Piceance Mustangs and BLM to host celebration and work day in the Piceance-East Douglas Herd Management Area
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MEEKER, Colo. – The Bureau of Land Management and the newly formed non-profit Piceance Mustangs are hosting a tour and barbecue May 5 to celebrate the wild horses of the Piceance-East Douglas Herd Management Area southwest of Meeker. A volunteer work day follows on May 6.
The public is invited to a free barbecue sponsored by Piceance Mustangs. Participants will begin gathering about noon at the intersection of Rio Blanco County Roads 24 (which is paved) and 91, with lunch served around 2 p.m.. The Piceance Mustangs will explain the status of the group and potential opportunities for people who are considering volunteering with the group. Piceance Mustangs members and BLM specialists will also lead tours to find wild horses in the Herd Management Area, which will conclude by 6 p.m.
“These groups play a critical role helping BLM manage wild horses both on and off the range.” said Benjamin Smith, BLM Northwest District wild horse and burro specialist. “Recently folks interested in the wild horses of Piceance formed a volunteer partner group called Piceance Mustangs, similar to the Friends of the Mustangs with the Little Book Cliffs herd or the Sand Wash Advocate Team in the Sand Wash Basin.”
The 190,130-acre Piceance-East Douglas HMA is one of four wild horse Herd Management Areas in Colorado. The other three HMAs have benefitted from partner groups assisting the BLM in the hands-on management of the area and wild horses, including assisting with fertility control.
Volunteers are also encouraged to attend the Piceance Mustang’s work day Sunday, May 6 beginning at 9 a.m. at the meeting location above. Volunteers will be repairing and removing old fencing.
For more information about the celebration and work day, call Melissa Kindall at 970-878-3842.
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.