BLM to start emergency wild horse gather in Jackson Mountains

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Winnemucca District, Black Rock Field Office has issued a Decision Record for an environmental assessment (EA) for the Jackson Mountains wild horse gather. The decision is issued in full force and effect to begin gathering 630 excess wild horses on June 8 because of drought conditions in the herd management area (HMA) which is about 60 miles northwest of Winnemucca in Humboldt and Pershing counties. “The BLM is closely monitoring the condition of the wild horses in the southern end of the Jackson Mountain HMA,” said District Manager Gene Seidlitz. “It is necessary for the health of the horses to get the excess animals off the range now before their condition worsens.” “The BLM started hauling water to troughs last month,” Seidlitz added. “There is minimal to no green up occurring on this year’s forge. The wild horses in the southern end of the HMA are foraging on last year’s cheatgrass and shrubs and their condition is declining.” The estimated population is 930 wild horses, which includes the 2012 foal crop. The Appropriate Management Level (AML) for the Jackson Mountains HMA is 130 to 217 wild horses. This gather will not achieve the desired low AML of 130 wild horses on the range, and there will be two to three follow-up gathers over the next 10 years...more