BLM to begin emergency wild horse gather near Ely
Ely, Nev. – The Bureau of Land Management will begin an emergency wild horse gather on or around Feb. 22, 2026, north of Ely, Nevada. The gather will primarily focus on wild horses located outside the Antelope Herd Management Area (HMA) and Moriah Herd Area (HA) in White Pine County, Nevada.
The gather is being conducted in response to severe drought conditions and limited available forage in areas where wild horses are not managed, creating concerns for animal health and rangeland resources.
The purpose of the gather is to capture and remove approximately 300 wild horses residing outside of the Antelope HMA and Moriah HA. Drive trapping will be the primary method of capture. Additional methods may be used on a limited, as-needed basis and only with approval from the BLM’s on-site authorized officer.
The BLM’s priority is to conduct the gather safely and humanely. BLM personnel and contractors will follow established Comprehensive Animal Welfare Program protocols and use best available handling practices throughout the operation. BLM specialists will be present on site during gather activities.
Gather operations are expected to occur Feb. 22–28, 2026, with horses transported on March 1, 2026, to the Palomino Valley Wild Horse and Burro Center near Sparks, Nevada, where they will receive veterinary evaluation and routine care before entering the BLM’s Wild Horse and Burro Adoption and Sale Program.
Public viewing opportunities will be coordinated as conditions allow. Details will be announced prior to gather operations. Daily gather reports and updates will be published on the gather webpage.
Planning documents related to this action are available on the BLM National NEPA Register. For more information, contact Ben Noyes, BLM Wild Horse and Burro Specialist, at [email protected] or 775-289-1836. Information on adopting or purchasing a wild horse is available at www.blm.gov/whb.
The BLM manages about 245 million acres of public land located primarily in 12 western states, including Alaska, on behalf of the American people. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. Our mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of America’s public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations.