stallion, 17-year-old S.S. Surprise; 19-year-old mare, Paintbrush, 19-year-old mare, Crowheart; 7-year-old mare, Lily, 13-year-old mare, Ms. Packman and Ms. Packman's 2023 c**t, Stormrider.
Running Bear, S.S. Surprise, Paintbrush and Crowheart were returned to the range at the conclusion of the roundup, but the younger members of Running Bear's family (Lily, Ms. Packman and Stormrider) were permanently removed. The family joined together immediately after release and even added the mare, Miley, to their family (Miley's entire family was removed during the roundup), but things have just not been right. Ever since his return, Running Bear has been very agitated. After the roundup, Running Bear began constantly lunging at all the other family bands. At first I thought he was trying to keep them away from his remaining family, perhaps trying to protect them, but after a while it was apparent that he was testing them, looking for weakness.
Running Bear eventually found weakness in the stallion, Tahlequah. Tahlequah not only lost many family members to the recent roundup, but he also lost his two loyal lieutenants, Thor and Tupi, to tragic accidents. For the first time that I can remember, Tahlequah is now alone with his mares, without a lieutenant to assist him. Running Bear has noticed this too, and now appears focused on taking Tahlequah's family from him.
During the last few weeks, I observed Running Bear not only performing the role of lieutenant to Tahlequah, but constantly do***ng the stallion and viciously battling with him. Running Bear continues to act as lead stallion in his own band with S.S. Surprise, but that role seems secondary to Running Bear's quest for Tahlequah's family. I'm not certain how this will end, but thus far, 14-year-old Tahlequah appears to be holding his own...and I hate to say this, but I have never seen Running Bear look so beat up. I'm hoping that Running Bear will give up this fight and return to his family before anyone gets seriously injured. We can't afford to lose any more of these precious horses ❤
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