BLM Seeks Public Input on Wild Horse Bait-Trapping in Sand Wash Basin

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is seeking public comment on a proposal to bait-trap wild horses in northwestern Colorado’s Sand Wash Basin. The plan aims to administer fertility treatments and remove up to 50 horses to maintain ecological balance.

BLM's Bait-Trapping Proposal

The BLM proposes using a bait-trapping method to attract wild horses into corrals within the Sand Wash Herd Management Area. While confined, mares will be identified and treated with a contraceptive called PZP, which delays fertilization, before being released back to the range. Up to 50 young wild horses will be removed for placement in the Great Escape Mustang Sanctuary 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,” BLM Northwest District Manager Joe Meyer said.

The BLM manages the area for up to 362 wild horses, but the current population exceeds 600, posing a serious risk to the area’s ecological balance.

Public Input and Environmental Assessment

Treating mares and removing some young horses should help control the growth of the Sand Wash Herd. The BLM seeks comments 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: 1.usa.gov/23gjg6w. Public comments will be most helpful if received by Sept. 4. Written comments can be mailed to the Little Snake Field Office or submitted via email to [email protected].

Before including personal information in your comments, be aware that your entire comment, including personal identifying information, may be made publicly available. While individuals may request BLM withhold personal identifying information from public view, the BLM cannot guarantee it will be able to do so.

Community Events

Northwest Colorado Health Schedules Mixer

Northwest Colorado Health and Craig Chamber of Commerce are hosting a mixer to celebrate National Health Center Week. The event will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday at Northwest Colorado Health, 745 Russell St. The mixer will include food, drinks, and door prizes. Tickets for the Rubber Ducky Race, on Aug. 27, will be available for $10 each. RSVP to the Chamber at 970-824-5689.

Originally posted by Craig Daily Press.