BLM Releases Decision for Red Desert Wild Horse Roundup

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has issued its decision on a proposed wild horse gather in Wyoming’s Red Desert Wild Horse Herd Management Area Complex. This decision aims to manage the wild horse population effectively while ensuring the protection of sage-grouse habitats and administeringfertility controlmeasures.

Wild Horse Management Plan

TheBLMRawlins and Lander field offices will gather and remove wild horses at a future date that has yet to be determined. The agency stated that this action will help return populations to within appropriate management levels, ensure the long-term viability of sage-grouse populations within the complex, and help theBLMadminister the PZP-22fertility controlvaccine to mares that will be returned to the complex.

Location and Population Details

The Red Desert Complex—which includes the Antelope Hills, Crooks Mountain, Green Mountain, Lost Creek, and Stewart Creekherd management areas—is located in Sweetwater, Carbon, Fremont, and Natrona counties west and south of Wyoming Highway 287.

Based on recent aerial surveys, theBLMestimates that the Red Desert Complex's population is approaching 3,000 horses; it has set the appropriate management level for the complex at less than 724 horses. Additionally, the horses are moving outside of their establishedherd management areasand causing impacts in areas not identified for their management, the agency said.

Environmental Assessment and Review

The environmental assessment, finding of no significant impact, and decision record are available on theBLMwebsite atbit.ly/Red_Desert_Gather. The decision is subject to administrative review through the appeal process, which is outlined in the decision record.

Population Growth and Adoption

TheBLMnoted that wild horse herd sizes can double every four to five years. To maintain wild horses in good physical condition and protect the health of public land, theBLMmust manage their population growth.

Wild horses that are removed will be available for adoption to qualified applicants. To learn more about theBLM’s Wild Horse and Burro Program and adopting a Wyoming wild horse, visitblm.gov/whbor contact the national information center at 866/468-7826 orwildhorse@blm.gov.

Contact Information

For more information about the future Red Desert wild horse gather, contact Tim Novotny at 307/328-4200 or Clay Stott at 307/332-8400.

Originally posted by The Horse