Fertility control as a tool within the U. S Fertility control as a tool within the U.S. Forest Service Sustainable wild horse program management: An example from New Mexico Hope Woodward, USDA Forest Service, Washington, DC, USA and Sean Kelly, Carson National Forest, Bloomfield, NM, USA

Wild Horse and Burro Management Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act, 1971, passed in response to the shooting, poisoning and capture for slaughter of wild horses and burros in the West Protect wild horses and burros from capture, branding, harassment, or death Manage wild horses and burros at the minimal feasible level in a manner that is designed to achieve and maintain a thriving natural ecological balance on the land Set appropriate management level, AML, to allow maintenance of a self-sustaining population, and maintain a thriving natural ecological balance, accounting for the needs of multiple users Monitor and survey populations and maintain genetic diversity and viability Monitor habit and vegetation use and availability Maintain an inventory of wild horses and burros on each territory to determine whether and where an overpopulation exists (over AML) and whether action should be taken to remove excess animals, or other options

U.S. Forest Service Wild Horse and Burro Program On- and Off-range management Quick facts 6 active territories with management plans completed NEPA Fertility control (1) Short-term off-range facilities (1) Removals and gentling (2) Adoptions / Sales (2) 7100 wild horses, 900 wild burros 14 national forests, 7 states 2.1 million acres 34 active territories 24 managed with BLM

U.S. Forest Service on- and off-range management Complete territory management plans Implement fertility control, where feasible, for long-term on-range management Reduce population to sustainable levels Remove excess animals, train, adopt, and sell Implement a successful adoption program to balance adoptions with removals No long-term holding

El Rito RD Jarita Mesa WHT Carson National Forest El Rito RD Jarita Mesa WHT 54,866 acres, 7000-9000 ft elev Active grazing allotment /~ 500 hd Ungulate competition for forage Management plan 2002 AML range 20-70 111 horses (2016) – 1.6 x AML Site of Tufts University 2012 study 26 mares treated with PZP-22 in 2012

Jicarilla RD Jicarilla WHT Carson National Forest Jicarilla RD Jicarilla WHT 76,270 acres (74,630 federal lands) Grazing allotments (3) / ~140 hd Oil & gas access roads Borders BLM herd management area Management plan 2004 AML range 50-105 ~500 horses (2017) – 4.8 x AML 140 mares treated with PZP since 2014

Fertility control: starting at zero Jicarilla Ranger District – Antonio Madrid, Mt Taylor Mustangs (MTM) – Dan Elkins District Ranger Sky Mountain Wild Horse Sanctuary (SMWHS) – El Rito Ranger District – Diana Trujillo, Dr. Karen Herman Carson NF background Fertility control: starting at zero Partnerships & collaboration Vision & leadership Translating science into management Adaptive management

Translating science into management (2009-2014) Carson National Forest PZP implementation tailored to unique features of Carson territories Horses on Jarita Mesa highly unapproachable Jarita Mesa mountainous heavily forested terrain led to use of bait-trap and hand-darting Jicarilla’s roaded more open terrain makes remote darting more effective Initial challenges in ID and document individual horses for PZP treatment Partners provided field work, equipment, supplies, PZP Tufts University efficacy study Determine which herds are good candidates for fertility control, and the resources necessary to be successful

Carson National Forest Management Timeline 1971 WFRHB Act Passed 1970s-1990s Manage by gather, adoption, off-range transfer 1977 Jicarilla MP 1982 Jarita Mesa MP 1999- 2004 gathers on hold Evaluate alternatives to helicopter gathers 2002 Jarita Mesa NEPA decision signed 2004 Jicarilla NEPA decision signed Fertility control considered remote & bait-trap 2008 MTM & SMWHS discuss using PZP 2009 PZP started 2011 HSUS funds PZP 2012 Carson builds facilities 2012 Tufts Univ PZP-22 research 2017 > 50% Jicarilla & 50% Jarita Mesa tx

Carson NF as management example What makes the Carson unique? First forest to treat wild horses with immuno- contraceptive Porcine Zona Pellucida (PZP), 2009 Added PZP strategy to practice of round-up and removal Wild horse coordinator’s vision and leadership earned support and funding at regional and forest levels Entered into partnerships with MTM and SMWH for on- range remote and bait-trapping darting Partnerships reduced cost and personnel time Coordinator program stewardship sustained program Carson NF as management example

Program support Regional funding averages $350,000 / year Forest staff 1 FTE wild horse program manager 1 FTE facilities manager & field technician 1 seasonal wild horse field technician Fire management staff support in “off-season” Regional staff 1 FTE wild horse and burro program coordinator Contracts and cost-share agreements Gentling training and adoption Fertility control Carson National Forest Program support

Future actions Expand partnerships for on-range management and fertility control Improve facilities Foster inter-forest technology exchange Improve forage and water availability to improve health and distribution of horses Demonstrate a successful program that can be replicated Stabilize the wild horse population to minimize need for round up and removal

Acknowledgments Kim Frank, The Science and Conservation Center, Billings, MT Dr. Karen Herman, Sky Mountain Wild Horse Sanctuary Dr. Allen Rutberg, Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine, Tufts University