[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 36, Volume 2]
[Revised as of July 1, 2008]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 36CFR222.20]

[Page 69-70]
 
              TITLE 36--PARKS, FORESTS, AND PUBLIC PROPERTY
 
          CHAPTER II--FOREST SERVICE, DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
 
PART 222_RANGE MANAGEMENT--Table of Contents
 
       Subpart B_Management of Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros
 
Sec. 222.20  Authority and definitions.

    Authority: 85 Stat. 649, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1331-1340); sec. 1, 
30 Stat. 35, as amended (16 U.S.C. 551); sec. 32, 50 Stat. 522, as 
amended (7 U.S.C. 1011); 92 Stat. 1803 (43 U.S.C. 1901 note).

    Source: 45 FR 24135, Apr. 9, 1980, unless otherwise noted.


    (a) Authority. The Chief, Forest Service, shall protect, manage, and 
control wild free-roaming horses and burros on lands of the National 
Forest System and shall maintain vigilance for the welfare of wild free-
roaming horses and burros that wander or migrate from the National 
Forest System. If these animals also use lands administered by the 
Bureau of Land Management as a part of their habitat, the Chief, Forest 
Service, shall cooperate to the fullest extent with the Department of 
the Interior through the Bureau of Land Management in administering the 
animals.
    (b) Definitions.
    (1) Act means the Act of December 15, 1971 (85 Stat. 649, as 
amended, 16 U.S.C. 1331-1340).

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    (2) Captured animal means a wild free-roaming horse or burro taken 
and held in the custody of an authorized officer, his delegate, or 
agent. This term does not apply to an animal after it is placed in 
private custody through a Private Maintenance and Care agreement.
    (3) Excess animals means wild free-roaming horses and burros which 
have been removed by authorized personnel pursuant to applicable law or 
which must be removed from an area in order to preserve and maintain a 
thriving natural ecological balance in coordination with other resources 
and activities.
    (4) Herd means one or more stallions and their mares, or jacks and 
their jennies.
    (5) Humane treatment means kind and merciful treatment, without 
causing unnecessary stress or suffering to the animal.
    (6) Inhumane treatment means causing physical stress to an animal 
through any harmful action or omission that is not compatible with 
standard animal husbandry practices; causing or allowing an animal to 
suffer from a lack of necessary food, water, or shelter; using any 
equipment, apparatus, or technique during transportation, domestication, 
or handling that causes undue injury to an animal; or failing to treat 
or care for a sick or injured animal.
    (7) Lame means a wild free-roaming horse or burro with 
malfunctioning muscles, ligaments or limbs that impair freedom of 
movement.
    (8) Malicious harassment means any intentional act demonstrating 
deliberate disregard for the well-being of wild free-roaming horses and 
burros and which creates a likelihood of injury or is detrimental to 
normal behavior pattern of wild free-roaming horses or burros including 
feeding, watering, resting, and breeding. Such acts include, but are not 
limited to, unauthorized chasing, pursuing, herding, roping, or 
attempting to gather wild free-roaming horses or burros. It does not 
apply to activities conducted by or on behalf of the Forest Service or 
the Bureau of Land Management in implementation or performance of duties 
and responsibilities under the Act.
    (9) National Advisory Board means the Advisory Board as established 
jointly by the Secretary of Agriculture and the Secretary of the 
Interior under the provisions of the Act.
    (10) National Forest System includes the National Forests, National 
Grasslands, and other Federal lands for which the Forest Service has 
administrative jurisdiction.
    (11) Old means a wild free-roaming horse or burro characterized by 
inability to fend for itself because of age, physical deterioration, 
suffering or closeness to death.
    (12) Sick means a wild free-roaming horse or burro with failing 
health, infirmness, or disease from which there is little chance of 
recovery.
    (13) Wild free-roaming horses and burros mean all unbranded and 
unclaimed horses and burros and their progeny that have used lands of 
the National Forest System on or after December 15, 1971, or do 
hereafter use these lands as all or part of their habitat, but does not 
include any horse or burro introduced onto the National Forest System on 
or after December 15, 1971, by accident, negligence, or willful 
disregard of private ownership. Unbranded, claimed horses and burros for 
which the claim is found to be erroneous, are also considered as wild 
and free-roaming if they meet the criteria above.
    (14) Wild-horse and burro range means an area of National Forest 
System specifically so designated by the Chief, Forest Service, from 
wild horse and burro territory, for the purpose of sustaining an 
existing herd or herds of wild free-roaming horses and burros, provided 
the range does not exceed known territorial limits and is devoted 
principally, but not necessarily exclusively, to the welfare of the wild 
horses and burros, in keeping with the multiple-use management concept 
for the National Forest System.
    (15) Wild horse and burro territory means lands of the National 
Forest System which are identified by the Chief, Forest Service, as 
lands which were territorial habitat of wild free-roaming horses and/or 
burros at the time of the passage of the Act.

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