Bureau of Land Management in Socorro at 901 Old US Hwy 85.
File photo

The Bureau of Land Management has released its draft environmental assessment for a proposed wild horse gather in northern New Mexico and is seeking public input.

The gather would help to achieve a thriving natural ecological balance, achieve and maintain wild horse appropriate management level, collect information on herd characteristics, determine herd health, maintain sustainable rangelands, and maintain a healthy wild horse population within the Bordo Atravesado Herd Management Area. The proposed gather would remove 190 of the 230 wild horses present.

Animals removed from public lands would be prepared for adoption to qualified homes or transferred to an off-range pasture for long-term care. The gather will apply a water trap method, which uses existing corrals containing man-made sources of water to attract animals to the gather area.

The corral area will be checked multiple times per day to ensure horses have adequate feed and water and will be stressed as little as possible. The release of the draft environmental assessment launches a 30-day public review.

Written comments should be received by Aug. 28. Comments may be submitted via the ePlanning website at https://eplanning.blm.gov/eplanning-ui/project/2020697/570.

Alternatively, comments may be mailed to: BLM Socorro Field Office, 901 South Highway 85, Socorro, N.M. 87801-4168.

Your entire comment — including your identifying information — may be made public.

If you have more questions, contact Bethany Rosales at [email protected].

 

El Defensor Chieftain