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PRINEVILLE, Ore. – The Bureau of Land Management and the USDA Forest Service are proposing an emergency wild horse gather in the Murderer’s Creek Joint Management Area following extensive damage caused by the Rail Ridge Fire. The BLM is seeking public comment on the proposed gather, which will address critical forage shortages for the wild horse population and protect recovering habitat in this shared management area.
The Rail Ridge Fire, which began on Sept. 2, burned more than 58,000 acres in the JMA and reduced essential forage areas relied upon by wild horses and other wildlife. With limited forage remaining, particularly in lower elevations critical for winter grazing, the agencies propose to temporarily gather and hold about 400 wild horses to aid recovery efforts.
Need for the Emergency Gather
The Malheur National Forest and BLM officials have determined that, without intervention, both the horses and fragile habitats will face significant risk over the winter. An aerial survey estimated the current population of horses at around 650. The Gather operations would use bait and water trapping methods. Agencies will monitor range and horse conditions during the winter and determine if additional horses need to be gathered. Gathered horses will be held in BLM and Forest Service facilities until the range recovers sufficiently. Additionally, the agencies will continue the administrative process for setting an Appropriate Management Level and approving a Herd Management Area Plan and population management actions for the JMA. No decision is being made at this time regarding the long-term disposition of horses gathered as part of this emergency gather.
Public Comment Period
The BLM is accepting public comments on this proposed emergency gather. The input gathered will inform BLM’s decision on whether to proceed with the gather. Given the urgent nature of the proposal, the BLM is offering a one-week public comment period, closing on November 4, 2024.
How to Submit Comments
The BLM encourages focused comments on the emergency gather.
Comment Submission Options
- Email: BLM_OR_PR_Wild_Horse@blm.gov (Subject: “Emergency Gather”)
- Mail/Hand Delivery: BLM Prineville District Office, 3050 NE Third Street, Prineville, OR 97754
- Online: Submit directly via https://eplanning.blm.gov/eplanning-ui/project/2034934/510
The Determination of NEPA Adequacy and Finding of No Significant Impact documents are available online at BLM ePlanning.