By Karla Pomeroy
Editor
BLM captures 558 horses in management gather
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COURTESY/Renee Lund
The Bureau of Land Management began gather operations, using a helicopter, last Friday, Oct. 18, with the goal of gathering at least 700 head of wild horses (to remove about 600) on the Fifteen Mile Herd Management Area to bring the herd size down to 100-230, the appropriate management level.
WORLAND - Through Tuesday evening, 558 wild horses in the Fifteen Mile Herd Management Area had been gathered with 261 shipped to other facilities for treatment or to be prepared for adoption.
The Bureau of Land Management scheduled the gather as part of the HMA's management plan.
According to a BLM press release, the gather operation is in line with the BLM's commitment to maintaining healthy wild horses on healthy, productive public rangelands.
The Fifteenmile HMA is located approximately 35 miles northwest of Worland, in Washakie, Big Horn and Park counties. Based on recent aerial surveys, the BLM estimates that the HMA's population is approximately 700 horses, while the appropriate management level (AML) is 100–230 horses. In addition, the horses are moving outside of the established HMA into areas not identified for their management.
The objective for the gather, from the BLM Worland Field Office, was to remove approximately 600 wild horses to return the population to the low range of the AML. Horses that have moved outside the HMA boundary, including onto private and state lands, were slated for removal.
Wild horses that are removed will be available for adoption to qualified applicants through the BLM Wild Horse and Burro Adoption Program. Animals not adopted will be cared for in off-range pastures, where they retain their "wild" status and protection under the 1971 Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burro Act, according to the release.
On Friday, 211 horses were gathered. According to the BLM daily report, one horse was transported to a holding facility for treatment due to a pre-existing bite on its right hip.
Saturday's operation brought the first fatalities from the gather. According to the daily report, a total of 217 horses were gathered, and 128 horses were transferred to the Rock Springs Wild Horse Corrals or Wyoming Honor Farm.
Regarding the fatalities, the BLM reported that one horse "succumbed to a neck injury from the gather operations. One horse succumbed to a strike in the head by another horse on the way to the gather trap."
Sunday's gather operations were suspended due to the adverse weather conditions. Operations resumed on Monday with 112 horse gathered, 132 horses shipped and three deaths.
According to the BLM report, "One horse succumbed to a neck injury related to the gather operations. One horse was euthanized due to a terminal lung infection. One horse was euthanized due to severe leg deformities."
On Tuesday 18 horses were gathered and there were three deaths.
Per the BLM daily report, one 5-year old mare was euthanized due to a gangrenous infection around its elbow joint. One 11-year old mare was euthanized due to severe arthritis in both hips. One 28-year old mare was euthanized due to low body score and overall poor health.
To learn more about the BLM's Wild Horse and Burro Program and adopting a Wyoming wild horse, visit www.blm.gov/whb or contact the national information center at (866) 468-7826 or [email protected].
More on the gather operations will be reported in next week's Northern Wyoming News.
