1. 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

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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

5. El Rito RD Jarita Mesa WHT
Carson National Forest
El Rito RD Jarita Mesa WHT
54,866 acres, 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

6. 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
~500 horses (2017) – 4.8 x AML
140 mares treated with PZP since 2014

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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
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

10. 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

11. 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

12. 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

13. 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