BLM said today that approximately 1,100 wild horses will be removed from the Eagle Complex, starting on or about January 6. The operation will restore a thriving ecological balance and improve rangeland health, according to the news release.
Three HMAs are affected: Eagle, Chokecherry and Mount Elinor.
The roundup will be carried out with helicopters and will be open to public observation.
Fifty mares will be treated with contraceptives and returned to the range.
The Complex includes 743,000 acres along the Utah-Nevada state line. The combined AML is 265 and the aimed-at stocking rate is 0.4 wild horses per thousand acres. The average stocking rate across all HMAs is about one wild horse per thousand acres.
The current population is thought to be around 1,400 horses, including this year’s foals.
All three HMAs are subject to permitted livestock grazing, as discussed in Section 3.3.5 of the Final EA for resource enforcement actions in the Complex.
Captured animals will be taken to off-range corrals in Sutherland, UT and Sparks, NV.
Gather stats and daily reports will be posted to this page.
The event follows the removal of over 1,600 wild horses less than year ago.
RELATED: Eagle Wild Horses Get Short End of Stick.
Western Horse Watchers Association 