BLM NEWS RELEASE
After adjusting the sex ratio of 60 percent studs and 40 percent mares, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) released 24 studs back into the Little Humboldt Herd Management Area (HMA) at approximately 9 a.m. today (Sunday). The BLM also applied fertility control on 23 Little Humboldt mares, which were released back into the HMA at approximately 11:30 a.m.
“Applying fertility control and adjusting the sex ratios will have considerable benefits to the wild horses and the BLM,” said Ron Wenker, BLM Nevada State Director. “Slowing down the population growth rate will help us achieve and maintain the appropriate management levels in the HMA, and prolong the time before another gather will be required to remove excess wild horses.”
Three members of the public were present on Sunday to observe the fertility application process. The observers also had the opportunity to film and photograph the mares being released back into the Little Humboldt HMA.
Gather operations have suspended for the day. The BLM contractor is relocating the gather corrals to a new location near the Rock Creek area and will resume gather operations Monday early morning.
The BLM anticipates removing approximately 425 excess wild horses that have moved outside the Rock Creek HMA. These excess wild horses are causing considerable impacts to rangeland resources on public and adjacent private lands, as well as impacts to habitat for the Lahontan cutthroat trout.
On Saturday, the contractor shipped 46 horses (25 mares, 21 foals) to the Palomino Valley Center near Sparks, Nev. The animals arrived without incident or injury, and are being closely monitored, provided good feed, water and veterinarian care if needed.
The 214 excess wild horses from the Owyhee HMA that were shipped to the Gunnison Prison Wild Horse Training Facility at the Central Utah Correctional Facility during the past week are stable, and have adjusted to the grass hay and watering trough without incident. None of those animals have died.
During the next several months the animals will be wormed, vaccinated, and freeze marked, and all 12 month and older studs will be gelded. Once the wild horses have fully recovered, they will be made available for adoption to qualified applicants through the BLM’s Adopt-A-Wild Horse or Burro Program. The public may visit the BLM’s website at www.blm.gov for more information about adopting a wild horse or burro.
As more information becomes available it will be posted at the website: http://www.blm.gov/nv/st/en/fo/elko_field_office.html. For further comments and questions, the public may call 1-866-468-7826.
The BLM manages more land – more than 245 million acres – than any other Federal agency. This land, known as the National System of Public Lands, is primarily located in 12 Western states, including Alaska. The Bureau, with a budget of about $1 billion, also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. The BLM’s multiple-use mission is to sustain the health and productivity of the public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations. The Bureau accomplishes this by managing such activities as outdoor recreation, livestock grazing, mineral development, and energy production, and by conserving natural, historical, cultural, and other resources on public lands.
