Wild Horses Removal

Removals, used for necessary and immediate herd size reductions, typically occur every 2-4 years to achieve and maintain the Appropriate Management Level (AML) of the Pryor Mountain population. Removals have been conducted by helicopter and horseback, and bait-trapping. In 1997 and 2001 contractors were used and in 2003 a partial gather was conducted. Bait-trapping was conducted in 2006. Horses are corralled at the Britton Springs Administrative Site. Harem stallions and core breeding age mares are intended to remain on the range. No more than half the horses in an age class are intended for removal and management retains horses of rare color in the herd. The selection of removed horses may depend on an individual’s susceptibility to bait-trapping. All horses removed in 1997 and 2001 were adopted at the Britton Springs Administrative Site adoptions by qualified applicants. In 2003, removed horses were shipped to a Bureau of Land Management (BLM) holding facility in Nebraska and were adopted through the BLM Wild Horse and Burro Internet Adoption Program.