The Nevada Department of Wildlife, in partnership with Utah State University and the U.S. Geological Survey, has approached the BLM about monitoring prey selection in two HAs that overlap or are near designated wilderness areas in southeastern Nevada.
The researchers suspect that predation behavior will change after a sudden decrease in the equine population, as would result from a roundup, shifting toward native species such as mule deer, elk and bighorns.
That would be unwelcome news for big game hunters.
Could it also shift to nonnative species, such as privately owned cattle and sheep?
The area is subject to permitted grazing.
The answers seem obvious: If you’re a mountain lion and you lose a major food source, you change your diet, move to another area or die.
The study is not consistent with the claim that wild horses have no natural predators.
Data will be collected with trailcams.
The Draft EA was the only document copied to the project folder.
Comments will be accepted through December 14.
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Western Horse Watchers Association 