I’ve been meaning to post this for quite a while now – It happened on September 3rd in Bighorn Canyon and unfolded over about one hour. While out there, I headed down to the overlook area. Soon after, I came upon Sacajawea, her foal Kemmerer, and Jemez. I was a little surprised to see Jemez here instead of with his mom in Fiero’s harem.
Though much of this post shows things I’ve lately seen in the Dryhead area, I’m going to start with some photographs of the improvements made to the cattleguard that is on the new north boundary fence.
This part of the fence has had some additions to further reduce the chances that horses can be injured by it. Also, a spring gate now goes across the cattleguard.
The cattleguard has had more bars welded onto it to further reduce the chances that a horse could get injured by crossing it.
The Billings Field Office has released its preliminary Environmental Assessment (EA) and an unsigned Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) for a fertility control program. The Dear Reader letter reads as follows:
November 1, 2010
Dear Interested Party:
Enclosed for your review and comment is the Pryor Mountain Wild Horse Range (PMWHR) Fertility Control Tiered Preliminary Environmental Assessment (EA) DOI-BLM-MT-010-2011-0004 and unsigned Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) for the implementation of a fertility control program on the PMWHR. The documents will be available for 30-day public review and comment beginning November 1, 2010.
This EA is tiered to the PMWHR/Territory EA (MT-010-08-24) and Herd Management Area Plan (HMAP) May 2009. This tiered EA has been prepared to analyze the impacts associated to wild horses from application of fertility control within the PMWHR through 2015. The analysis from the HMAP is incorporated by reference. All other impacts and affected environment are already described and analyzed in the HMAP and subsequent FONSI and Decision Record (DR). These documents are available on the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Billings Field Office (BiFO) website at http://www.blm.gov/mt/st/en/fo/billings_field_office/wildhorses/pryorherd.html.
The BLM proposes to apply fertility control to selected mares on the PMWHR through 2015 in order to help maintain the appopriate management level of 90-120 wild horses. The BLM has determined through the EA and HMAP May 2009 and subsequent FONSI and DR that 90-120 wild horses (excluding current year’s foals) are needed in order to ensure and achieve a thriving natural ecological balance. The fertility control would begin in 2011 and continue through 2015. The proposed action should help prevent deterioration of the rangelands and help maintain a thriving natural ecological balance and multiple-use relationships as described in the HMAP. The method of fertility control would be through remote darting application utilizing liquid Porca Zona Pellucide (PZP) into selected mares over 1 year of age.
Comments on the EA or the unsigned FONSI must be received at the letterhead address by close of business on December 1, 2010. Only written comments will be accepted either through standard delivery, fax or hand delivered. The BLM will consider any comments and revise the EA or FONSI as appropriate.
Thank you for your interest in the management of the PMWHR by the Billings Field Office. If you have questions, please contact Jared Bybee, Wild Horse and Burro Specialist, at (406) 896-5223.
Sincerely,
James M. Sparks
Field Manager
These documents can be found by clicking here or on the cover page image below. Remember, comments are due on December 1, 2010.
For more information on PZP, please click here to read the current version of the PZP Q&A. This is a very helpful document that was put together by some of the experts in the field and is based on actual research.
PryorWild 