BLM seeks public comment on proposed Sand Wash wild horse bait-trapping
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CRAIG, Colo. – The Bureau of Land Management is seeking public comment on a proposal to bait-trap wild horses in northwestern Colorado’s Sand Wash Basin in order to administer fertility treatments and remove up to 50 horses.
The BLM is proposing to use a bait-trapping method in which wild horses in and around the Sand Wash Herd Management Area would be attracted to corrals. While confined in a corral, BLM employees and Sand Wash Advocacy Team (SWAT) members would identify mares that would be treated with a contraceptive called PZP, which delays fertilization, before being released back to the range. Up to 50 young wild horses would be removed for placement in the Great Escape Mustang Sanctuary (GEMS) training and adoption program.
“Our partnership with SWAT and GEMS has been vital to meeting our goal of maintaining the health of the Sand Wash wild horses and the lands they depend upon,” said BLM Northwest District Manager Joe Meyer.
The BLM manages the area for up to 362 wild horses, but the current population exceeds 600, a number that poses a serious risk to the area’s ecological balance. Treating mares and removing some young horses should help check the growth of the Sand Wash Herd.
The BLM seeks comment on the Environmental Assessment of this gather plan, available at the Little Snake Field Office at 455 Emerson St., Craig, CO 81625 and online at: http://1.usa.gov/23gJg6W. Public comments will be most helpful to the BLM if received by Sept. 4, 2016. Written comments can be mailed to the Little Snake Field Office or submitted via email to blm_co_sandwash_hma@blm.gov.
Before including your address, phone number, e-mail address, or any other personal identifying information in your comment, you should be aware that your entire comment, including personal identifying information, may be made publicly available at any time. While individuals may request BLM to withhold personal identifying information from public view, the BLM cannot guarantee it will be able to do so.
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.