The Bureau of Land Management concluded the 2026 Lahontan Herd Management Area Wild Horse Gather
CARSON CITY, Nev. – The Bureau of Land Management concluded the 2026 Lahontan Herd Management Area wild horse gather on July 26, 2026. The BLM gathered and removed 703 excess wild horses from public lands.
The purpose of the gather was to reduce overpopulation of wild horses within and outside the area, where there was not enough water to support the number of animals in the region, to prevent further degradation of the public lands associated with excess wild horses and restore a thriving natural ecological balance and multiple-use relationship on public lands.
The gather was conducted in compliance with the provisions of Section 1333(b) of the 1971 Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act. Removing excess animals supports significant progress toward achieving the Standards for Rangeland Health identified by the Mojave-Southern Great Basin Resource Advisory Council. In addition, by balancing herd size with what the land can support, the BLM aims to protect habitat for other wildlife species.
The BLM transported the animals removed from the range to the Palomino Valley Wild Horse and Burro Off-range Corrals located in Reno, Nevada, to be readied for the BLM’s wild horse and burro Adoption and Sales Program. Wild horses not adopted or sold will be placed in long-term pastures where they will be humanely cared for and retain their “wild” status and protection under the 1971 Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act.
Additional gather information is available on the 2026 Lahontan gather website.
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.