Grand Vista Hotel 2790 Crossroads Blvd. Grand Junction, Colorado October 18 – 19, 2017 Executive Summary NATIONAL WILD HORSE & BURRO U. S. Department of the Interior Bureau of Land Management ADVISORY BOARD Executive Summary The Wild Horse and Burro Advisory Board (Board) (Table 1) advises the Secretary of the Interior, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Director, the Secretary of Agriculture, and the Chief of the U. S. Forest Service (FS) on matters pertaining to the management and protection of wild, free-roaming horses and burros on the Nation’s public lands. NATIONAL WILD HORSE & BURRO ADVISORY BOARD MEMBERS Board Member Representing Mr. Fred T. Woehl, Jr. (Chair) Public Interest (Equine Behavior) Ms. Ginger Kathrens Humane Advocacy Mr. Ben Masters Wildlife Management Mr. Steven Yardley Livestock Grazing Ms. Jennifer Sall Public Interest Dr. Julie M. Weikel Veterinary Medicine Ms. June Sewing Wild Horse & Burro Advocacy Mr. James French Natural Resources Management Dr. Sue M. McDonnell (Vice Chair) Wild Horse & Burro Research Table 1 - National Wild Horse and Burro Advisory Board Members During its October 18 – 19, 2017, meeting held in Grand Junction, Colorado, the Board received updates from BLM on several different areas pertaining to the management of wild horses and burros, which are summarized below. In her opening remarks, Ms. Kristen Bail, BLM’s Assistant Director for Natural Resources and Planning and the Board’s Designated Federal Official stressed the importance of private/public partnerships in the future of BLM’s wild horse and burro program. She noted that Congress (1) granted BLM authority to establish a new tool, the BLM Foundation, which will assist the agency in meeting its multiple use mandate and (2) charged BLM in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2017 Appropriations Act, to prepare and submit a plan to “achieve long-term sustainable populations on the range in a humane manner.” In turn, the President’s FY 2018 Budget Request asks Congress several crucial and difficult questions (below) about the program. • What tools provided in the Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act of 1971 (Public Law 92-195) does Congress want BLM to use? • How can BLM achieve and maintain AML? • How can we reduce program costs? • How can we have a sustainable, long-term future that has healthy horses on healthy rangelands for the long-term? Mr. Greg Shoop, BLM Colorado’s acting State Director welcomed the Board to Colorado and provided an overview of BLM Colorado, which is responsible for managing over 8 million surface acres of public land and 27 million acres of subsurface Federal mineral estate. BLM Colorado’s public lands contributed more than $4 billion and 23,000 jobs to the Colorado economy in 2016, including energy development and recreation, which are large economic drivers in Colorado. Mr. Shoop stressed the importance of working closely with a diverse group of stakeholders, partners, and advisory boards and councils to ensure a thriving natural ecologic balance between wild horses and the many other uses outlined in the agency’s multiple-use mandate. Mr. Shoop highlighted efforts of the Great Escape Mustang Sanctuary (GEMS) and the Sand Wash Advocate Team (SWAT), which greatly increased what can be done on the ground to benefit wild horses and the land on which they live. National Wild Horse and Burro Advisory Board Meeting – October 18 – 19, 2017 Page 1 Mr. Shoop was followed by Ms. Laria Lovec, BLM Colorado’s Wild Horse and Burro State Lead, who addressed BLM Colorado’s wild horse and burro program in more detail. In summary, there are three Herd Management Areas (HMA) (Piceance-East Douglas, Sand Wash, and Spring Creek Basin) and the Little Books Cliff Wild Horse Range northeast of Grand Junction. Ms. Lovec highlighted eight BLM partnerships who provide Colorado Wild Horse Partnerships vital assistance and resources to the agency as well as the animals both on and off the range. Off-range activities include Organization Focus establishment of the state’s first “store front” program, working with GEMS and Colorado Correctional Industries in training and Great Escape Mustang Sanctuary .......... Off-Range adopting animals into good homes, and forming the Spirits of the Sand Wash Advocate Team .................... On-Range West 4-H Club. On-range partnerships provide critical Friends of the Mustangs ......................... On-Range assistance in monitoring animals on the ground as well as TJ Holmes ............................................... On-Range implementing population growth control programs. Burro Base Camp .................................. Off-Range Spirits of the West 4-H Club .................. On-Range Ms. Kristen Bail explained that the BLM postponed taking Mustang Heritage Foundation ............... Off-Range specific action on the Board’s September 2016 recommendations Colorado Correctional Industries ........... Off-Range until the Board could provide input and feedback concerning the Report to Congress addressing the future for a sustainable wild horse and burro program. In addressing BLM’s national wild horse and burro program, Mr. Dean Bolstad, Chief of BLM’s Wild Horse and Burro Division in Washington, D. C., provided an overview of BLM’s history and mission, various legal mandates pertaining to the wild horse and burro program, BLM’s land use planning process, and program specifics [i.e., population numbers, removal and population growth trends, AML, management tools, and challenges (overpopulation, rangeland degradation, animals leaving management areas, etc.) facing the program.] Mr. Alan Shepherd, BLM’s On-Range Branch Chief in Reno, NV, provided an overview of BLM’s on-range activities including removal of 4,209 animals and providing immune-contraception to 841 animals in FY 2017. While a complete FY 2018 gather schedule cannot be developed until BLM receives its FY 2018 budget, the agency is moving forward on removing 1,623 animals from rangelands prior to December 8, 2017. Mr. Shepherd’s update also addressed BLM’s research efforts and ongoing litigation. Ms. Holle' Waddell, BLM’s Off-Range Branch Chief, provided updates addressing several areas including off-range facilities, Internet adoption website, adoption demand study, private care placement team activities, development of an adoption and sale brochure, eco-sanctuaries, correction center programs, the Mustang Heritage Foundation partnership, and FY 2015 to FY 2017 adoption and sale figures. Mr. Michael Reiland, Wild Horse and Burro Program Budget Analyst in BLM’s Washington Office, provided an overview of BLM’s FY 2017 program expenditures, budget implications of recent actions (i.e., moving animals from short-term to long-term holding facilities), and the average “per unit” cost for several program elements. Ms. Hope Woodward from the FS provided an overview of the agency’s national wild horse and burro program, which involves 34 active territories encompassing approximately 2.1 million acres. Ms. Woodward also summarized the agency’s staffing and budget, management capacity and planning, on- and off-range activities, program updates and accomplishments, administration, grants and agreements, and litigation. In the afternoon of Day 1, Dr. Chad Boyd from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agricultural Research Services gave a presentation addressing the effects of feral horses on soils and vegetation in sagebrush and riparian plant communities. Dr. Albert Kane, a veterinarian from the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service addressed currently available contraceptives and sterilization techniques for wild horses and burros. National Wild Horse and Burro Advisory Board Meeting – October 18 – 19, 2017 Page 2 In closing the first day of the meeting, 51 speakers were given opportunity to address the Board with their thoughts, comments, and concerns during the meeting’s public comment period. The second day of the meeting began with a joint presentation by Ms. TJ Holmes, Ms. Michelle Sander (GEMS), Ms. Stella Trueblood (SWAT), and Ms. Stephanie Linsley (GEMS), addressing the fantastic accomplishments of their respective organizations in working in partnership with BLM. Dr. Terry Messmer from Utah State University provided a summary of the National Wild Horse and Burro Summit held in Salt Lake City, Utah on August 24, 2017, including the results of a survey of Summit attendees in addressing questions related to managing wild horses and wild burros. Ms. Mary Jo Rugwell, BLM Wyoming’s State Director, gave a presentation entitled What are the Key Elements of a Sustainable Wild Horse and Burro Program? addressing BLM’s approach to developing a Report to Congress, which was requested by Congress in the FY 2017 Appropriations Act. The presentation asked the Board for feedback on nine important questions. 1. How can the BLM achieve AML within all HMAs with 5 – 10 years? 2. How can the BLM sustainably maintain AML within all HMAs? 3. How can the BLM reduce and control holding costs for excess animals? 4. How can the BLM significantly increase annual adoptions and sales of wild horses and burros? 5. How can the BLM continue to ensure humane treatment of wild horses and burros? 6. How can the BLM use best available science to improve management of wild horses and burros? 7. What humanitarian assistance opportunities exists for wild horses and burros? 8. How can the BLM better provide information to the public? 9. How can the BLM increase public participation and financial support in the management of wild horses and burros