Animal Land Use in Western United States

Welcome to this interactive map based in the western continental United States, where you can choose between different map layers to compare land allotments for wild horses, goat and sheep grazing, and overlay them with the national forest areas. This map provides a straightforward visual representation of how these land uses interact or coexist. Notice that these areas do not overlap with human cities, highlighting the careful balance between natural habitats and human settlements. You can explore the dynamic relationship between these allotments and how they are shaped by the landscape.

Bureau of Land Management:
Wild Horse and Burro Herd Area

“This data set represents the spatial extent and boundaries for BLM Wild Horse and Burro Herd Area polygons. BLM Wild Horse and Burro Herd Areas have been designated by The Wild Free-Roaming Horse and Burro Act of 1971 as areas that wild horses and burros appeared to be inhabiting. Federal lands identified in 1971 but not managed for wild horses and burros are called Herd Areas.”

Bureau of Land Management:
Sheep and Goat Grazing Area

“BLM Grazing Pastures and BLM Grazing Allotments are areas of land designated and managed for grazing of livestock. It may include private, state, and public lands under the jurisdiction of the Bureau of Land Management and/or other federal agencies. An allotment is derived from its pastures, where the grazing of livestock is occurring.”

Forest Service:
National Forests Dataset

“ The FS National Forests Dataset (US Forest Service Proclaimed Forests) is a depiction of the boundaries encompassing the National Forest System ​(NFS) lands within the original proclaimed National Forests, along with subsequent Executive Orders, Proclamations, Public Laws, Public Land Orders, Secretary of Agriculture Orders, and Secretary of Interior Orders creating modifications thereto, along with lands added to the NFS which have taken on the status of 'reserved from the public domain' under the General Exchange Act.”

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