BLM Completes Post Roundup Population Survey for Twin Peaks Herd Management Area

The Bureau of Land Management has completed a post-roundup count of wild horses and burros in the Twin Peaks Herd Management Area (HMA), finding that 793 wild horses and 160 wild burros remain on the range.

BLM Northern California District Manager Nancy Haug noted that while the final population numbers are slightly over the upper end of the appropriate management level range set in the BLM’s land use planning process, she remains confident that the goals for the roundup were achieved.

“We made significant progress returning the Twin Peaks wild horse and burro herds to levels that the rangelands can sustain,” Haug said.  “Our goal is to ensure that healthy rangelands are supporting healthy herds of wild horses and burros in balance with other authorized rangeland users.”

The numbers were determined in a three-day, helicopter-based count involving two BLM resource specialists independently counting horses and burros.  The helicopter flew similar flight paths used in a mid-summer pre-roundup population survey that revealed 2,236 wild horses and 231 wild burros in the 800,000-acre herd management area along the California-Nevada border northeast of Susanville, Calif.

The Twin Peaks roundup was conducted over six weeks in August and September.  Crews captured 1,637 wild horses and removed 1,579 from the range.  A total of 160 wild burros were captured and removed.  The appropriate management levels for the HMA are 448-758 wild horses and 72-116 wild burros.

Animals removed from the range will be available for adoption this fall and winter at the BLM Litchfield Corrals near Susanville, at various satellite adoption locations across the country, and via internet adoptions.  Details will be announced.

Northern California District   355 Hemsted Drive Redding, CA 96002