Federal Agencies Announce New Management Plan for Pryor Mountain Wild Horse Range
Organization:
BLM Office:
Media Contact:
BILLINGS, Mont. — The Bureau of Land Management, in collaboration with the U.S. Forest Service, announced the development of an environmental assessment to implement a new Joint Herd Management Area Plan for the Pryor Mountain Wild Horse Range.
The plan establishes a unified federal strategy to manage the wild horse population across jurisdictional boundaries while ensuring compliance with the Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act of 1971. The EA specifically addresses prior federal court mandates to re-evaluate appropriate management levels to achieve a thriving natural ecological balance on the range.
"This joint plan is a critical step in ensuring the long-term health of both the rangeland and herd," said Nate Arave, BLM Billings Field Manager. “By using the best available science and a collaborative inter-agency approach, we are creating a sustainable future that protects these horses while maintaining the integrity of the ecosystem."
The plan sets a re-evaluated appropriate management level of 90–120 horses. This population range is designed to balance the herd’s needs with available water, vegetation, and wildlife habitat, preventing long-term land deterioration.
Key components of the management strategy include:
Specific provisions are included to manage for genetic diversity and protect the "Colonial Spanish Mustang" phenotype unique to the Pryor Mountain herd.
Employing a mix of fertility control and selective removals to maintain a diverse age structure and sex ratio.
Providing a robust, site-specific analysis of appropriate management levels and genetic patrilineal lines, directly addressing previous district court rulings.
The collaborative nature of the Herd Management Area Plan ensures a streamlined management approach between BLM and Forest Service lands, providing a consistent framework for land health standards.
The BLM received extensive public comment on the preliminary EA, March 14 through April 28, 2023. Comments and noteworthy changes are listed in the final draft of this document.
Public transparency remains a priority for the agencies. The EA, along with the Finding of No Significant Impact and Decision Record, are available for review on the BLM’s National NEPA Register.
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.