BLM plans to gather 305 wild horses from the CHMA. Of the 305 horses gathered, 174 will be removed from the Challis Wild Horse Herd Management Area (CHMA) to maintain the Appropriate Management Level (AML) of 185 horses. Up to 131 of the captured wild horses would be released; of these, about 52 would be mares treated with fertility control and about 79 would be stallions or a minimal number of geldings that were released in 2009, to maintain the current 60% male/40% female sex ratio identified in the 1989 Challis Herd Management Plan and implemented in 2009.   The gather is expected to last 6 – 8 days depending on the weather.

Since the passage of the Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act (WFRHBA) of 1971, management knowledge regarding wild horse population levels has increased. By law, BLM is required to remove excess animals once a determination has been made that excess animals are present and removal is necessary. Decreasing removal numbers while reducing population growth rates and ensuring the welfare of wild horses on the range is pertinent to the BLM’s National Wild Horse and Burro Act program goals and consistent with findings and recommendations from the American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP), which recently issued a BLM Task Force Report in August 2011 following their evaluation of handling procedures and animal welfare at wild horse gathers, and short and long term sorting/holding facilities. 

Any potential gather-related impacts have been analyzed in the Challis Herd Management Area Gather Environmental Assessment.

Details of the Gather

As the gather progresses, BLM will continue to provide updates on horse numbers, horse conditions, and other gather-related information on the BLM Idaho website, which will be updated daily.  A Daily Gather Report page will be available when the gather begins.   

Adoption

Wild horses removed from the HMAs will be made available for adoption. Animals for which there is no adoption demand will be placed in long-term pastures where they will be humanely cared for and retain their “wild” status and protection under the 1971 Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act. The BLM does not sell or send any horses to slaughter.

Learn More about the Adoption Program

Background

The Challis HMA is managed by the BLM Idaho Falls District, Challis field office. The Challis Herd Management Area (or HMA) is located in the heart of Idaho at the East Fork of the Salmon River and encompasses 154,150 acres. The herd area is bordered on the north by the Salmon River, on the west by the East Fork of the Salmon River, on the south by the ridgeline between Herd Creek and Road Creek and on the east by U.S. Highway 93. 

The last wild horse gather of the CHMA occurred in July 2009, when 366 horses were captured, 141 horses were removed, 167 horses were released back into the CHMA. The 167 horses that were released joined 57 horses that were not gathered, resulting in a 2009 post-gather population of 224 horses.

Challis Gather Information Line Please call 208-879-6251 if you would like to attend the Challis gather. This number will have a recording with information about where to meet BLM staff so you can attend the gather. The meeting time and other pertinent information will be updated daily, as gathers are fluid operations and sometimes, weather or other factors affect meeting times and locations. If you plan to attend the gather, please leave a message indicating your attendance and the number of people in your party.

*All observers will meet at the Challis Field Office in Challis, Idaho at 6:30 a.m. If this location or meeting time changes, the information phone line will be updated with the most current information.

Visitor Protocols

Inclement weather, a gather location inaccessible to the public, or lack of gather operations on a given day (trap moving, equipment problems, etc.) will cancel the observation outing for that day. Cancellations will often not be known before the 6:30 a.m. meeting time

Because of the fluidity of gather operations, be prepared for the possibility of waiting at gather locations for hours without seeing any actual wild horse gathering.

Observers must provide their own 4-wheel drive high clearance vehicle, appropriate shoes, clothing, food and water.

Observers are prohibited from riding in government and contractor vehicles and equipment.

BLM representatives will escort visitors to and from the gather and/or temporary holding facility during designated observation days.

Individuals will be directed to the designated observation area by BLM personnel and informed of behavioral rules (such as remaining quiet and still to ensure a safe and effective gather operation).

Observers are prohibited from climbing/trespassing onto or in the trucks, equipment or corrals, which is the private property of the contractor.

When BLM is using a helicopter or other heavy equipment in close proximity to a designated observation area, members of the public may be asked to stay by their vehicle for some time before being directed to an observation area once the use of the helicopter or the heavy machinery is complete.

When given the signal that the helicopter is close to the gather site bringing wild horses in, visitors must sit down in areas specified by BLM representatives and must not move or talk as the horses are guided into the corral.

Visitors must direct their questions/comments to either the designated BLM representative or the BLM spokesperson on site, and not engage other BLM/contractor staff and disrupt their gather duties/responsibilities - professional and respectful behavior is expected of all.

Individuals attempting to move outside a designated observation area will be requested to move back to the designated area or to leave the site. Failure to do so may result in citation or arrest. It is important to stay within the designated observation area to safely observe the wild horse gather.

Visitors who do not cooperate and follow the rules will be escorted off the gather site by BLM law enforcement personnel, and will be prohibited from participating in any subsequent observation days.

BLM reserves the right to alter these rules based on changes in circumstances that may pose a risk to health, public safety or the safety of wild horses (such as weather, lightning, wildfire, etc.

There are no facilities, including restrooms, in the HMAs.

Cell service is very limited or nonexistent in much of the HMAs. Plan to be out of range    for most of the day.

Arrive at the meeting place with a full tank of gas.

Roads are rugged and rocky. A high-clearance, four wheel drive vehicle is strongly recommended. Your tires must be in good condition and you should have a fully inflated spare and tire changing equipment.

Be prepared for weather extremes. Check the forecast the night before to ensure that you are prepared and dressed appropriately.

Parking will be limited at many gather locations. Be prepared to hike into some observation locations, Wear sturdy boots as some hikes could be arduous involving steep and rocky terrain. Hiking requirements will be explained at each morning briefing.

Binoculars and a camera with a telephoto lens are strongly recommended.

Dress in earth tones. Brightly-colored clothing can be a distraction to the horses.

For more information on the Wild Horse and Burro Program, call 866-468-7826 or email wildhorse@blm.gov