The BLM signed a decision record which authorizes a wild horse gather in the North Hills Joint Management Area and updated the short and long-term management objectives for the wild horses and their habitat. | Photo: iStock

The BLM said the operation’s objective is to achieve and maintain a balance between wild horses on the range and other public land resources. This decision also updated the herd management Area (HMA) plan that establishes short and long-term management objectives for the wild horses and habitat.

The BLM’s current population estimate for the North Hills JMA is 254 horses, 425 percent above the appropriate management level of 40-60 horses they set for the area.  The agency said it determined this management level based on public input, vegetation inventories, forage allocation, and other resource considerations in order to support wild horses in balance with other public land uses and values.

The environmental assessment analyzed implementation of the HMA plan and the gather/removal of excess wild horses in response to issues currently occurring in the JMA. The BLM said action is needed in order to achieve and maintain a population size within the established appropriate management level, establish short and long-term management and monitoring objectives for the herd and habitat, protect rangeland resources from further deterioration associated with overpopulation, and restore a thriving natural ecological balance and multiple use relationship on public lands