The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and U.S. Forest Service (USFS) are accepting public comments on their proposed roundup plan for the wild horses of the Little Fish Lake Joint Management Area (JMA) in Nevada. We need you to take action and be a voice for these horses!
The Little Fish Lake JMA, located in Nye County Nevada, has two distinct areas: the Little Fish Lake Herd Management Area (HMA) to the north, managed by the BLM, and the Little Fish Lake Wild Horse Territory (WHT) to the south, managed by the USFS — collectively, these areas are called a Joint Management Area (JMA).
The agencies plan is to utilize removals and several methods of contraceptives—some of which are controversial—and reduce the current population of about 350 wild horses to an unscientifically low Appropriate Management Level (AML) of just 100 wild horses on 117,000 acres of land. The high AML of 132 horses was originally established through an agreement between the BLM and several livestock operators, and the last time it was reevaluated was 25 years ago. Moreover, this represents an average of 1 horse per every 1,170 acres, while the agency permits about one thousand privately owned cows to graze this area every year.
In addition to removing more than 70% of the horses in this JMA, the agencies' plan allows for:
Fortunately, the BLM has allowed for the use of the humane, safe, effective fertility control vaccine PZP as part of the proposed plan. Instead of considering roundups and stockpiling, the BLM should focus on using PZP to manage these horses in the wild where they belong! Please take a moment to personalize and submit your comments below!