BLM will conduct Bible Springs Complex and Sulphur wild horse gather in Iron and Beaver Counties
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CEDAR CITY, Utah— On Aug. 1, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) will begin the removal of excess wild horses from areas within and outside the Bible Springs Complex and Sulphur Herd Management Area in Iron and Beaver Counties. The gather supports the BLM’s good neighbor and shared conservation stewardship goals.
“The BLM is committed to maintaining a healthy wild horse population and healthy rangelands,” said Paul Briggs, BLM Cedar City Field Manager. “By managing the horse population, we are working to ensure that enough forage and water is available for the remaining horses, while protecting public rangeland resources and other uses.”
The Bible Spring Complex (BSC) encompasses the Blawn Wash, Four Mile, Bible Springs, and Tilly Creek Herd Management Areas (HMA). The estimated wild horse population in the BSC is approximately 420 and the Sulphur HMA wild horse population is estimated to be 974. These population estimates do not include foals. The BLM plans to remove approximately 200 wild horses from within the HMAs and the surrounding area.
The public is welcome to observe daily operations through BLM-escorted tours so long as conditions remain safe for both the animals and participants and that operations are not disrupted. Observers must provide their own transportation, water, and food. No public restrooms will be available. The BLM recommends weather appropriate footwear and neutral-colored clothing. Binoculars and four-wheel drive, high-clearance vehicles are also strongly recommended.
Those interested in participating in a tour should meet at the Maverik Adventure’s First Stop Store located at 220 North Airport Road in Cedar City, Utah. Tours will depart at 5:30 a.m. MDT. Gather and tour information will be announced daily on the Utah BLM gather hotline, (801) 539-4050.
Visitors and observers should be aware that low flying helicopters will be used as part of the operation. Flying unmanned aerial vehicles (drones) near Hamlin and Pine Valley, and the Wah Wah and Indian Peak Mountain ranges will be prohibited during the gather to ensure safety of the gather operation. Traffic may also be stopped for short intervals on roads within the area to allow for safe movement of horses during gather operations.
Gather updates and information will be posted at: https://go.usa.gov/xUUNW. Anyone interested can also get updates on Twitter by following @BLMUtah or searching #BLMUTWildHorseGather.
Horses removed from the range will be transported to the BLM contract facility in Axtell, Utah, where they will be prepared for the BLM adoption and purchase program. For information on how to adopt or purchase a wild horse or burro, visit the BLM National Wild Horse and Burro website at www.blm.gov/whb or call (866) 468-7826.
The gather is expected to last approximately 8 days. For additional information on participating in public observation days, contact Lisa Reid, Public Affairs Specialist, at (435) 743-3128 or lreid@blm.gov. Persons who use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal Relay Service (FRS) at 1-800-877-8339 to leave a message or question for Lisa Reid. The FRS is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Replies are provided during normal business hours.
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.