The U.S. Department of the Interior Bureau of Land Management's (BLM) Richfield Field Office is seeking public input for an environment assessment to help protect a wild burro herd in the Canyonlands Herd Management Area.
The assessment will also help protect rangeland conditions, according to a Tuesday news release. Comments will be accepted on the BLM planning website, referencing project number DOI-BLM-UT-C020-2022-0017-EA.
“The number of burros removed is based on the latest population inventory from within and around the [Herd Management Area] and would help achieve and maintain an appropriate population size,” said acting BLM Richfield field manager Sue Fivecoat in the release. “BLM would also gain information on herd characteristics, collect genetic samples for monitoring, determine herd health and provide for public safety.
Fivecoat said the assessment will analyze a proposed plan to remove excess wild burros within and around the Canyonlands Herd Management Area, as well as manage population growth through fertility control.
The Canyonlands Herd Management Area has 77,311 BLM acres, 10,465 state acres and 1,616 National Park Service acres for a total 89,392 acres, the BLM website said. The appropriate management level at the area is 60-100 animals.
“Since 1971, the BLM has removed approximately 17,942 animals from public rangelands in Utah as part of its efforts to maintain healthy horses and burros on healthy public rangelands,” a BLM website said. “BLM Utah has placed 9,288 wild horses and burros into private care since 1971. Animals removed from public rangelands are offered to the public for adoption. Unadopted animals are cared for on open pastures for the rest of their lives.”
There are 19 wild horse and burro herd management areas on nearly 2.5 million acres. These include Bible Spring, Canyonlands, Cedar Mountain, Chloride Canyon, Choke Cherry, Confusion, Conger, Four Mile, Frisco, King Top, Mount Elinor, Muddy Creek, North Hills, Onaqui Mountain, Range Creek, Sinbad, Sulphur, Swasey and Tilly Creek.
These areas are managed by BLM Utah, according to the BLM website.
