The BLM will accept bids through May 3 from Colorado, Idaho, Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, Texas Panhandle (only north of Hwy 82 and 84), Utah, Washington, and Wyoming.

The total population of the Maryland herd is currently at 76 horses, including 21 stallions and 55 mares.

The BLM is seeking public comments on motorized vehicles and aircraft use in managing wild horses and burros on agency-managed lands in Montana and the Dakotas.

The BLM said excessive grazing has degraded sage-grouse habitat and, due to a lack of forage and water within the HMA, an increasing number of horses have been moving outside the HMA, creating traffic hazards, conflicts with local property owners, and other public safety issues.

In addition, the BLM said public comments are needed on the proposed update to the Fifteenmile HMA plan, which will guide management of the HMA and the wild horses within it for the next several years.

The U.S. Forest Service and Navajo County, Arizona, Sheriff’s Office are investigating after finding seven dead wild horses in the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest last month.

A BLM representative said the partial government shutdown has not affected the care of wild horses and burros under the agency’s jurisdiction.

The BLM said it gathered and removed 996 wild horses from public and private lands in and outside the Silver King HMA in eastern Nevada.

The BLM Nevada Battle Mountain District is gathering and removing up to 20 wild burros from outside the Hickison Herd Management Area, where landowners say they are damaging private property, land, and crops.

The BLM said population control measures will include enhanced use of fertility control vaccines and the gather and removal of excess wild horses.

The hearing on the use of helicopters and motorized vehicles in wild horse and burro management will take place Tuesday, Dec. 11, 6–7 p.m., at the BLM Vernal Field Office.