BLM sets hearing on using helicopters, other vehicles to manage wild horses

/ In The News, News

A contractor’s helicopter drives wild horses toward the trap site at the Sand Wash Basin Herd Management Area in Colorado last September. Photo by Meg Frederick.

The Bureau of Land Management will hold a virtual public hearing on the use of helicopters and other aircraft and motorized vehicles in the management of wild horses on April 26.

The hearing will be held from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. Mountain Time. It will be streamed at BLM.gov/live.

The Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 requires that BLM hold an annual hearing on the use of motorized vehicles and aircraft in its management of wild horses and burros.

In addition to using helicopters to round up wild horses and burros and aircraft to conduct population counts, the agency uses trucks to transport wild horses to and from off-range holding corrals and pastures and adoption / sale events.

Registration to give a comment during this hearing is now full, but written comments may be sent to BLM_HQ_MotorizedVehicleHearing@blm.gov until 5 p.m. Mountain Times on April 26. Please include ‘‘Motorized Vehicle Comment’’ in your email’s subject line.