The incident will occur at the China Lake Naval Air Weapons Station, where most of the HMA is located, due to conditions related to the drought and two wildfires last year that burned approximately 45,000 acres.
Helicopters and wranglers will push the horses into the traps, according to the news release, but the operation will not be open to public observation.
The capture and removal goals are 250. The roundup is not on the August 30 schedule.
The HMA covers 318,499 acres in central California. The AML is 168 and the stocking rate allowed by plan is 0.5 wild horses per thousand acres.
The pre-gather population was not specified.
The Western Watersheds map, reproduced above, shows one grazing allotment on the northwest side of the HMA but outside of China Lake. Click image to open in new tab.
Captured animals will be taken to the off-range corrals at Ridgecrest, CA.
Gather stats and daily reports will be posted to this page.
Wild burros, not allowed by plan, were removed from the HMA earlier this year.
Western Horse Watchers Association 