BLM said today that 296 wild horses will be removed from the Conger HMA, starting on August 11, due to drought.
Helicopters will push the horses into the traps and the incident will be open to public observation.
Some may be returned to the area to maintain herd genetic diversity, according to the news release.
The HMA covers 170,993 acres west of Delta, UT, including 151,506 acres of public lands. The AML is 80 and the aimed-at stocking rate is 0.5 horses per thousand acres.
The HMA intersects seven grazing allotments, according to Section 3.2 of an EA from 2016. Livestock receive an estimated 3,400 AUMs per year inside the HMA, compared to 960 AUMs per year for the horses.
Captured animals will be taken to the off-range corrals at Axtell, UT.
Gather stats and daily reports will be posted to this page.
