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Michael
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Post by Michael » Thu Jan 24, 2019 9:52 pm

North Hills Wild Horse Territory

The North Hills Wild Horse Territory is the Forest Service portion of the North Hills Herd Management Area, which is cooperatively managed by the Dixie National Forest, Pine Valley Ranger District and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Cedar City Field Office.

Location and Habitat
The North Hills Wild Horse Territory is located in Southern Utah about two miles west of the town of Enterprise. The territory is part of the larger North Hills Herd Management Area, which includes federal, state, and private lands. The topography is mountainous with elevations ranging from 5,500 feet to 7,500 feet. Precipitation in the area occurs mainly in the form of snow between October and April. Rain events occur in late spring and summer with short duration, high-intensity rain in July and August. Average annual precipitation ranges between 14 and 20 inches with the higher values on the western side of the plateau. The predominant vegetation in the territory is pinyon pine and juniper with areas of Wyoming big sagebrush, black sagebrush, and grasslands. The territory is also home to variety of wildlife including deer, coyotes, red-tailed hawks, and mountain lions.


Livestock grazing is not permitted within the Forest Service Territory but is permitted on the BLM administered lands.

History
Wild Horses have been in the North Hills Territory for over 100 years. The origin of the population is thought to be from local ranchers releasing domestic horses and then gathering the young. In the early 1970s, a jack burro was present in the herd and several mules became part of the herd.

Herd Description
The horses on the North Hills are various sizes and colors due to numerous infusions of domestic horses contributing to the gene pool of the herd.

For More Information
Contact the Pine Valley Ranger District, (435) 652-3100

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