Horse Plan Includes Birth Control and Roundups for Wild Horses

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has unveiled a comprehensive 10-year plan to manage wild horses in the Pine Nut Mountains. This plan includes the use of contraceptives to reduce the necessity for roundups, aiming to maintain ecological balance and protect public lands.

The plan, approved by the BLM's Sierra Front Field Office, encompasses gathers, population growth control measures, public education and outreach, habitat improvement and restoration, and monitoring protocols.

Pine Nut Mountains Herd Management

The Pine Nut Mountains herd management area, designated for the management of wild horses and their habitat, is located in Carson City, Douglas, and Lyon counties. According to a December 2016 population survey, there were slightly more than 100 horses living outside the herd management area in the mountains above Johnson Lane and Fish Springs.

In December 2016, the BLM provided a 30-day public review and comment period for the draft Herd Management Area Plan (HMAP) and preliminary environmental assessment.

The BLM received a total of 5,045 comments, ranging from suggestions to remove all excess wild horses to not removing any. Most respondents favored using PZP, a contraceptive. Some recreationalists visiting the Pine Nuts expressed concerns about resource damage caused by excess wild horses, especially at springs.

Birth Control and Legal Challenges

Birth control using PZP was first tested in Fish Springs by the BLM with the help of the Pine Nut Wild Horse Advocates and the American Wild Horse Conservation (formerly American Wild Horse Campaign). However, it was halted after activists challenged the plan in court.

"While we support the BLM's decision to resume the PZP birth control program with our local partner, the Pine Nut Wild Horse Advocates, we are deeply concerned about the number of horses the BLM intends to remove from this public lands area," said Field Operations Director Deniz Bolbol. "We support the local community's strong commitment to the wild horses of the Pine Nut Mountains and urge the federal government to work with the local community to create a long-term, humane program to manage these cherished horses in their habitat without large-scale removals."

Current Wild Horse Population

According to the BLM, there were 579 wild horses on the range, or more than three times the number there should be. A census map shows 66 horses near the Fish Springs Area, but Bolbol said the agency only wants to manage 11-26 horses. Fish Springs lies outside the herd management area, and horses have been subject to gathers several times over the years.

For a copy of the final documents and maps, visit the BLM's website.

Wild Horse and Burro Specialist John Axtell may be contacted at PineNutHorses@blm.gov.

Environmental Assessment and Objectives

For this plan, the BLM has prepared an environmental assessment, finding of no significant impact, and a decision record to comply with the National Environmental Policy Act. The environmental assessment evaluated the direct, indirect, and cumulative effects from the HMAP and its alternatives.

The purpose of the plan is to address the following issues:

• Prevent the degradation of public lands within and outside the herd management area;
• Address nuisance and other wild horses residing outside the HMA in areas not managed for wild horse habitat or contributing to public safety concerns such as property damage and vehicle collisions;
• Address long-term population trends within and outside the herd management area;
• Manage wild horses in a manner that supports meeting Bi-State sage-grouse habitat objectives;
• Initiate an HMA suitability evaluation for Fish Springs.

Originally posted by The Record Courier.