The Ely Field Office of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has released the results of an investigation into the deaths of seven dead wild horses.

A BLM Ely Field Office employee on Wed., May 19 reported seeing two wild horses inside the 2,600-acre southern portion of the North Antelope Valley Cheatgrass, Halogeton, and Russian Thistle Treatment Research Project. The project is located in White Pine County, about 80 miles northeast of the community of Ely.

In the process of setting the horses free, wild horse and burro specialists discovered within the project area four dead horses. Three additional horses were discovered in subsequent days, bringing the total number of dead horses to seven. The project gates were wired-open and water turned on to prevent any further deaths.

BLM Ely Field Office staff has since determined that the project was not constructed in accordance with the stipulations described in the Environmental Assessment. Had one-way gates been installed, the horses might have been able to escape.

The BLM Ely Field Office reviewed the project from conception to construction to determine why the gates and other specific stipulations had not been implemented as documented in the decision record. It was determined that the project lead did not fully implement the decision, as directed by the line officer.

The BLM Ely Field Office also fielded a team to review the project to determine and correct any and all deficiencies. The project will be modified to implement the decision, as written. The gates, meantime, will remain wired-open and water made available.

An investigation by the BLM Ely Field Office law enforcement officer concluded that the horses did not die from gunshot wounds.