BLM to Begin Swasey Wild Horse Roundup

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Release Date: 02/01/13
Contacts: Lisa Reid , 435-743-3128

BLM to Begin Swasey Wild Horse Catch, Treat, and Release Gather
Public welcome to attend daily
Fillmore, Utah—The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) West Desert District, Fillmore Field Office will begin the Swasey Herd Management Area (HMA) wild horse gather on or about Tuesday, February 12, 2013.
The BLM is planning on gathering an estimated 262 wild horses from the Swasey HMA with up to 100 being released back onto the range following the gather. Approximately 49 mares will be treated with the fertility control drug Porcine Zona Pellucida (PZP-22); the remainder of the released horses will be studs. Approximately 162 excess wild horses, including wild horses gathered that are residing outside the HMA boundary, will be removed. Animals removed from the Swasey HMA will be available for adoption through the BLM Wild Horse and Burro Adoption Program.  Those that are not adopted will be cared for in long-term pastures, where they retain their “wild” status and protection under the 1971 Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act.
Members of the public are welcome to view the daily gather operations once they begin, so long as the safety of the animals, staff and observers are not jeopardized and operations are not disrupted.  During the gather, interested public may participate in an escorted tour by meeting at the Hart’s Food and Gas at 76 North Highway 6 in Delta, Utah ready to leave at 6:00 a.m. sharp.  The dates and departure times are subject to change depending upon weather and gather operations.  The public is strongly encouraged to check the gather hotline nightly 435-743-3124 for changes in schedule.  Participants must provide their own transportation, water and lunches.  The BLM recommends that the public dress for harsh field conditions.  Binoculars as well as four wheel drive vehicles are strongly recommended.
There is no anticipated closure of public lands, except if deemed necessary due to safety concerns.  Outdoor recreationists and visitors should be aware that low flying aircraft will be present in the area and brief road closures may be needed to allow movement of wild horse herds during gather operations.
The Swasey HMA is located in Millard and Juab Counties 50 miles west of Delta, Utah, and encompasses approximately 120,113 acres, with a current population estimated at 350 wild horses.  The Appropriate Management Level for the Swasey HMA is 60-100 wild horses.
Updates and information will be available at: http://blm.gov/nzkd on a regular basis throughout the course of the gather.
Get real-time updates on Twitter @BLMWHB #SwaseyGather.
The EA, Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) and Decision Record are posted on the BLM website at http://blm.gov/fxkd.
To learn more about the program or to obtain an adoption application, visit the BLM National Wild Horse and Burro website athttp://blm.gov/dxkd.
For information on participating in public observation days, please contact Lisa Reid, Public Affairs Specialist, at 435-979-2838.
The BLM manages more than 245 million acres of public land, the most of any Federal agency. This land, known as the National System of Public Lands, is primarily located in 12 Western states, including Alaska. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. In Fiscal Year (FY) 2011, recreational and other activities on BLM-managed land contributed more than $130 billion to the U.S. economy and supported more than 600,000 American jobs. The Bureau is also one of a handful of agencies that collects more revenue than it spends. In FY 2012, nearly $5.7 billion will be generated on lands managed by the BLM, which operates on a $1.1 billion budget. The BLM’s multiple-use mission is to sustain the health and productivity of the public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations. The Bureau accomplishes this by managing such activities as outdoor recreation, livestock grazing, mineral development, and energy production, and by conserving natural, historical, cultural, and other resources on public lands.
–BLM–Utah State Office   440 West 200 South, Suite 500      SLC, UT 84101-1345
Last updated: 02-01-2013