For Immediate Release September 2, 2004
Contact:  Mel Lloyd: 970-244-3097

Wild horse gather scheduled for Little Book Cliffs

GRAND JUNCTION, Colo.—The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Grand Junction field office (GJFO) will gather approximately 80 horses from the Little Book Cliffs Wild Horse Range, located north of Grand Junction, starting Oct. 2, 2004. The Friends of the Mustangs, a local wild horse volunteer group, will assist BLM with the gather and subsequent adoption of these horses.

The BLM manages the Little Book Cliffs’ herd size to ensure a balance between horse numbers and rangeland health guided by the established Appropriate Management Level (AML), the number of horses that can thrive on the range while maintaining a healthy plant community. Rangeland health is determined by vegetative monitoring studies. Excessive horse numbers combined with prolonged drought have created the need for this gather, which is scheduled regularly to ensure adequate food for sustaining a healthy herd of up to 150 horses.

As required by law, a public hearing will be held at 7 p.m., Thu. Sept. 9, at the BLM office located at 2815 H Rd. in Grand Junction to discuss using helicopters for this gather.

Following the gather, the horses will be available for adoption with bidding starting at 10 a.m., Sat. Oct. 9, at the Sheriff’s Posse Grounds located at 25 and F½ Rds. in Grand Junction. Horses may be viewed Fri. evening, Oct. 8 at that location. Applicants must be at least 18 years old and provide adopted animals with a corral at least 400 sq. ft. (20 x 20) in size with 6 ft. high fences constructed of pole, pipe or plank, as well as a shelter for protection from severe weather. Individuals interested in adopting a horse should visit the BLM GJFO at the above address to initiate the adoption procedure and ensure their holding facilities meet BLM requirements. For further information, contact Jim Dollerschell, BLM rangeland management specialist, at (970) 244-3016.

 - BLM -