Goal of Gather

The BLM’s goal is to manage for healthy populations of wild horses within the Callaghan, Rocky Hills, Bald Mountain (Callaghan Complex) and New Pass/Ravenswood HMAs and ensure healthy rangelands. To accomplish these goals, the Mount Lewis Field Office (MLFO) is proposing to conduct a wild horse gather to apply fertility control to mares and remove excess wild horses from the Callaghan Complex and New Pass/Ravenswood HMA. By gathering these HMAs in 2010 before the population has greatly exceeded AML, and re-treating these mares with fertility control, the BLM hopes to continue to slow population growth, maintain wild horse population levels below the established AML, and reduce or eliminate the numbers of wild horses that would need to be removed from the range in future years, particularly older animals that would have to be maintained in LTHPs.

Details of the Gather

Under the Proposed Action, about 866 wild horses would be gathered from within and outside the Callaghan Complex and New Pass Ravenswood HMA. The proposed gather would be completed in accordance with the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) located in Appendix A. The BLM intends to return to these areas in 2-3 years to retreat mares to continue with population control activities as well as to remove excess wild horses as specified in this EA. Approximately 221 excess wild horses, mostly weaned foals and yearlings, and any wild horses residing outside of the HMA boundaries would be removed from the range. Approximately 645 of the captured wild horses would be released; of these, about 323 would be mares treated with fertility control vaccine. The post gather population would be about 862 wild horses.

More detail is available by accessing the Documents and Maps link in the right column. Public observations days will be scheduled and announced with details about the media and the public attending the gather.

Adoption

Excess wild horses and burros removed from the range are offered for adoption to qualified people through the BLM’s Adopt-a-Horse or Burro Program. Potential adopters must have the proper facilities and financial means to care for an adopted animal, and we always hope that they have experience working with a wild horse or burro, which will help ensure the gentling process.

During the first year, the government retains title to the animal(s), and will conduct compliance checks throughout the year in an effort to ensure as much as possible that the animal is properly being cared for and has gone to a good home. At the end of the first year, if the adopter has complied with all the adoption stipulations and has properly cared for their mustang or burro for one year, he or she is eligible to receive title, or ownership, from the Federal government.

The BLM has placed nearly 225,000 wild horses and burros into private care since the adoption program began in 1971. To apply to adopt a wild horse or burro on-line, please go to the BLM's adoption website at: www.blm.gov/wo/st/en/prog/wild_horse_and_burro/What_We_Do/wild_horse_and_burro0.html

If you are interested in adopting directly from one of the BLM's holding facilities, please visit the agency's facilities page. For more information about the BLM’s Adopt-A-Horse or Burro program, please visit www.blm.gov/wo/st/en/prog/wild_horse_and_burro.html, or you may call 1-866-468-7826 with any questions about the BLM’s Wild Horse and Burro Program.

Latest News

For BLM news releases about the Callaghan Complex and New Pass/Ravenswood HMA gather, please check our Newsroom.

Background

The Callaghan Complex consists of the Callaghan, Bald Mountain and Rocky Hills HMAs, and is located in Lander County, about 55 miles south of Battle Mountain, Nevada and 45 miles northwest of Eureka, Nevada. The New Pass/Ravenswood HMA is located several miles west of the Callaghan HMA, also within Lander County, and several miles northwest of Austin, Nevada. A portion of the New Pass/Ravenswood HMA is located within Churchill County within the administrative boundaries of the Carson City District Office (CCDO). The Battle Mountain District Office (BMDO) currently maintains the administration of the entire HMA.

The Callaghan Complex was last gathered in December 2008-January 2009. The New Pass/Ravenswood HMA was last gathered in November 2007. Fertility control was administered to mares released back to the range following both of these gathers. Refer to the documents in the column to the right for more information.

The BLM prepared EAs to analyze the potential impacts associated with the previous gathers which were completed in November 2007 (New Pass/Ravenswood) and December 2008/January 2009 (Callaghan Complex); this analysis is incorporated by reference. These EAs are available on the Mount Lewis Field Office website located at www.blm.gov/nv/st/en/fo/battle_mountain_field/blm_information/national_environmental.html.

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