UPDATE 2 PM PST: BLM has extended written comments through July 2. BLM has not offered a remote participation option or rescheduling of the hearing to allow time to arrange travel and fix scheduling conflicts. BLM is also not offering an email to submit comments; you must mail a paper copy in order to have them considered. 

BLM NV has just sent notification of the annual meeting on the use of motorized vehicles, including helicopters, for the capture and transport of wild horses and burros in Nevada. We published immediately after receiving this notification.

Only 72 hours notice was given. No remote participation option is being provided. BLM has provided remote participation via conference on oil and gas, sage grouse, livestock policy. However, there is no remote participation option offered for this meeting except to “send written comments.” Can you imagine the reaction from livestock interests if BLM even attempted such a rush job?

If you would like to attend but can not, because of the short notification period, you should contact BLM. We did. WHE logged a complaint immediately.

We also noted that any written comment will not be relevant to the presentation given by BLM, even if the presentation is only a definition of the purpose of the hearing. BLM should, at the very least, offer a listen only option for callers and extend comments through the end of the following day.

Why would BLM give only 72 hours notice? Your written comments are also due in 72 hours, postmarked by close of business on June 25.

UPDATE 2 PM PST: BLM has extended written comments through July 2. BLM has not offered a remote participation option. 

Over the last 12 months BLM NV has run babies to collapse, through barbed wire, into heavy lather and more.

Often these hearings are purely administrative, this time it matters. WHE will provide extensive comments.

We have published more info and sample comments HERE. 

Wild horses were run to a lather in Feb. 2020 by helicopter in Nevada

Full BLM press release below:

BATTLE MOUNTAIN DISTRICT OFFICE, NO. 20200622
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 22, 2020
CONTACT: Jess D. Harvey, (775) 635-4054, or jharvey@blm.gov

BLM to host statewide public hearing regarding use of motorized vehicles and aircraft in the Wild Horse and Burro Program

BATTLE MOUNTAIN, Nev. – The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Nevada will host its annual statewide public hearing to discuss the use of helicopters and motorized vehicles and aircraft in the monitoring and management of wild horses and burros on public lands in Nevada. The hearing is scheduled for Thursday, June 25, 2020, from 5 to 6 p.m. at the Lander County Courthouse located at 50 NV-305, Battle Mountain, NV 89820. For the health and safety of participants, wearing of masks during the public meeting will be mandatory and all other CDC and Nevada health guidelines will be followed.

The purpose of the hearing, required by the Federal Land Policy and Management Act, is to solicit public comment on the use of helicopters and fixed wing aircraft to estimate wild horse or burro population size and the use of helicopters to gather and remove excess animals. The hearing will also consider the use of motorized vehicles to transport gathered wild horse or burros, as well as, to conduct field monitoring activates.

Nevada’s statewide wild horse and burro population numbers currently exceed 51,500 animals, which is more than 400 percent of the approved appropriate management level of 12,811. Having an overabundance of wild horses and burros above BLM management levels may cause resource damage resulting in limited forage and water availability, which reduces the number of animals that the land can support.

“Helicopter and motorized vehicle usage is a critical tool for managing wild horses and burros on public lands,” said Ruth Thompson, BLM Nevada’s Wild Horse and Burro State Lead. “These management tools allow us to conduct aerial population surveys, monitor animal distribution, conduct safe and effective gathers, and transport captured animals in a humane and efficient manner.”

Since legislated removals began in 1976, the BLM Nevada has removed more than 161,196 wild horses and burros from Nevada’s rangelands. Over 5,477 of those animals have been adopted or sold locally; the majority of animals gathered in Nevada shipped to other states for adoption, sale or older animals are sent to off-range pastures to live out the remainder of their lives.

BLM Nevada has partnered with the Northern Nevada Correctional Center (NNCC), for over two decades. The NNCC and BLM-Nevada not only hosts public adoption offering saddle-trained animals through a competitive bid process but, the partnership is responsible for training animals to be used within other state and federal agencies programs such as the local Sheriff and U.S. Marine Corp Mounted Units, the U.S. Border Patrol and Park Services and U.S Forest Service and both State and Federal Fish and Wildlife agencies.

If you cannot attend the hearing, written comments must be mailed to the BLM Battle Mountain District Office, attention: Jess Harvey, 50 Bastian Rd, Battle Mountain, NV 89820 and must be received by close of business on June 25, 2020, to be considered.

Updated by BLM at 2 pm pacific:

If you cannot attend the hearing, written comments must be mailed to the BLM Battle Mountain District Office, attention: Jess Harvey, 50 Bastian Rd, Battle Mountain, NV 89820 and must be received by close of business on July 2, 2020, to be considered.

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If you are sending comments? Please note that Nye county in NV has just passed a resolution against the way BLM conducts helicopter capture.(more here)

Wild Horse Education is the only organization to ever take issues of abuse during roundups to court. We have extensive comments we will submit.

Desatoya roundup in Nevada December 2019

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We are up against a very well funded machine. Can you help us continue to fight back? We wont give up.