Hines, Ore. -- In January 2018, the Burns District of the Bureau of Land Management will conduct a bait trap gather of wild horses within the South Steens Herd Management Area. The Appropriate Management Level – the number of horses the range can sustainably support in conjunction with other animals and resource uses – for this area is 159 to 304 horses and the current population is over 600.

The Wild-Free Roaming Horses and Burros Act of 1971 gives BLM the direction for protecting and overseeing wild horses and burros on public lands. In managing these animals, the BLM works to maintain a thriving ecological balance that supports healthy horses on healthy rangelands. When the range cannot sustain all of the animals living on it, the BLM gathers and offers some wild horses for adoption to the public.

Heavy to severe wild horse grazing jeopardizes the health of rangelands, wetlands, wildlife habitats, and ultimately animal health and condition. Although the South Steens gather will not immediately return the herd to within AML, it will reduce resource impacts and briefly cut reproduction rates. After removing 60 horses, there will still be over 500 horses remaining in the HMA.

Two similar bait trap gathers were conducted in August and November 2016 with 200 horses selectively removed for adoption. To date, 100 percent of those horses have been placed in private care. Although the January 2018 South Steens gather will not immediately return the herd to within AML, it will reduce resource impacts and briefly cut reproduction rates.

Animals selected for removal from the range will be transported to Oregon’s Wild Horse Corral Facility in Hines to be prepared for adoption. For viewing, the public may visit the Corral Facility anytime between regular business hours, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

The gather will likely last through February 2018, though exact start and end dates will be determined by weather and trap site accessibility. Information and twice per week gather reports will be posted online at:

https://www.blm.gov/programs/wild-horse-and-burro/herd-management/gathers-and-removals/oregon-washington

Bait trapping gathers are not conducive to capture site viewing opportunities. For more information about the BLM’s Wild Horse and Burro Program or the upcoming South Steens bait trap gather, contact Tara Thissell at tthissell@blm.gov or (541)573-4519.