BLM to begin the FY2025 Pancake Emergency wild horse gather
Ely, Nev. – On or about July 22, 2025, the Bureau of Land Management, Ely District, Bristlecone Field Office will begin an emergency wild horse gather on the Pancake Herd Management Area located approximately 50 miles west of Ely in White Pine and Nye County, Nevada. The BLM plans to gather and remove approximately 100 excess wild horses. The BLM will conduct gather operations using temporary bait and water traps consisting of a series of corral panels stocked with water and hay; no helicopters will be used.
The Pancake HMA consists of 824,000 acres. The area of work will be in Big Sand Springs Valley within the Pancake HMA. As of March 1, 2025, the population of wild horses/burros in the HMA is 1092 the appropriate management level (AML) for the Pancake HMA is 240-493 wild horses. Once gather operations are completed, approximately 992 wild horses will remain in the HMA. The most recent gather was completed in 2022.
The purpose of the gather is to humanely and safely gather drought impacted and compromised wild horses from the north half of the Pancake HMA. Monitoring of the Pancake HMA during spring and summer 2025 revealed limited availability to water and forage. Due to the Exceptional Drought, little to no forage grew this year in Big Sand Springs Valley. The gather is critical to ensuring the future health of the HMA lands as well as the wild horses in the area, both of which are in jeopardy due to herd overpopulation and extremely limited forage.
The declining range conditions coupled with overpopulation have led to decline in body condition scores (BCS) of the wild horse population. The average body condition of the horses in the HMA is a score (BCS) of 2-4. There are animals in BCS 1. Foal numbers are lower than average, and foals are small and unthrifty. Due to drought conditions and the overpopulation of wild horses within the Pancake HMA springs and water sources in the area are not able to sustain the minimal water needs of the wild horses in the HMA.
The BLM’s priority is to conduct safe, efficient, and successful wild horse gather operations while ensuring humane care and treatment of all animals gathered. The BLM and its contractors will use the best available science and handling practices for wild horses and burros while meeting overall gather goals and objectives in accordance with the Comprehensive Animal Welfare Policy.
All wild horses identified for removal will be transported to the Indian Lakes Off Range Corrals in Fallon Nevada, where they will be checked by a veterinarian and readied for the BLM’s wild horse and burro Adoption and Sale Program. For information on how to adopt or purchase a wild horse or burro, visit www.blm.gov/whb.
Due to the nature of the bait and water trap method, wild horses are reluctant to approach the trap site when there is too much activity; therefore, only essential gather operations personnel will be allowed at the trap site during gather operations.
The BLM is conducting the gather under the BLM Environmental Assessment, DOI-BLM-NV-L060-2024-0013-EA. All Pancake HMA documents are available on the National BLM NEPA Register.
Gather reports and additional information for the “2025 Pancake Emergency Wild Horse Gather” will be posted on the 2025 Pancake Emergency Gather webpage. For more information, contact the Wild Horse and Burro Specialist, Ben Noyes, at (775) 289-1800.
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.