Secretary of the Interior, Stewart Udall, created the Pryor Wild Horse Range in 1968 even before there was the Wild Horse and Burro Act of 1971. The Secretary realized that the Pryor wild horses were unique, tracing their roots to Native Americans and the Lewis and Clark Expedition horses. When the Secretary learned that the herd was to be rounded up and destroyed by local BLM managers, he heroically acted. Now is the time for you not to just react but act.

The Environmental Assessment proposes that the Pryor Herd can be lumped in with all herds (a metapopulation) - contending no Mustang herds throughout the West are unique. This is a dangerous concept as it does not allow for individualized management of each herd. All wild horse herds have their own unique characteristics and should be managed to maintain their diverse and special qualities.

The current Appropriate Management Level (AML) for the Pryor Mountain Wild Horse Range calls for 98-121 horses, which is far below genetic viability standards - a minimum of 150 is recommended to maintain diversity. The current estimated population on the mountain is 200 horses (but likely less due to continuing severe winter weather). For this FIRST removal, BLM intends to take the population down to 150. Subsequent removals would take numbers down to 120, then 98, and that would destroy the genetic health and long-term survival of this unique herd.

A large roundup like this in a smaller herd would prove detrimental to the herd’s dynamic, as well as its genetic health. Of course, this also means many more of the horses we know and love will be captured and their families destroyed.

Comments may be submitted by clicking the link below. We strongly recommend that you customize your comments. Feel free to add and delete anything, personalizing your suggestions to encourage the preservation of this historic herd.

PLEASE NOTE - while this is a difficult situation and the thought of having horses removed is disturbing, please keep in mind that your comments will have more impact if you remain courteous, factual, and polite when responding.

When you click the COMMENTS button, you will find that we have included some talking points for you to consider. Please feel free to edit those to reflect your own thoughts and concerns. Below is a preview of some of the issues we’ve included in those comments.

-Object to lumping Pryor Herd or any other herd into one “metapopulation”

-Encourage expansion of Pryor Wild Horse Range to allow for a larger herd.

-Strongly oppose low Appropriate Management Level (AML) of 90 horses. (Note: This herd has never been reduced to that low number, which is not genetically sustainable)

-Include Sorenson Extension to range

-Add Demijohn Flat to the range (horses’ historic use area)

-This is the last remaining wild horse herd in Montana

-Other Montana herds zeroed out decades ago

-There is joy in seeing and reading about Pryor Mustangs

-Pryor Mustangs raise appreciation and enjoyment of our public lands

-Remove only young horses

-Incrementally remove young horses over a 5–10 year period

-Remove 15 horses from the 1–4-year-old age group for the first removal

-Revive the use of trained volunteers for darting using only PZP (or PZP-22)

-Support only PZP (or PZP-22) for population management

-Do not support Gonacon or other fertility controls if they destroy the hormone production necessary for natural wild behaviors