FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE February 14, 2006

Contact: Kirsten Cannon (702) 515-5057

Media Invited to View Emergency Wild Horse Gather

Who: Bureau of Land Management, Las Vegas Field Office

What: Gather 35 horses impacted by 2005 Goodsprings Fire (16 horses will be released back into the Herd Management Area.)

When: Friday, February 17, approximately 6 to 11 a.m.

Where: near Jean, Nevada

Why: During the summer of 2005, the Goodsprings Fire burned 33,569 acres of the Red Rock Herd Management Area (HMA) south of State Route 160. The emergency gather will remove horses to achieve the low end of the Appropriate Management Level (AML.) The AML range is between 16 and 27 horses. Horses selected to remain in the area will help balance the sex ratio of the herd.

How: Wild horses will be gathered by helicopter. Helicopters have proven to be the safest, most effective and least stressful gather method.

Visuals:

• Up to 35 wild horses entering trapsite followed by one person helicopter.  
• Wild horses gathered at trapsite.

To Attend the Emergency Gather: Due to scheduling flexibility and a temporary closure on public lands during gather operations, a BLM escort will be required. Please contact Kirsten Cannon by 2 p.m. on Thursday, February 16 if you plan on attending.

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Wild horses will be transported to the Ridgecrest Wild Horse and Burro Corrals in Ridgecrest, California where they will receive veterinary care, be freeze-marked and receive inoculations for common equine diseases. For information on how to qualify to adopt, visit the BLM Web site at www.wildhorseandburro.blm.gov or call 1-800-417-9647. While these wild horses will not be available for adoption for about 60 days, there are many wild horses from other gathers which are available now for adoption by qualified individuals.