CARSON CITY, Nev. - The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Carson City District, has issued a decision to implement a bait and water trapping gather within and outside the Marietta Wild Burro Range (MWBR) due to overpopulation within the MWBR. This has led to animals leaving the range and moving into the vicinity of the state highways and has resulted in numerous vehicle collisions creating public safety and animal health risks. Approximately 125 excess wild horses and burros will be removed. The gather will begin the week of July 17.

Following several years of drought conditions, the overpopulation of wild horses and burros is causing adverse resource impacts both within and outside the MWBR. Implementation of the gather is necessary to ensure progress continues to be made towards achieving a thriving natural ecological balance consistent with the Wild and Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act of 1971. At the time of the MWBR designation of this range, wild horses were not present but are now competing with the burros for limited forage and water resources. Today there is an estimated population of 48 wild horses within, and 341 wild burros within and outside of the MWBR. The AML range for the MWBR is 78-104.

A Determination of National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) Adequacy (DNA) to the Garfield Flat and Marietta Herd Management Area Gather Plan Environmental Assessment has been completed for the proposed bait and water trapping gather. The DNA, Decision Record, 2011 Environmental Assessment and Herd Management Area Plan, can be found online at http://bit.ly/2smaDo3.

The contractor for this gather is Sampson Livestock of Utah. Excess wild horses and burros removed from the range will be transported to the Indian Lakes facility located in Fallon, Nevada where they will be prepared for the BLM adoption program. For information on how to adopt a wild horse, visit http://www.blm.gov/whb.

For more information contact John Axtell, Wild Horse Specialist at 775-885-6146.   back...