BLM Gathers 300 Wild Horses After Fire Destroys Habitat

OWYHEE COUNTY, Idaho -- The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is undertaking a significant operation to relocate 300 wild horses after the devastating Soda Fire, which burned over 283,000 acres in Owyhee County. This wildfire severely impacted the habitat of various wildlife species, including those in three Wild Horse Herd Management Areas (HMAs).

These HMAs, as termed by the BLM, span thousands of acres each. Sands Basin, the smallest, supports about 70 horses, while Hardtrigger HMA has 150 horses, and Black Mountain HMA is home to 80 horses. Both Sands Basin and Hardtrigger were completely burned in the Soda Fire, leaving only small patches of unburned land where the horses have gathered.

Unfortunately, these small islands cannot sustain the herds through winter due to the lack of forage. Consequently, the BLM decided to relocate all horses from Sands Basin and Hardtrigger, and about a third from Black Mountain. The emergency gather began Thursday in the Sands Basin HMA.

At sunrise, a helicopter hovered over an unburned area about one square mile in size, herding the wild horses towards a "trap."

"The wings of the trap are set up like a funnel, guiding the horses into the corral. We then sort them and transport them to the Boise Wild Horse Corrals," explained Heather Tiel-Nelson, a public affairs specialist for the BLM.

A veterinarian will examine each horse. The fire and its aftermath have already claimed 35 horses, and officials hope to prevent further losses.

"These horses have endured a lot. The Soda Fire stressed them significantly, compounded by the lack of forage and fire suppression activities," noted Jason Lutterman, a public affairs specialist for the Wild Horse and Burro Program.

The gather initially seemed promising as a large group of horses approached the trap but then bypassed it.

"These Sands Basin horses are very smart. They've been captured before and are wary of the trap location," said Tiel-Nelson.

After several attempts, the BLM decided to relocate the trap. With much of the land charred, options were limited. Lutterman explained that they aim to position traps as close to the horses as possible, restricting them to the unburned basin.

The goal is to make the gather as stress-free as possible for the horses.

"It's a pressure and release technique. The pilot expertly applies pressure to guide the horses in the right direction and releases it when they naturally move towards the trap," Tiel-Nelson described.

This process can take several hours, and the BLM is prepared to take the necessary time. While the Sands Basin gather was scheduled to conclude Thursday, the larger areas of Hardtrigger and Black Mountain will require multiple trap locations and could take several days.

All horses will be transported to the Boise Wild Horse Corrals. Some will then move to larger corrals in Nevada, and others will eventually return to their HMA once the land recovers sufficiently to support a full herd. Approximately 100 horses will be available for adoption.

The BLM will offer public tours to observe the horses at the corrals starting Monday, Aug. 31. Tours will run each weekday from 1-2 p.m.

Directions to the Boise Wild Horse Corrals: From Interstate 84, exit on Orchard Street (Exit 52) and go south for approximately 1.7 miles, which turns into West Gowen Road. Continue for 0.5 mile. Turn right (south) on Pleasant Valley Road and go approximately 4 miles. Turn right at the "Wild Horse Corrals."

Originally Posted By KTVB