Beginning Oct. 6, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service plans to resume operations to gather approximately 120 wild horses within the Sheldon National Wildlife Refuge as part of its ongoing management actions to protect native wildlife and habitat on the refuge. Members of the public or media wishing to observe the gathers at Service corral facilities must RSVP to Megan Nagel (megan_nagel@fws.gov) (503) 231-6123 by Oct. 1.
Gather operations are currently scheduled to take place from Oct. 6 - 27, however dates are subject to change as necessary. Updated information will be posted on the website www.fws.gov/sheldonhartmtn/Sheldon/horseburro.html.
At over 575,000 acres, Sheldon National Wildlife Refuge is the largest intact tract of the Great Basin ecosystem left in the American West. According to Sheldon NWR officials, the once-domestic feral horses now on the Sheldon can cause significant damage to the fragile landscape.
When removing horses and burros, the service has made a commitment 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.
The service announced that the administrative facility where horses and burros are held temporarily is closed to public entry in order to conduct effective and efficient operations, to improve safety for horses and burros. Portions of the Sheldon NWR surrounding gather operations, including some roads, will be occasionally closed to public entry while gather operations are underway.
The service will provide limited escorted opportunities for the public and media representative to observe gather operations when possible and observe corral facilities following the gather. However, the service warns that gathers will likely use multiple sites throughout each day and members of the public or 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.
Members of the public or media will not be allowed into closed areas of Sheldon NWR without prior reservation and escort. The service will not provide transportation to gather sites and travel to those sites will require driving gravel and dirt roads suitable only for high clearance four-wheel drive vehicles.
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