BLM concludes the Four Mile Wild Horse Herd Management Area gather
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BOISE, Idaho–Today the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) concluded the Four Mile Herd Management Area (HMA) gather near Emmett that removed 215 wild horses from public lands during gather operations lasting two days. An aerial census flight will be conducted next week to determine the number of horses remaining on the range.
“After weeks of monitoring this herd, I could really see a decline in body condition score in some of the horses that we gathered this week,” said Raul Trevino, BLM Boise District Wild Horse and Burro Specialist. “Severe drought has reduced forage and water availability in the HMA, so it was important that we gathered when we did.”
A ratio of studs and mares will be released to the range to reach the low end of the Appropriate Management Level of 37. The mares will be treated with a fertility control vaccine prior to release.
The purpose of the gather was to reduce overpopulation of wild horses within the HMA, to prevent further degradation of the public lands associated with excess wild horses and restore a thriving natural ecological balance and multiple-use relationship on public lands. It was conducted in compliance with the provisions of Section 1333(b) of the 1971 Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act.
The BLM transported wild horses removed from the range to the Boise Off-Range Wild Horse Corral facility to be readied for the BLM’s wild horse and burro Adoption and Sale Program. An opportunity for those interested in viewing the horses will be set for late September.
Additional gather information and photos and video is available on the BLM website at https://on.doi.gov/3zHxTLB.
For more information, contact Heather Tiel-Nelson, BLM Idaho Wild Horse and Burro Public Affairs Specialist, at 208-736-2352 or hnelson@blm.gov.
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.