Decision Reached in SoCal Burro Removal Plan

The Decision Record, issued today, authorizes Alternative 1 in the Final EA, subject to a 30-day appeal period.

The initial roundup, to be carried out with helicopters, will occur in late May, according to a BLM news release.  The operation will target up to 939 animals.

The Finding of No Significant Impact, not applicable to the burros, suggests that little if any collateral damage is expected.

RELATED: Comments Invited on Draft EA for SoCal Burro Removals.

Support for Horse Heaven Wind Farm Falters on Earth Day

A survey by the Tri-City Regional Chamber of Commerce found 78% of respondents saying that the facility is not worth the personal, environmental and economic impacts, according to a report posted today by the FOX affiliate in Yakima, WA.

The applicant, Scout Clean Energy of Boulder, CO, went straight to the state authorities for approval, bypassing county government, fearing the locals do not want the project.

They were right.

RELATED: Another Wind Farm Coming to Horse Heaven Hills?

SJR3 Fails?

The resolution never came up for a vote and has now passed its expiration date, according to a report by The Record-Courier of Gardnerville, NV.

The overview at NELIS says no further action allowed.

The story suggests that representatives of the Campaign Against America’s Wild Horses, backers of the April 1 amendment, believe that opposition to the measure implies support for their fertility control programs.

RELATED: Refuting SJR3 or Selling PZP?

BLM Hits Pause on Sterilization Plans for Confusion HMA

Yesterday both sides in the case asked the court to stay a lawsuit regarding the government’s sterilization plans for mares in the Confusion HMA, according to an article by Law Street Media.

If approved, the BLM will have until June 21 to finalize new plans for sterilization that would not include ovariectomy via colpotomy.

Plaintiffs could pursue the lawsuit after that date if they are not satisfied with the government’s new plan.

RELATED: BLM Drops Plan for Sterilization of Confusion Mares?

More Assateague Foals Expected

A story posted this morning by the Maryland Coast Dispatch says that eight more are on the way.

With the fertility control program shut off five years ago, the birth rate may now be catching up with and surpassing the death rate.  Refer to the chart in this post.

The fertility police often point to the island as a model of wild horse management.

RELATED: Assateague Herd Rebounds in Latest Census.

Comments Invited on Draft EA for Calico Gather Plan

The 30-day review period started today, according to a BLM news release.

The new Environmental Assessment looks at the consequences of resource enforcement actions in the five HMAs that make up the Complex.  A Finding of No Significant Impact will not apply to horses and burros found therein.

The Proposed Action features roundups and growth suppression techniques, such as fertility control vaccines, intra-uterine devices, non-reproducing animals (males and females) and sex ratio skewing.  Refer to Section 2.0 in the EA.

The plan will be valid for ten years.

The Complex covers 584,101 acres and has an AML of 952 wild horses and 65 wild burros, per Table 1 in the EA.  The equivalent AML is 985 horses, for an aimed-at stocking rate of 1.7 wild horses per thousand acres, slightly above the target rate across all HMAs of one wild horse per thousand acres.

The current population is estimated to be 1,692 horses and 73 burros.

Calico Complex Map 04-14-21

The Complex intersects five grazing allotments per Section 3.3.3 of the EA but there is not enough information to know which HMAs are affected and by how much.

Western Horse Watchers was unable to find a map in the appendices showing the allotment boundaries relative to those of the HMAs.

The Calico Complex is adjacent to the Surprise Complex in northwestern Nevada, the subject of a new gather plan and EA earlier this year.

Comments on the Calico EA can be submitted through May 13.