Bureau of Land Management

Description

The BLM has a mission to maintain a Thriving Natural Ecological Balance on the range. To accomplish this, Appropriate Management Levels for horses have been identified during the Land Use Planning process. To maintain these Appropriate Management Levels the BLM needs to use multiple management tools, including various methods for contracepting or sterilizing horses. This work will expand the evaluation of a field technique to perform ovariectomy (spay) on wild horse mares and the potential for surgery-related complications. Specifically the investigators will determine the safety and practicality of spaying mares via colpotomy as a tool for wild horse population control. The results of this study will provide standardized, baseline outcomes for this surgical procedure which can be directly compared to other less invasive procedures.The principal purpose/objective of this project is to support research being conducted by scientists at a public university who are seeking ways to alleviate excessive wild horse population growth rates. These researchers will be able to publish their results, and the knowledge gained will benefit the public by providing information that can contribute to recommendations for managing the growth of wild horse populations.

Who can apply

• Public and State controlled institutions of higher education

Contact

Sheri Dowley, Grants Management Specialist, 503-808-6243 <br/>sdowley@blm.gov <br/>
sdowley@blm.gov