Harney County court adopts declaration urging BLM to proceed with Riddle Mountain emergency gather

Harney County Court unanimously adopted a declaration Sept. 16 describing resource harm at the Riddle Mountain Herd Management Area (HMA) and urging the Bureau of Land Management to proceed with an emergency gather to reduce horse numbers.

Commissioners cited post‑fire vegetation loss affecting available forage—one speaker said "68% of that HMA has been affected by wildfire"—and referenced independent observations that some animals are in poor body condition. County counsel advised that a declaration could support legal filings or communications with federal agencies; the court voted to approve and execute the declaration and authorized staff to coordinate with counsel for any follow‑up.

Why it matters: Herd sizes that exceed range capacity can cause ecological damage and horse suffering; emergency gathers are one management tool used by federal agencies to protect range health and animal welfare. The declaration formalizes county concerns and provides supporting facts for federal decision‑makers.

Next steps: County counsel will coordinate with relevant attorneys and the BLM; staff will file the declaration as appropriate and make it available to supporting agencies.