BLM issues draft environmental assessment on wild horse gather
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SOCORRO, N.M. – The Bureau of Land Management has released its draft environmental assessment for a proposed wild horse gather in northern New Mexico and is seeking public input.
The BLM estimates the wild horse population of the Border Atravesado Herd Management Area to be approximately 230 animals as of August 4, which exceeds the cumulative appropriate management level of 40-50 animals by about 82 percent. The gather would help to achieve a thriving natural ecological balance, achieve and maintain wild horse appropriate management level, collect information on herd characteristics, determine herd health, maintain sustainable rangelands, and maintain a healthy wild horse population within the Bordo Atravesado Herd Management Area.
The proposed gather would remove 190 of the 230 wild horses present in the Bordo Atravesado Herd Management Area. Animals removed from public lands would be prepared for adoption to qualified homes or transferred to an off-range pasture for long-term care. The gather will apply a water trap method, which uses existing corrals containing human-created sources of water to attract animals to the gather area. As they approach, a gate will close behind them. The corral area will be checked multiple times per day to ensure that horses have adequate feed and water and will be stressed as little as possible.
The release of the draft environmental assessment launches a 30-day public review of the proposed action. Public input is valuable in the process and will enable the BLM to develop a well-informed analysis.
Written comments should be received by Aug. 28, 2022. Comments may be submitted via the ePlanning website at https://eplanning.blm.gov/eplanning-ui/project/2020697/570. Alternatively, comments may be mailed to: BLM Socorro Field Office, 901 South Highway 85, Socorro, N.M. 87801-4168.
Before including your address, phone number, email address, or other identifying information in your comment, you should be aware that your entire comment – including your identifying information – may be made publicly available at any time. While you may ask us in your comment to withhold your identifying information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so.
If you have further questions, please contact BLM Natural Resource Specialist Bethany Rosales at brosales@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.