BLM concludes the Desatoya Mountain Herd Management Area wild horse gather
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CARSON CITY, Nev. – The Bureau of Land Management, Carson City District, Stillwater Field Office has concluded the Desatoya Mountain HMA wild horse gather located approximately 77 miles east of Fallon, Nevada. The BLM gathered 456 excess wild horses from public and private lands. Of those gathered 431 were removed, and 15 stallions and 10 mares were released back to the range. Approximately 127 wild horses remain in the area.
The purpose of the gather, which was conducted from December 4, 2019 to December 12, 2019 was to prevent degradation of the public lands associated with excess wild horses, restore a thriving natural ecological balance and multiple-use relationship on public lands. The HMA overlaps the Desatoya and Reese River sage grouse population management units and the Desatoya Wilderness Study Area. The Desatoya HMA consists of approximately 69% of the estimated 230,000 acres of the Habitat Resiliency, Health, and Restoration Project area. 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 will also enable significant progress toward achieving the Standards for Rangeland Health identified by the Sierra Front-Northwestern Great Basin Resource Advisory Council.
The BLM transported wild horses removed from the range to the Palomino Valley Center in Reno, Nevada where they will be checked by a veterinarian and readied for the BLM’s wild horse and burro Adoption and Sale 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.
Gather reports and additional information will be posted on the BLM website at https://go.usa.gov/xVeb9. For technical information, contact Wild Horse and Burro Specialist John Axtell at (775) 885-6146 or jaxtell@blm.gov.
For information on how to adopt or purchase a wild horse or burro, visit www.blm.gov/whb.
The BLM manages more than 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.