The Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) Missoula, Montana, Field Office is beginning a public comment period on an environmental assessment which analyzes a proposed wild horse ecosanctuary.

The nonprofit Rural Sustainability Organization (RSO) submitted an application to the BLM to establish an ecosanctuary on approximately 15,000 acres of land in western Montana secured by RSO through contracts and leases with local landowners. The RSO application lands are located in three separate units varying from two to eight miles from the town of Drummond.

“The Missoula Field Office is excited about the prospect of working with RSO to provide a humane, high-quality life for excess horses from the BLM’s Wild Horse and Burro program,” said Tim La Marr, acting field manager of the Missoula Field Office.

“Horses that would potentially reside at the ecosanctuary would primarily be older geldings,” he added