The BLM hopes to gather all wild horses residing at the Beaty Butte HMA and subsequently return 100 studs and fertility control-treated mares to the range. | Photo: iStock

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Oregon’s Lakeview Field Office is seeking public comment on an environmental assessment (EA) and finding of no significant impact analyzing the potential effects of a wild horse gather and fertility control plan for the Beaty Butte Herd Management Area (HMA).

Located about 65 miles east of Lakeview, Oregon, the HMA comprises approximately 437,650 acres near the Nevada state line. The HMA’s wild horse population was estimated at 242, as of March 1. The BLM has set the appropriate management level (AML) at 100-250 wild horses.

“This action is the next step in a long-term strategy developed by a collaborative working group of ranchers, wild horse advocates, environmental groups, elected officials, state and federal fish and wildlife agencies to better manage the Beaty Butte HMA for rangeland health, wild horses, wildlife, grazing, and recreation,” said Todd Forbes, acting Lakeview district manager