2011.OCT.13 - Nevada's Pancake Complex HMAs to be site of BLM Wild Horse Science Project



BLM Wild Horse ather operations scheduled for JAN 2012
Pancakes Complex HMAs - Central Nevada.


.BLM's PANCAKE COMPLEX Proposed Action:

Under the Proposed Action, the BLM would gather approximately 65-70% of the existing wild horses (approximately 1,435-1,540 animals in the initial 2012 gather) every two to three years with a target removal of approximately 800-1,000 excess wild horses per gather over a period of six to ten years.

The principal management goal for the Complex would be to retain a core breeding population of 361 wild horses, which is low end of AML. To help reduce population growth rates, the core breeding population would be managed to achieve a 60% male sex ratio and all mares released back to the Complex would be treated with fertility control (PZP-22 or most current formulation).

The combination of these actions should lower the population growth rate within the Complex. In addition, it is proposed to manage for a non-breeding component of 200 geldings, which would bring the overall population to approximately 561 wild horses which is the mid-range of the AML.

Since proposed action in winter 2012 would only allow for the removal of approximately 800-1,000 excess wild horses, dependent on available holding space, and would not achieve the desired low end of AML; it is anticipated that two to four follow-up gathers over a period of six to ten years would be needed to achieve the low end of AML for the Complex based on current population estimates, projected rates of increase, and projected scheduling of future gathers.

This will also allow the BLM to implement the population control components (PZP treatments, sex ratio adjustment, and geldings) as proposed.

Population inventories and routine resource/habitat monitoring would be completed between gather cycles to document current population levels, growth rates, and areas of continued resource concern (horse concentrations, riparian impacts, over-utilization, etc.) prior to any follow-up gather.

Any follow-up gather activities would be conducted in a manner consistent with those described for the winter 2012 gather and would be conducted during the period November through February which is identified for maximum effectiveness of the fertility control. Funding limitations and competing priorities may require delaying the follow-up gather and population control component.


Background 1:1
The Pancake Complex is located approximately 30 miles west, southwest of Ely, Nevada, and 10 miles southeast of Eureka, Nevada, and 80 miles northwest of Tonopah Nevada within White Pine and Nye Counties (Map 1). Table 1 below displays the total acreage and established Appropriate Management Levels (AML) for each of the HMAs and WHT.

The 2008 Ely RMP combined two existing HMAs (Monte Cristo and Sand Springs East HMAs) into the Pancake HMA. The decision to combine all or portions of the two HMAs was due to the historical interchange of wild horses between the two HMAs and was also based on an in-depth analysis of habitat suitability and monitoring data as set forth in the Ely Proposed Resource Management Plan/Final Environmental Impact Statement, Table 3.8-2 and Page 4.8-2. The 2007 EIS evaluated each herd management area for five essential habitat components and herd characteristics: forage, water, cover, space, and reproductive viability. Through this analysis and the subsequent Final RMP and Record of Decision (ROD) , the boundaries of the Pancake HMA were established to ensure sufficient habitat for wild horses, and an AML was reviewed and set that would achieve a thriving natural ecological balance and rangeland health.

Jakes Wash Herd Management Area has been returned to Herd Area Status consistent with the Record of Decision (ROD) and the 2008 Approved Ely District Resource Management Plan (RMP) at management action WH-5, which states: "Remove wild horses and drop herd management area status for those … as listed in Table 13." Removal of all excess wild horses from the Jakes Wash HA is needed at this time in order to implement this management direction 4 and to prevent damage to the range resulting from the current overpopulation while achieving and maintaining a multiple-use relationship within the area.

 

The proposed wild horse gather of the Pancake HMA would be conducted in coordination and in conjunction with the Tonopah Field Office and Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest, due to historic movement and continuing interchange of wild horses between the

• Pancake HMA
  (approximately 855,00 acres of public land),
• Sand Springs West HMA
  (approximately 157,436 acres of private/public land),
• Jakes Wash HA
  (approximately 153,663 acres of private/public land)
• Monte Cristo WHT
  (approximately 93,640 acres of private/public land).

 

 

Statement on HSUS Gather Report and Recommendations 

www.blm.gov 

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