Feature Class for BLM Wild Horse and Burro Herd Areas.

Herd Areas were designated in 1971 as places where wild horses and/or burros were found during the initial flights in 1971. Federal lands identified in 1971 but not managed for wild horses and burros are called Herd Areas. As additional surveys were done and data gathered, it was determined that some of these lands and animals were actually on private lands and/or were private animals. Areas with private animals that were claimed during the claiming period were not carried forward as Herd Areas. Herd Areas were carried forward in land use plans and determinations were made as to whether or not to manage animals on these federal lands.

Federal lands identified in 1971 but managed for wild horses and burros are called Herd Management Areas. In Herd Management Areas, specific laws and regulations pertaining to the management of wild horses and burros are applied. The Bureau uses the term Herd Management Area; the Forest Service uses the term Wild Horse Territory. All Herd Management Areas need to be contained within an originally designated Herd Area. Management status can change based on changing conditions.

The BLM Historical Wild Horse and Burro Herd Management Area polygon feature class remains empty until a change occurs to any of the BLM Wild Horse and Burro Herd Management Area polygons. When changes occur to a BLM Wild Horse and Burro Herd Management Area polygon, the original herd management area is moved to this historical polygon feature class. The resulting polygons are no longer active and are stored in this feature class for historical reference.

The BLM Historical Wild Horse and Burro Herd Management Area features are a result of the BLM Wild Horse and Burro Herd Management Area polygons being permanently changed as a result of a business need.