The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Utah State Office in Salt Lake City has received numerous written wild horse removal request letters since 2016 for the Range Creek Herd in the located within the BLM Price Field Office. These letters have come from both the private land owner and the Utah Department of Natural Resources. Mitigation efforts over the past three years have been attempted by maintenance of fences and control of water resources, but to no avail. Furthermore, the minimal snowpack of the 2017-2018 winter season and prolonged drought conditions have allowed wild horses to stay at higher elevations, adding impacts to the available forage and water resources on private lands. Also, it is estimated that the current population of the Range Creek Herd is 378 head of horses, but the Appropriate Management Level (AML) for this herd is between 75 and 125 head of horses.

1) The capture objective is to gather and remove approximately 100 wild horses from the Range Creek HMA, Carbon County, Utah, utilizing necessary approved capture methods.

The BLM is charged with the enhancement and maintenance of healthy rangelands in order to provide a "thriving natural ecological balance" for all species residing on the range. Excess wild horses from the Range Creek HMA are negatively affecting rangeland resources on private lands. The proposed action benefits the resources and helps restore the range to a thriving natural ecological balance.

Wild Horse and Burro Act of 1971 (Public Law 92-195) Section 3(a) and (b), and Title 43 of the Code of Federal Regulations 4720.2. The proposed action is in conformance with the Price Field Office RMP because it is specifically provided for in the following PFO RMP goals, objectives, and management decisions: "Manage wild horses and burros at appropriate management levels (AML) to ensure a thriving natural ecological balance among wild horse populations, wildlife, livestock, vegetation resources, and other resource values" (Page 86). "Maintain the number of wild horses and burros within established HMAs at AMLs as designated in Herd Management Plans" (Page 86). "WHB-1: Manage populations...to maintain AMLs on established HMAs" (Page 86). "WHB-8: Range Creek HMA; 55,000 acres; 75-125 (horses)" (Page 87).

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This removal will help protect several natural springs from prolonged use by wild horses.

NEPA DECISION RECORD Categorical Exclusion DOI-BLM-UT-G020-2018-0040-CX (signed 06/13/2018).

The Removal would occur utilizing a bait and/or water trap. Some incidental roping in order to maintain mare/foal pairs may be needed. Horses removed will be transported to BLM Contract facility in Axtell, Utah; which is approximately 150 miles from the project area. 1. Water Trapping This method involves setting up a trap constructed of temporary panel around a well-used water source and manually closing the gate(s) using a pull rope once the wild horses enter the trap. This requires personal to be at the trap site to man and close the gate. Bait may also be placed in the corrals to influence the horses to stay in the corrals longer than if they were only watering. Gates would be wired open until the capture day. This would allow wildlife and livestock access to the water, while the wild horses become comfortable entering the corrals to drink. When gates are manned wildlife and livestock would be permitted to enter and leave the trap without capture. 2. Portable Corral Traps/Exclosures Capture traps would be constructed in a fashion to minimize the potential for injury to wild horses and BLM or BLM authorized personnel. Gates would be wired open at all unmanned trap sites, and would be left closed only when needed to hold horses inside. Trapped horses would not be held inside the traps for a period exceeding 10 hours, unless provided with feed and water.

Range Creek Herd Management Area is monitored by the BLM staff.

Specific coordination efforts have already taken place with the area livestock grazers, Utah School Institutional Trust Lands, Utah Division of Wildlife Resources, and private land owners by BLM personnel.

Will maintain the number of wild horses and burros within established HMAs at AMLs as designated in Herd Management Plans.

Domestic livestock and wildlife will benefit from the additional forage and water.

07/01/2018

07/18/2018

2019

Utah--The Bureau of Land Management has concluded a water and bait trap gather of wild horses outside of the Range Creek Herd Management Area (HMA) in Carbon County, Utah. In an effort to be a good neighbor to the communities we serve, the BLM gathered 92 wild horses from private lands in and around the HMA. This gather was in response to numerous letters received from private landowners and a request from the Utah Department of Natural Resources to remove the horses from private lands. The Range Creek HMA consists of approximately 55,000 acres of Federal, State and private lands located 10 miles northeast of Price, Utah. The BLM manages the area for up to 125 wild horses, but the current population exceeds 375, a number that may impact the area's ecological balance. Gather reports and additional information are posted on the BLM's website at https://www.blm.gov/2018-range-creek-gather. Horses removed from the range were transported to the BLM contract facility in Axtell, Utah, where they will be prepared for the BLM adoption and purchase program.

6/27 - A wet mare with a severely club foot was captured along with a 2 month old foal (she was shipped due to the age of the foal and inspection of the mare by contract veterinarian). 7/15/18 - The gather concluded due to a lack of horses entering the trap sites and an increase in weather activity that has moved into the area.

Horse population will continue to be monitored in the future by the BLM and additional gather will occur as needed..