Protesters Oppose Wild Horse Roundup Plans Near Gardnerville

Protesters have gathered to voice their opposition to the Bureau of Land Management's (BLM) plan to round up 50 wild horses near Gardnerville. The rally, held outside the BLM State Office in Reno, attracted around 50 people who chanted slogans like "Hey hey BLM, why not let our horses stay?" and "We love our mustangs."

This July, the BLM plans to remove and prepare for adoption up to 50 horses from Fish Springs near Gardnerville. This decision has faced significant pushback from community members who appreciate the horses' presence and believe they contribute to local tourism.

On Tuesday, members of the Pine Nut Wild Horse Advocates and the American Wild Horse Conservation (formerly American Wild Horse Campaign) delivered approximately 170,000 petition signatures from supporters worldwide to BLM State Director Michael Courtney.

Less than a week earlier, 300 residents gathered at the Fish Springs Volunteer Fire Department to discuss the roundup decision. Despite the community's interest, BLM staff did not attend the meeting, citing "no additional information or comment" in an email to the Advocates.

The wild horse groups aim to persuade the BLM to reduce the number of horses removed and allow nonprofits to continue volunteer darting operations with contraceptives. "We've already darted 35 mares and boosted about half of them just in 2018," said Deb Walker, president of Pine Nut Wild Horse Advocates. "It's done by 100 percent volunteers with 100 percent donations."

The groups also advocate for keeping all family bands intact. "People come from all over the world to see our horses. We have 44,000 world followers on Facebook," Walker added. "They bring tax dollars into our community, and this will unfortunately curb that if they are gone."

However, the BLM argues that it operates under a federal mandate to manage wild horse populations, as overpopulation threatens the habitat and resources for other native wildlife. "Currently, the range in that Pine Nuts area cannot support the number of horses along with the natural wildlife," said Jenny Lesieutre, Nevada wild horse and burro public affairs specialist at BLM.

As of March 1, the Pine Nut Herd Management Area had a wild horse population of about 775, while the high appropriate management level is 179. Fish Springs is located just outside this management area, but horses frequently cross the boundary, according to Lesieutre.

Lesieutre noted that there isn't enough water and food in the Fish Springs habitat to support the current population. This issue is prevalent across Nevada, which has 44,000 wild horses—nearly three and a half times the agency's high appropriate management level.

Darting contraception is only 68-86 percent effective, Lesieutre explained, and it merely slows population growth. "It is a great tool once you're at appropriate management levels because it extends the time between necessary removals," she said.

The BLM last rounded up 67 wild horses outside the management area in November 2010, including a herd in Fish Springs. The contraceptive pilot program began in 2014, was temporarily halted in 2016, and reinstated the following year.

Ultimately, it's unclear if the petition will alter the BLM's plans for this month's roundup. "I couldn't answer that. We are mandated by law to manage horses," Lesieutre stated. "Management means not letting them breed prolifically and destroy other wildlife. We are following Congress's mandates for the long-term benefit of the horses."

Pine Nut Wild Horse Advocates' Walker also couldn't predict the outcome. "This is Washington telling the local BLM what they have to do," Walker said. "They have some discretionary power. They could come to the table and have done some compromising with us, but more needs to be done."

Originally posted by Nevada Appeal.