BLM and USFS approve plan to remove wild horses near Mono Lake
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BISHOP, Calif. – The Bureau of Land Management and U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service have approved a plan for the agencies to gather and remove excess wild horses that have roamed outside the Montgomery Pass Wild Horse Territory near Benton onto public and private lands, in accordance with the Wild Free-Roaming Horse and Burros Act of 1971.
High priority areas for this gather include, but are not limited to, horses located in the Mono Basin and horses along CA State Route 120 East and U.S. Highway 6.
“This plan will allow the Inyo National Forest to gather horses beginning summer of 2025 from high-priority areas outside the Montgomery Pass Wild Horse Territory, where wild horses are causing impacts to sensitive wildlife habitat, riparian areas, and tufa geological formations; where there are safety concerns for motorists; and areas where private landowners have requested their removal,” said BLM Bishop Field Manager Sherri Lisius.
The Montgomery Pass Wild Horse Territory is managed by the Forest Service for a wild horse population between 138 to 230 animals under the 2019 Inyo National Forest Land Management Plan. A 2024 aerial survey of the surrounding areas estimated there were 699 horses, with most of those roaming outside the territory in areas not designated for their management. The current plan authorizes approximately 300-500 horses to be gathered. Wild horses that stray from their established areas may be removed to reduce conflicts with other resources in accordance with the Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act of 1971. When the gather occurs, animals removed will be transported to Forest Service off-range corrals, where they will be checked by a veterinarian and prepared for adoption and sale programs.
Appeals of the BLM decision can be submitted to the Interior Board of Land Appeals by April 7, 2025. Additional information about the gather is available at the BLM NEPA National Register. Information on the Inyo National Forest’s decision notice is available at the projects page or the Pinyon Public page.
For more information, please contact BLM_CA_Bishop_MPWHT@blm.gov or SM.FS.InyoWH_B@usda.gov.
The BLM manages more than 245 million acres of public land located primarily in 12 western states, including Alaska, on behalf of the American people. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. Our mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of America’s public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations.