The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has announced two separate feral horse and burro operations which will take place this summer in the Sheldon National Wildlife Refuge as part of its ongoing management actions to protect native wildlife and their habitat on the refuge.
A gather of approximately 70 feral burros is scheduled for July 14-28; members of the public or media wihing to observe the gather must RSVP to Megan Nagel (megan_nagel@fws.gov, 503-231-6123) by June 30.
The second gather of approximately 420 feral horses has been scheduled for August 2014. Additional announcements will be issued in July and updated information posted on the USFWS website at www.fws.gov/sheldonhartmtn/Sheldon/horseburro.html once the gather dates are finalized. As with the burro gather, opportunities to observe will be provided by reservation only.
At over 575,000 acres, Sheldon NWR is the largest intact tract of the Great Basin ecosystem left in the American West. It was established to protect native wildlife, especially the American pronghorn, and protects a number of rare and imperiled species, including the Greater sage-grouse. According to the Fish and Wildlife Service, the once-domestic feral horses and burros cause significant damage to this fragile landscape. If they are not removed from Sheldon NWR, the Service will be unable to restore and conserve habitat conditions for native fish, wildlife, and plants, the purposes for which the refuge was established.
When removing feral horses and burros, the Service is committed to humane treatment of all animals. Animals will be gathered and transported to selected adoption contractors, consistent with the guidelines for humane treatment and safety outlined in the Sheldon NWR Comprehensive Conservation Plan.
In order to conduct effective and efficient operations, to improve safety for horses and burros, and to ensure public safety, the administrative facility where horses and burros are held temporarily is closed to public entry. In addition, portions of Sheldon NWR surrounding gather operations, including some roads, will be occasionally closed to public entry from July 14 through October 15, 2014.
The Service will provide limited escorted opportunities for the public and media representatives to observe feral burro gather operations from July 14 - 18. Primary considerations for selection of observation sites are safety and to ensure efficient and effective gather operations. The exact location of the gather sites will depend on site-specific conditions that may vary from day to day. The observation locations will be selected to provide an opportunity to view the gather without disrupting gather operations or creating a safety hazard. Consequently, members of the public/media should not expect opportunities for up-close observation or observation of all gather operations and should be prepared to travel to different locations within the broader gather area. Currently the Service anticipates burro gather operations will conclude on July 18. However, gather operations and schedules are subject to change at any time.
Members of the public/ media will not be allowed into closed areas of Sheldon NWR without prior reservation and escort.
Travel to gather observation sites will require driving gravel roads and potentially dirt roads suitable only for high clearance four-wheel drive vehicles. The Service will not provide transportation to the gather observation sites.
Weather during the gather may be variable with temperatures ranging from approximately 30-90 degrees Fahrenheit with rain showers or thunderstorms possible. Facilities will not be available and observers should plan accordingly, including adequate food and water. Observers should be prepared to hike through steep, rocky and uneven terrain for distances up to one-half mile and to remain at the observation site for a minimum of four hours.
For additional public observation information and updates regarding area closures, gather dates, observation schedules, and horse and burro adoption visit: www.fws.gov/sheldonhartmtn/Sheldon/horseburro.html.[[In-content Ad]]
