November 19, 2009

Authorities in the US have extended the time for public feedback on a controversial proposal to remove 2500 wild horses from an area in northern Nevada known as the Calico complex.

The plan would target 80 per cent of the horses in the area, which covers five herd management areas.

Examiner.com reports that the Bureau of Land Management has received more than 7000 comments over the plans.

The bureau says the gather is needed to achieve and maintain the established appropriate management level of horses and prevent further range deterioration from what it calls the current overpopulation of wild horses in the area.

The herd management areas targetted in the proposed gather are Black Rock Range East, Black Rock Range West, Calico Mountains, Granite Range, and Warm Springs Canyon herd management areas.

The gather is expected to begin about December 7, 2009 and continue through the end of February 2010.

Submissions are requested to be in by November 22.

Environmental impact assessment

Questions and written comments should be directed to: Dave Hays, Field Manager, Black Rock Field Office, BLM Winnemucca District Office, 5100 E. Winnemucca Blvd., Winnemucca, NV 89445-2921. Comments may also be submitted by e-mail to wfoweb@nv.blm.gov. E-mail messages should include "Calico Complex Capture Plan (Fox)" in the subject line. Before including your address, phone number, e-mail address, or other personal identifying information in your comment, you should be aware that your entire comment - including your personal identifying information - may be made publicly available at any time. While you may ask us in your comment to withhold your personal identifying information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so.

Wild horses in the news