Dugway Supports Wild Mustangs

By John ZierowNovember 25, 2024

1 / 4 Show Caption + Hide Caption – (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Trip with Ronald and Rene' Fizer outside Dugway Proving Ground, Utah to show them and Rene's sister and niece the Pony Express Trail, wild horses (mustangs) Simpson Springs and the geode beds.
2 / 4 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Trip with Ronald and Rene' Fizer outside Dugway Proving Ground, Utah to show them and Rene's sister and niece the Pony Express Trail, wild horses (mustangs) Simpson Springs and the geode beds. (Photo Credit: Photo by Al "Gatofeo" Vogel of Utah - Copyright 2014) VIEW ORIGINAL
Annual Dugway Trail & Ultra Run III conducted Oct. 24, 2015 at U.S. Army Dugway Proving Ground. Open to the public, 88 competitors ran a 5, 10, 20, 30 or 50 kilometer course around Little Granite Peak....
3 / 4 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Annual Dugway Trail & Ultra Run III conducted Oct. 24, 2015 at U.S. Army Dugway Proving Ground. Open to the public, 88 competitors ran a 5, 10, 20, 30 or 50 kilometer course around Little Granite Peak.
U.S. Army Photo by Al Vogel, Dugway Public Affairs. (Photo Credit: Photo by Al Vogel of Dugway Proving Ground Public Affairs) VIEW ORIGINAL
Annual Dugway Trail & Ultra Run III conducted Oct. 24, 2015 at U.S. Army Dugway Proving Ground. Open to the public, 88 competitors ran a 5, 10, 20, 30 or 50 kilometer course around Little Granite Peak....
4 / 4 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Annual Dugway Trail & Ultra Run III conducted Oct. 24, 2015 at U.S. Army Dugway Proving Ground. Open to the public, 88 competitors ran a 5, 10, 20, 30 or 50 kilometer course around Little Granite Peak.
U.S. Army Photo by Al Vogel, Dugway Public Affairs. (Photo Credit: Photo by Al Vogel of Dugway Proving Ground Public Affairs) VIEW ORIGINAL

DUGWAY PROVING GROUND, Utah - Work done by members of the Environmental Programs team at Dugway Proving Ground (DPG) supports the wild mustang population in the West Desert of Utah. Each year, habitat restoration projects by DPG increase wildland fire resistance and increase habitat functionality. These actions not only ensure suitable areas for test and training activities but they also improve the environment for use by wild horses and other animals.

(Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
(Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
(Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

Wild horses have been in the West Desert for hundreds of years. With no public access, Dugway is often sought out by horses to avoid disturbances from recreational activities around the installation. Hunting by community members is not allowed at Dugway Proving Ground. Dugway has become a refuge for many animal species including mustangs because of the restricted access and well-maintained habitat.

(Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

Dugway is sandwiched between the Cedar Mountain Herd Management Area (HMA) and the Onaqui Mountain HMA. While Dugway is not included in either HMA, efforts on the installation to reduce wildland fire risk and restore native habitats provide benefits to horses in both herds. This is accomplished through maintaining an extensive system of fuel breaks to limit the spread of wildfires.

Additionally, Dugway coordinates with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to meet management objectives for each HMA. As of March 2024, both HMA’s were above the identified population objective for wild mustangs.

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