Wild Horse and Burro Resource Management

 

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) manages and protects wild horses and burros on 26.9 million acres of public lands across ten western states as part of its mission to administer public lands for multiple uses. The Wild Horse and Burro Program's goal is to manage healthy wild horses and burros on healthy public rangelands. The BLM created the Wild Horse and Burro Program to implement the Wild-Free Roaming Horses and Burros Act, passed by Congress in 1971. Broadly, the law declares wild horses and burros to be living symbols of the historic and pioneer spirit of the West and stipulates that the BLM and the U.S. Forest Service have the responsibility to manage and protect herds in their respective jurisdictions within areas where wild horses and burros were found roaming in 1971. The Wild Horse and Burro Program consists of two main branches: (1) On-Range management of wild horses and burros, and (2) Off-Range management and care of wild horses and burros. The goal of the On-Range program is to manage for healthy wild horse and burro populations and to maintain a thriving natural ecological balance with other resources and land uses. The Off-Range management goal is to ensure the health and welfare of wild horses and burros that were removed from public lands under BLM care, to place animals into private care through adoptions, sales, and transfers, to conduct compliance inspections of adopted animals and to build partnerships and relationships with external organizations. Communications, outreach, and education are priorities of both branches. This program continues to advance the Department of Interior's priorities to address the climate crisis and restore balance on public lands and waters.

Active 15.229 Bureau of Land Management, Department of The Interior B - Project Grants Fiscal Year 2016 No current data available. The BLM currently manages approximately 58,000 horses and burros in 179 herd management areas in 10 western states. Nationally, the appropriate management level (optimum number of animals on the range -AML) is about 27,000 animals. BLM does not have adequate tools to make significant progress towards achieving AML and continues remove excess animals from the range to address public safety & health issues, court orders, private land encroachment and to reach AML in priority habitat areas and to avoid range deterioration. BLM plans to reduce population growth by increasing fertility control vaccine applications through partnerships, and implementing spay and neuter methods. . BLM looks forward to expanding partnerships for long term care of animals and expanding programs to increase adoptions and sales.
Fiscal Year 2017 The BLM currently manages approximately 58,000 horses and burros in 179 herd management areas in 10 western states. Nationally, the appropriate management level (optimum number of animals on the range -AML) is about 27,000 animals. BLM does not have adequate tools to make significant progress towards achieving AML and continues remove excess animals from the range to address public safety & health issues, court orders, private land encroachment and to reach AML in priority habitat areas and to avoid range deterioration. BLM plans to reduce population growth by increasing fertility control vaccine applications through partnerships, and implementing spay and neuter methods. . BLM looks forward to expanding partnerships for long term care of animals and expanding programs to increase adoptions and sales.
Fiscal Year 2018 Fiscal Year 2018: The BLM managed approximately 82,000 wild horses and burros in 177 herd management areas (HMAs) in 10 Western states and placed 4,609 wild horses and burros into private care through adoption and sales Nationwide.
Fiscal Year 2019 The BLM currently manages approximately 88,000 wild horses and burros in 177 HMAs in 10 western states. Nationally, the appropriate management level (AML) is about 27,000 animals. BLM does not have adequate tools to make significant progress towards achieving AML and continues remove excess animals from the range to address public safety & health issues, court orders, private land encroachment and to reach AML in priority habitat areas and to avoid range deterioration. BLM plans to reduce population growth by increasing fertility control vaccine applications through partnerships, and implementing spay and neuter methods. BLM looks forward to continuing and developing new partnerships for the caring and training of wild horses and burros as well as expanding programs that increase private care placement through adoptions and sales.
Fiscal Year 2020 The BLM currently manages approximately 86,000 wild horses and burros in 177 HMAs in 10 western states. Nationally, the appropriate management level (AML) is about 27,000 animals. Currently, BLM does not have adequate tools to make significant progress towards achieving AML and continues removing excess animals from the range to address drought and wildfire emergencies, public safety and health issues, court orders, private land encroachment and to reach AML in priority habitat areas and to avoid range deterioration. The BLM continues efforts to reduce population growth by increasing fertility control vaccine applications through partnerships, investing in new research, and implementing non-surgical, permanent sterilization methods. The BLM looks forward to continuing and developing new partnerships for the caring and training of wild horses and burros as well as expanding programs that increase private care placement through adoptions and sales.
Fiscal Year 2021 Issued new awards for fertility control vaccine applications, public education, training and placement of wild horse and burros.
Fiscal Year 2022 The program expects to continue with developing new partnerships for the caring and training of wild horses and burros, increase private care placement through adoptions and sales and fertility control vaccine applications.
Fiscal Year 2023 Data is unavailable Wild Horses and Burros: Protection, Management, and Control 16 U.S.C. 1336 Cooperative Agreements
Federal Land Policy Management Act of 1976 Section 307(b) 43 U.S.C. 1737 (b) . All Public Land users. Not applicable. Preapplication coordination is required. An environmental impact statement is required for this listing. An environmental impact assessment is required for this listing. For more information and local requirements, cooperative project proposals should be coordinated with the Bureau of Land Management local State, or District or Field offices. 2 CFR 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards applies to this program. A Standard Form 424, Application for Federal Assistance, Standard Form 424A, Budget Information for Non-Construction Programs, Standard Form 424B, Assurances for Non-Construction Programs, and a written proposal, budget spreadsheet, a budget narrative/breakdown, and any other requirements specified in the Notice of Funding Opportunity Notice and submitted through www.grants.gov. State plan is not required for this application. All applications will be initially screened for eligibility and compliance with the requirements stated in the program Notice of Funding Opportunity Announcement. Applications passing this screening process will be forwarded for review by the proposal evaluation criteria, and any additional review factors, as stated in the funding announcement. State and District Office level and funding recommendations are made through the State's annual work plan. Final budget approvals rest with the State Director. Contact the headquarters or regional location, as appropriate for application deadlines Award time varies depending on the type and complexity of the project, but should not be more than five years. Further information will be available for each program at the time the Notice of Funding Opportunity is posted on www.grants.gov and may be obtained by contacting the point of contact listed in the funding opportunity announcement. Most awards are anticipated within 90 days or less after the announcement closes. Not applicable. Not applicable. First Level Screening -Basic Eligibility. Applications will be screened by the Grants Management Officer to ensure that applications meet basic eligibility requirements. Must meet the requirements of the Notice of Funding Opportunity posted on www.grants.gov, screening may include, but is not limited to: Program and/or legislative authority requirements are met; Submission is timely; and complete and properly executed SF-424 application package documents. B. Applications must satisfy basic eligibility screening requirements to be considered for further review. Second Level Evaluation -- Merit Review Evaluation is stated in each Notice of Funding Opportunity noticed post on www.grants.gov Third Level Review Pre-Award Clearance and Approvals. BLM will also complete a business evaluation and determination of responsibility. During these evaluations, the Grants Management Officer will evaluate variables such as: Federal Awardee Performance and Integrity Information System, financial stability, quality of management systems, past performance meeting prior award terms and conditions, reports and findings of audits performed, and applicant's ability to effectively implement statutory, regulatory or other requirements. Projects are designated to manage and protect wild free-roaming horses and burros to achieve and maintain a thriving natural ecological balance on the public lands. Project assistance can be used in researching for improved censusing techniques and fertility control methods; and adopting or long term care of excess animals removed from the range. Performance Reports: Shall submit at the minimum an annual Performance Report in accordance with the 2 CFR, Part 200.328 within 90 days after the anniversary date or as indicated in the Notice of Award. Upon completion of the agreement, recipients shall submit a final report no later than 120 calendar day after the award end date: Not applicable. All recipients of Federal awards shall maintain project records in accordance with 2 CFR 200.333 Retention requirements for records. Financial records, supporting documents, statistical records, and all other non-Federal entity records pertinent to a Federal award must be retained for a period of three years from the date of submission of the final expenditure report or, for Federal awards that are renewed quarterly or annually, from the date of the submission of the quarterly or annual financial report, respectively, as reported to the Federal awarding agency or pass-through entity in the case of a subrecipient. Federal awarding agencies and pass-through entities must not impose any other record retention requirements upon non-Federal entities, except as noted in 2 CFR 200.333. Statutory formula is not applicable to this assistance listing.

Matching requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing.

MOE requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing. No specific restrictions. However, most projects are funded on a year to year basis and no more than five years. Funds are expended during a particular fiscal year. Most awards are anticipated within 90 days or less after the announcement closes. Frequency of recipient payments will be determined for each awarded assistance agreement at time of award. None/Not specified. Division of Wild Horses and Burros
760 Horizon Drive, Suite 324
Grand Junction, CO 81506 USA
rwatson@blm.gov
Phone: 866-4MUSTANG http://www.wildhorseandburro.blm.gov 14-1109-0-1-302 (Cooperative Agreements (Discretionary Grants)) FY 22$28,940,048.00; FY 23 est $500,000.00; FY 24 est $500,000.00; FY 21$2,419,387.00; FY 20$6,692,100.00; FY 19$8,040,070.00; FY 18$3,350,246.00; FY 17$5,990,730.00; FY 16$12,493,878.00; - Past partnerships projects have run between $85,000 to $3,180,000. Average amounts are $532,300 or less. The wild horse and burro program is generally guided by provisions in 43 CFR Part 4700. BLM Manuals and Handbooks 4700 - 4770 provide basic program operational guidance for the wild horses and burro program and may be obtained by accessing the BLM library through the internet. Fiscal Year 2016 Same as FY15 BLM developed interagency agreement and assistance agreements for research to develop new fertility control methods including longer acting contraceptive vaccines and spay and neuter methods, research to improve population census techniques and programs to help place more excess wild horses and burros in good homes. Assistance agreements have been awarded previously to state departments of correction in Colorado, Nevada, Kansas, Wyoming, and AZ to train wild horses making them more adoptable, but continue to be supported. Universities have been awarded to conduct the genetic analysis of wild horse and burro herds.
Fiscal Year 2017 BLM developed interagency agreement and assistance agreements for research to develop new fertility control methods including longer acting contraceptive vaccines and spay and neuter methods, research to improve population census techniques and programs to help place more excess wild horses and burros in good homes. Assistance agreements have been awarded previously to state departments of correction in Colorado, Nevada, Kansas, AZ, and County of Sacramento, CA to train wild horses making them more adoptable, but continue to be supported. Universities have been awarded to conduct the genetic analysis of wild horse and burro herds.
Fiscal Year 2018 BLM has developed interagency agreement and assistance agreements for research to develop new fertility control methods including longer acting contraceptive vaccines, research to improve population inventory techniques and programs to help place more excess wild horses and burros in good homes. Assistance agreements have been awarded previously to state departments of correction in Colorado, and County of Sacramento, CA to train wild horses making them more adoptable, but continue to be supported. Universities have been awarded to conduct the genetic analysis of wild horse and burro herds as well as the development of new or improved population growth suppression vaccines.
Fiscal Year 2019 Mustang Heritage Foundation to assist in adoptions, public outreach, and placement of wild horse and burros.
Fiscal Year 2020 Mustang Heritage Foundation to assist in adoptions, public outreach, and placement of wild horse and burros. California Rio Cosumnes Correctional Center Wild Horse Training Program
Fiscal Year 2021 High Desert Strategies, Sand Wash Advocate Team (SWAT) and Wild Love Preserve to assist in fertility control and public education of wild horse and burros. Beatty Butte Wild Horse Training Facility for fertility control, public education, training and adopting of wild horse and burros.
Fiscal Year 2022 The program expects to continue with the funding of projects for adoptions, placement, public outreach, training and fertility control.
Fiscal Year 2023 Data unavailable.