BLM Utah Announces Emergency Wild Horse and Burro Gather

Price, Utah—Severe drought and poor forage conditions have culminated in an emergency horse gather in one of the Bureau of Land Management’s wild horse and burro Herd Management Area (HMA) within the next ten days. The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Utah has received approval and funding to gather of approximately 60 horses and 80 burros from the Sinbad HMA located west of Green River, north, and south of I-70.

Site visits by BLM wild horse and burro specialists and continued rangeland monitoring of this herd area show the available water sources and forage is not sufficient for the wild horses or burros. Without an emergency gather, many of these horses and burros could die of thirst. 

"We are doing everything possible to help these animals BLM is charged with managing.  Efforts include hauling water to isolated herds, gathering horses and burros such as the case with the Sinbad HMA, and monitoring the available water and forage throughout the State to ensure we have healthy herds. We need the public’s help to let us know if there are areas we are missing," said Utah BLM Wild Horse and Burro Program Lead, Gus Warr.

All gathered animals will be taken to the Salt Lake Regional Wild Horse and Burro Center near Herriman, Utah.

"Often during drought conditions, wild horses or burros may become too weak to search for additional water sources.  Animals will gather around a watering hole or spring that is drying up and be physically unable to travel to water that may be available nearby," said Warr. "BLM is requesting that the public report any suspicious wild horse or burro activities. Please call the closest BLM Field Office or the BLM State Office at 801-539-4057."

Under the 1971 Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act, BLM is required to manage horses and burros only in those areas where they were found in 1971. Through land use planning, BLM evaluates each herd area to determine if it has adequate food, water, cover and space to sustain healthy and diverse wild horse and burro populations over the long term.

In the 10 states where BLM manages wild horses and burros there are 199 herd management areas.  In Utah, about 3,000 horses are found among 21 different HMA’s scattered across the state. Two herds of burros--about 220 animals--are found on public lands in southeastern Utah.  The Price Field Office manages 4 herds of wild horses containing approximately 300 horses and 1 burro herd containing approximately 150 burros.

For more information on BLM Utah’s Wild Horse and Burro Program, visit: http://www.blm.gov/ut/st/en.html

Source: www.blm.gov/ut