BLM Approves Controversial Roundup of 140 Wild Horses in Utah

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has announced a controversial decision to gather and remove 140 wild horses from the Bible Spring Complex in southwestern Utah. This decision has sparked significant opposition from wild horseadvocacygroups.

Despite opposition from wild-horse groups, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) announced Monday a decision to gather and remove excess horses in the Bible Spring Complex of southwestern Utah.

The Cedar City Field Office of theBLMsigned the decision authorizing the gathering of about 140 animals from the Blawn Wash Herd Management in July.

That’s just the beginning of management tactics approved to reduce the number of wild horses, now estimated at 755, down to the number that the agency deems appropriate — about 100 horses. The"Bible Spring Complex Gather, Removal and Fertility Treatment Plan"calls for up to four round-ups over a six-to-10-year period. It also authorizes the use offertility control.

But Deniz Bolbol, communications director for the American Wild Horse Conservation (formerly American Wild Horse Preservation), said theBLMshouldn’t be removing any horses.

The group says theBLMhorse count is inaccurate and contends the agency is caving to "bullying" by ranchers.

A battle between the counties and theBLMstarted this spring as ranchers stated there were too many animals sharing a rangeland threatened by drought. The counties threatened to perform a roundup of their own if theBLMdid not reduce the numbers of wild horses.

Alawsuithas been filed against theBLMby ranchers demanding wild horses be kept within established limits.

Meanwhile, wild horse advocates are petitioning the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to list wild horses as threatened or endangered, which would trigger protections for herds in 10 Western states.

The Bible Spring Complex comprises four herd management areas — Bible Spring, Blawn Wash, Tilly Creek and Four Mile — located in western Iron and Beaver counties, approximately 30 miles west of Minersville.

Originally Posted By Salt Lake Tribune