BLM Releases the Twin Peaks Aerial Survey Results, July 30, 2010…

The BLM has released the Twin Peaks Aerial Survey Results. See the text below or the pdf here:

Twin Peaks Aerial Survey Results July 30, 2010

U.S. Department of the Interior

Bureau of Land Management

 News Release

For Immediate Release: July 30, 2010 CA-N-10-88

Contact: Jeff Fontana (530) 252-5332

BLM Completes Aerial Population Survey of Twin Peaks Wild Horses and Burros

The Bureau of Land Management has completed an aerial population survey of wild horses and burros in the Twin Peaks Herd Management Area (HMA) north of Susanville. Working from a helicopter over five days last week, observers counted 2,236 wild horses and 231 wild burros in the 800,000-acre area. BLM natural resource specialists had earlier estimated the wild populations at 2,300 wild horses and 280 wild burros. “The count was an important step in our plans to gather excess wild horses and burros, while ensuring that we retain the appropriate management levels, or herd sizes, on the range,” said Nancy Haug, the BLM’s northern California district manager. “Our goal in the upcoming gather is to ensure that healthy, viable herds are left on the range in balance with other range users.” The BLM tentatively plans to begin the five-week round up operation on Aug. 9. Another aerial survey will be conducted after the gather to ensure the appropriate management levels (448-758 wild horses and 72-116 burros) remain in the herd management area. Under the federal Wild and Free Roaming Horses and Burros Act, the BLM is required to determine the number of wild horses and burros that can be supported by the forage and water resources in each herd management area. When populations exceed these levels, excess animals are removed. They are offered for adoption by the public, or cared for in Midwestern pastures. The Twin Peaks Herd Management area is the largest managed by BLM-California. Straddling the California-Nevada border, the HMA is 55 miles long and 35 miles wide, with lands in Lassen County, Calif. and Washoe County, Nev.