BLM seeks input on management of wild horses in the Red Desert
LANDER, Wyo. – The Bureau of Land Management is seeking public input on the scoping notice for updated wild horse herd management area plans in the Red Desert Complex. These updates will guide future management of wild horses across five herd management areas in Wyoming’s Red Desert.
The Lander Field Office and Rawlins Field Office are preparing updates to herd management area plans for the Antelope Hills, Crooks Mountain, Green Mountain, Lost Creek, and Stewart Creek herd management areas (HMAs), referred to collectively as the Red Desert Complex. Existing herd evaluations for these areas are more than 30 years old and require revision.
Current wild horse populations exceed the appropriate management level (AML) established for the HMAs. The current AML for the complex is 480-724. By the fall of 2026, there are projected to be approximately 2,300 wild horses in the complex. Chronic herd overpopulation damages habitats and can lead to starvation and thirst for the animals.
The BLM is committed to maintaining healthy wild horses on healthy, productive public rangelands. Public input is valuable early in the process and will enable the BLM to develop a well-informed environmental assessment. Comments should be submitted by May 4, 2026, through the BLM National NEPA Register at: https://eplanning.blm.gov/Project-Home/?id=6c9a6ab7-c027-f111-8341-001dd804183b.
When including personal identifying information with your comment, such as address, phone number or email address, be advised that it may be made publicly available at any time. The BLM cannot guarantee to withhold personal identifying information from public review.
The scoping notice, management evaluation, and all other future documents corresponding with this action will be posted at: https://eplanning.blm.gov/Project-Home/?id=6c9a6ab7-c027-f111-8341-001dd804183b.
For more information, please contact the Lander Field Office at 307-332-8400 or the Rawlins Field Office at 307-328-4200.
The BLM manages about 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.