Why would the BLM zero out an HMA?
According to the BL HMAs are generally zeroed out for one or more of the following reasons: • No water or water is so reduced that it cannot sustain the population of horses or burros, cattle and native wildlife. • No forage or forage is so reduced that it cannot sustain the population of horses or burros, cattle and native wildlife. • The population of horses or burros is below what is considered to be a viable population. The BLM maintains that scientific data doesn’t agree on what a “viable” number is for a herd population. They argue that herds as small as 50 can be genetically viable as long as there are more “older” “breeding” individuals. According to Dr. Gus Cothran of University of Kentucky , who is the foremost authority on genetic markers and genetic variation of wild herds, he stated that he feels a minimum of one hundred fifty (150) to two hundred (200) horses of various ages must be maintained to protect genetic diversity. He clarifies this by saying that this number will
