2018 National BLM Wild Horse and Burro Advisory Board Meeting: Key Highlights
2018 National BLM Wild Horse and Burro Advisory Board Meeting
October 9-11
Salt Lake City, Utah
The 2018 National BLM Wild Horse and Burro Advisory Board Meeting in Salt Lake City, Utah, addressed critical issues surrounding the management of wild horses and burros on public lands. Key discussions included the roles and responsibilities of the Advisory Board, the BLM's approach to managing wild horse populations, and the introduction of new board members. The meeting also covered the challenges of overpopulation, habitat degradation, and the need for sustainable management practices.
Meeting Agenda and Key Presentations
Link to Agenda: BLM Wild Horse Advisory Board Agenda 2018
Opening Remarks
Kristin Ball, Assistant Director for Resources and Planning – Ms. Ball introduced the three newly appointed members who will serve a three-year term:
- Ms. Celeste Carlisle – Wild horse and Burro Advocacy
- Dr. Thomas Lenz – Veterinary Medicine
- Dr. Barry Perryman – Public Interest with special knowledge about protection of wild horses and burros, management of wildlife, animal husbandry or natural resource management
Advisory Board Members: Contact Information
BLM's Approach to Challenges
Brian Steed, Deputy Director for Policy and Programs, BLM – Mr. Steed discussed the consequences of overpopulation, including habitat degradation and competition with wildlife. He emphasized the need for roundups, removals, and fertility control to manage the wild horse populations effectively.
Program Overviews
Bruce Rittenhouse, Acting Division Chief, WH&B Program, BLM – Mr. Rittenhouse presented FY 2018 data on the BLM’s WH&B Program, highlighting the challenges of low adoption rates and increasing herd numbers.
Hope Woodward, Rangeland Program Manager, WH&B Program/USFS – Ms. Woodward provided an overview of the USFS’s WH&B program, noting the need for AML reviews and the challenges of managing wild horse populations on national forest lands.
Research and Adoption Initiatives
Dr. Paul Griffin, Research Coordinator, WH&B Program, BLM – Dr. Griffin reported on Population Growth Suppression Projects, including research on PZP vaccines and spaying.
Holle’ Waddell, Off-Range Branch Chief, WH&B Program, BLM – The BLM announced a $1,000 adoption incentive program to encourage more adoptions and reduce holding costs.
Panel Discussions and Public Comments
The panel discussions focused on achieving a balance between healthy horses and rangelands. Public comments highlighted concerns about the BLM’s management practices and the impact of livestock grazing on public lands.
Advisory Board Recommendations
- Encourage BLM to roundup horses in HMAs that are over AML and reliant on supplemental water. PASS (unanimous)
- Support programs like the Mustang Heritage Foundation Trainer Incentive Program. PASS (unanimous)
- Encourage volunteer and partnership opportunities for fertility control and adoption. PASS (unanimous)
- Support the Great Lakes Marketing Research Report recommendations. PASS (unanimous)
- Collaborate with military and veteran organizations for adoption and fertility control. PASS (unanimous)
- Accept Option 1 from the report to Congress as the preferred path forward. 5-2 MOTION CARRIES
- Support ongoing research and funding for humane permanent sterilization. 5-2 MOTION CARRIES
- Collaborate with equine advocacy groups to decrease unadoptable horse and burro inventories. PASSES (unanimous)
- Focus resources to achieve AML in the next 3-5 years. 1-2-4 MOTION CARRIES
- Initiate emergency roundups where necessary. PASSES (unanimous)
- Implement reversible fertility control vaccines. PASSES
- Develop a national database to track treated mares. 6-1 PASSES
- Prefer non-lethal management options when possible. MOTION CARRIES
Next Meeting
No definite date was set for the next Advisory Board meeting, although members wanted to schedule it before March 31, 2019, in Washington, DC.