BLM Plans Challis Wild Horse Bait Trap Gather
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CHALLIS, ID – The Bureau of Land Management Challis Field Office announced today plans to conduct a bait trap gather of wild horses within the Challis Wild Horse Herd Management Area (CHMA) beginning later this month (depending on weather conditions). This is the first time a larger-scale bait trap operation has been attempted in the CHMA. The goal is to gather 150 horses, remove 50 and treat the returning mares with a fertility control vaccine to maintain the appropriate number of horses on the CHMA.
The CHMA is located southwest of the town of Challis, in Custer County. The Appropriate Management Level (AML) – the number of horses the range can support in conjunction with other animals and resource uses – for this area is 185 – 253 horses. The current population is estimated to be well over 280 animals. As the CHMA is home to priority sage-grouse habitat and under a 1983 court decree to maintain wild horse numbers within the AML, it is important to conduct this gather to reduce the population numbers.
Horses selected for removal will be transported to the Challis Wild Horse Corrals to be prepared for adoption.
Gathering wild horses using a bait trap is not conducive for capture site viewing opportunities. However, public viewing opportunities will be scheduled at the Challis Wild Horse Corrals and will be announced here: bit.ly/ChallisGather2017.
The supporting planning documents for the CHMA bait trap gather are available online at: bit.ly/
The gather will likely last into mid-April, though exact start and end dates will be determined by the contractor’s availability.
Those interested in viewing the horses at the Challis Wild Horse Corrals should contact Wild Horse and Burro Specialist Kevin Lloyd at (208) 879-6200 for more information.
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.