Checking Out the Wild Mustangs
In case you hadn’t heard, next week is our annual Spring into Yellowstone Festival with a great lineup of events taking place May 11 through 15.
Between the activities, field trips and opportunities to meet new people, the week to me is a bit like Christmas, the fourth of July, and a Dan Miller concert all rolled up into one event. I find it hard to sleep some nights just thinking about it.
Join in one of the exciting experiences at the annual Spring Into Yellowstone Festival.
Our little town will be the “hub” for the festival with many of the “spokes” taking participants throughout the region. We will have registration, receptions, accommodations, meals and various social functions close by. I, however, cannot wait to get outside and enjoy activities like an Introduction to Rock Climbing, Wings of the Night bat watching (sorry, no “bat signal” lighting up the clouds for this one) and Wolves of Northwest Wyoming in the park’s Lamar Valley.
Enjoy interpretive hikes, an introduction to rock climbing, photography and more!
An excursion that I definitely want to take this year is the Wild Horses of the McCullough Peaks held each day May 12, 13 and 14.
Some people may not realize that there is a 15-mile stretch starting 12 miles east of town on 110,000 acres that the Bureau of Land Management has designated a Wild Horse Management Area. There we will see a herd of wild mustangs as they live and roam throughout this chunk of land.
Under the guidance of the non-profit Friends of a Legacy (F.O.A.L.), we will make around five stops at various points to observe, learn about and ask questions related to the wild horses. Topics covered will include population control, water supplies, grazing and other issues.
The wild mustangs of the McCullough Peaks roam nearly 110,000 acres.
I will make sure I have my binoculars and camera. In the past I have observed horses playing and even rearing back to fight for dominance. One time I was looking through my binoculars when I saw a flash of light and quickly heard a huge clap of thunder. The horses were spooked and took off to the east where we caught up with them about a half hour later.
In addition to the wild mustangs, the area is home to pronghorn, various song birds, ravens, golden eagles, and prairie rattlesnakes.
But to me, it is all about the horses.
Until next week, I am lovin’ life in Cody, Wyo.
