BLM to begin Cedar Mountain Herd Management Area wild horse gather and population growth suppression
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SALT LAKE CITY— The Bureau of Land Management Salt Lake Field Office will begin operations to gather approximately 700 wild horses in proximity of the Cedar Mountain Herd Management Area, located west of Tooele in northwestern Utah, beginning Saturday, Sept. 17. The gather is expected to last approximately 14 days and the public is invited to observe operations from a safe distance. Public observation will begin on Monday, Sept. 19, following two days of gather operations at Dugway Proving Ground, an Army facility not open to the public.
“The Cedar Mountain Horse Management Area wild horse gather supports the BLM’s continuing efforts to manage public lands for multiple use and sustained yield and to manage wild horse populations under the Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act of 1971,” said BLM Salt Lake Field Manager Jessica Wade. “The BLM is committed to healthy horses on healthy rangelands and maintaining a balanced ecosystem.”
The public is invited to observe daily gather operations through BLM-escorted opportunities, if conditions remain safe for both the horses and participants and gather operations are not disrupted. Observers must provide their own transportation, water and food; no public restrooms will be available. The BLM recommends wearing weather-appropriate footwear and neutral-colored clothing. Binoculars and four-wheel drive or other high-clearance vehicles are also strongly recommended due to terrain and potential weather conditions. Details regarding viewing opportunities will be announced daily on the BLM gather hotline at 801-539-4050.
Beginning Monday, Sept. 19, daily escorted convoys of individuals interested in observing the gather will depart promptly at 5:30 a.m. from the Flying J Travel Center located at 1605 Saddleback Blvd. in Lake Point, Utah.
Specific horses will be selected from those gathered and returned to the herd management area after receiving population growth suppression to help reduce the birth rate of area horses. The appropriate management level for this herd management area is from 190 to 390 animals with a current estimated population of 920 horses, including foals born this year. Horses removed from the range will be transported to the BLM-contracted Axtell off-range corrals in Axtell, Utah.
Public lands will remain open unless closures are deemed necessary to protect public safety; brief road closures may be necessary to allow movement of horses during gather operations. Outdoor recreationists and visitors near the gather area should be aware of low-flying helicopters used during the helicopter drive-trapping method. During the gather, no recreational use of drones will be allowed in the Cedar Mountain Herd Management Area and surrounding lands within and near the Cedar Mountain Wilderness Area.
Gather updates and information will be posted on the BLM’s website at: https://on.doi.gov/3QwF3di. The BLM (@BLMUtah) will also post updates on Twitter using the hashtag #CedarMtGather. To learn more about how to adopt or purchase a wild horse or burro, visit the BLM National Wild Horse and Burro website at www.blm.gov/whb or call 866-468-7826.
For additional information or for reasonable accommodations to participate, please contact Lisa Reid at 435-743-3128.
The BLM manages more than 245 million acres of public land located primarily in 12 western states, including Alaska, on behalf of the American people. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. Our mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of America’s public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations.