2024 South Steens Wild Horse Gather
Purpose of Gather:
The gather would be conducted to prevent undue or unnecessary degradation of the public lands associated with excess wild horses, to restore a thriving natural ecological balance and multiple-use relationship on public lands, consistent with the provisions of Section 1333(b) of the 1971 Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Horses Act.
Details of Gather:
Helicopter drive-trapping operations would begin around August 15, 2024, and would last approximately ten days, though exact start and end dates will be determined by the contractor’s availability.
For the South Steens Herd Management Area, the Appropriate Management Level – the number of horses the range can sustainably support in conjunction with other animals and resource uses – is 159 to 304 horses. The current population estimate is 781 adults and 165 foals.
Approximately 760 horses are planned for gather. About 70 of those horses would be selected for return to the range, up to 35 of which would be mares treated with PZP or PZP-22 contraceptive. The post-gather population estimate would be approximately 255 horses.
Public Observation:
The public would be welcome to view the South Steens HMA gather. You must call ahead, by 5 p.m. PST the previous day, to let us know of your planned attendance: 541-573-4519.
Travel to and from the capture site would be caravan-style, with observers in their own vehicles, following an agency representative. Observers must attend a pre-viewing briefing prior to departure to the HMA. Observers arriving at the viewing area without first attending a briefing or making prior arrangements with the BLM shall not participate in the observation day.
Observation is held on a first come, first served basis. Every effort would be made to accommodate everyone interested each day; however, participation may be limited and/or some days of the gather may not provide a viewing opportunity due to variable circumstances such as moving the trap location (not gathering), no safe area to view activity or disguise vehicles, rainy or windy conditions (not gathering), poor vehicle access, etc.
Notice on the days where no viewing opportunity exists would likely be given on short notice – perhaps the day before or the morning of the gather operation. You may attend multiple, consecutive observation days if you are within the first come, first served maximum (if one is set).
Access to and distance from the capture site location would be determined jointly by the Contractor and the BLM's Contracting Officer's Representative prior to gather operations. Safety of the horses, crew and public, is our top priority.
Adoption Information:
Many horses from the South Steens gather would be available for adoption beginning in late December 2024 or early January 2025. Adoption horses have yet to be selected. The method of adoption (online event, in-person event, first come first serve, etc.) is still under consideration as well.
Background:
The South Steens HMA is about 70 miles southwest of Burns and 10 miles south of Frenchglen along Hwy 205 and the Steens Mountain south loop road. The area is in rugged high desert country and is characterized by extremely rocky surfaces divided by canyons, rimrocks and plateaus, dissected by perennial and intermittent stream channels.
The HMA is managed for pinto-colored horses with above average conformation. Colors, however, range from pinto to buckskin, sorrel, bay, palomino, gray, brown and black. The horses in this herd average anywhere from 14 to 16 hands in size and from 900 to 1,200 pounds.
Related Information and Supporting Documents
- Daily Gather Reports
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August 21, 2024
Animals gathered: 45 (20 stallions, 17 mares, 8 foals)
Animals shipped: 129 (30 stallions; 60 mares; 30 foals)
Total deaths today: 1
- 20+ year old buckskin stallion with acute condition – poor body condition, unable to maintain or improve
Other: 2 observers present. Gather concluded today.
August 20, 2024
Animals gathered: 117 (43 stallions, 52 mares, 22 foals)
Animals shipped: 107 (23 stallions; 53 mares; 31 foals)
Total deaths today: 0
Other: 1 observer present.
August 19, 2024
Animals gathered: 133 (48 stallions, 54 mares, 31 foals)
Animals shipped: 135 (61 stallions; 49 mares; 25 foals)
Total deaths today: 0
Other: Moved capture site. 3 observers present.
August 18, 2024
Animals gathered: 129 (48 stallions, 56 mares, 25 foals)
Animals shipped: 161 (49 stallions; 85 mares; 27 foals)
Total deaths today: 3
- 8 year old sorrel stallion with pre-existing eye abnormality – blind in one eye
- 6 year old sorrel mare with pre-existing eye abnormality – blind in one eye
- 13 year old sorrel mare with acute condition – poor body condition, unable to maintain or improve
Other: 4 observers present.
August 17, 2024
Animals gathered: 128 (40 stallions; 61 mares; 27 foals)
Animals shipped: 127 (36 stallions; 50 mares; 41 foals)
Total deaths today: 1
- 10+ year old cremello stallion with pre-existing condition/eye abnormality - broken teeth blindness
Other: 2 observers present.
August 16, 2024
Animals gathered: 163 (52 stallions; 70 mares; 41 foals)
Animals shipped: 165 (60 stallions; 72 mares; 33 foals)
Total deaths today: 3
- 20+ year old dun stallion, with pre-existing condition/unable to maintain or improve - no teeth
- 5 year old pinto stallion with pre-existing eye abnormality - missing eye
- 14 year old cremello mare with pre-existing eye abnormality - blindness
Other: 6 observers present.
August 15, 2024
Animals gathered: 154 (60 stallions; 61 mares; 33 foals)
Animals shipped: 36 (35 stallions; 1 mare)
Total deaths today: 1
- 11 year old stallion with sudden, unexpected cervical fracture
Other: 11 observers present.
Gather Status
CUMULATIVE TOTALS
Animals Gathered: 869
Animals Shipped: 860
Animals Returned to Home Range: 0
Animal Deaths: 9
(1 acute/unexpected; 8 pre-existing conditions)
See daily gather reports for details.
1 (8/15)
3 (8/16)
1 (8/17)
3 (8/18)
1 (8/21)