Pacific Southwest Region Wild Horse Gather Planned
Mechanized Equipment Hearing Scheduled
Pacific Southwest Region Wild Horse Gather Planned – Mechanized Equipment Hearing Scheduled
September 26th, 2024 – On October 10th, from 3:30 – 4:30 p.m. PST, the Modoc and Inyo National Forests will conduct a virtual public hearing regarding the use of helicopters and other mechanized equipment during wild horse gather operations. The hearing will be held using Zoom video conferencing technology.
An annual public hearing is required to comply with Section 404 of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act when using a helicopter, fixed wing aircraft and other mechanized equipment to conduct population surveys or gathers on wild horse territories.
Recent aerial surveys on and around the Devil’s Garden Plateau and Montgomery Pass Wild Horse Territories (WHTs) show that current populations are estimated to be substantially larger than appropriate management levels. Data collected during aerial survey flights are compared using statistical modeling to estimate sighting rates from observers and provide a conservative population estimate.
The Inyo and Modoc National Forests plan to gather excess wild horses from areas within and outside the Devil’s Garden Plateau and outside of the Montgomery Pass WHTs during the next 12 months. This complies with policy that directs the managing agencies to keep wild horse herds at appropriate management level. Appropriate management levels are designed to preserve and maintain a thriving natural ecological balance and multiple-use relationship on the wild horse territories.
The virtual meeting will provide updates on planning for the gathers and use of helicopters and other mechanized equipment during gather operations. During the meeting, public comments will be accepted regarding the use of mechanized equipment to gather horses.
Join at https://usfs.zoomgov.com/j/1612948049?pwd=1pDFtAvmyN3vQob3et1gMzR78iCV5n.1
Meeting ID: 161 294 8049 and passcode DDW#2024
To participate by phone, find your local number: https://usfs.zoomgov.com/u/acsyqW1aTk
Comments will be accepted during the meeting using the “raise hand” icon or writing in to [email protected] or [email protected].
For information about United States Forest Service Wild Horses, their territories, or how to provide homes for horses, please visit: https://www.fs.usda.gov/wild-horse-burro/index.shtml
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