BLM holds meeting on horse gathers

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Use of helicopters will be discussed

Blue Mountain Eagle

HINES - The U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Burns District is holding a public meeting April 21 to discuss agency procedures for gathering wild horses and how helicopters and other motorized equipment help the process.

The meeting will also cover the next wild horse gather - set for July - in the Burns District, in the Stinkingwater Herd Management Area.

This month's meeting will be at 5:30 p.m. in the BLM's Burns District Office, 28910 Highway 20 W., in Hines. It will provide information about motorized equipment use on wild horse gathers and about the Stinkingwater round-up.

"Good wild horse management requires the use of modern-day tools. We have found the use of helicopters and other motorized equipment is the most humane method to gather horses from the open range and remote mountain areas where they live," said Gary McFadden, BLM wild horse and burro specialist.

Oregon/Washington BLM gathers 400-500 horses on average annually from public lands. In 2010, gathers are tentatively planned for Herd Management Areas within the Burns and Vale Districts.

For additional information about the upcoming public meeting or Stinkingwater wild horse gather, contact the Burns District BLM at 541-573-4400.