BLM concludes emergency wild horse water and bait trap gather in Red Rock HMA
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LAS VEGAS - The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Southern Nevada District concluded an emergency wild horse gather on August 5, 2019. The gather was conducted in the Red Rock Herd Management Area in Clark County, where there is currently not enough water to support the number of horses that were in the area. The gather was conducted using the bait and water trap method; no helicopters were used. The BLM gathered and removed 237 excess wild horses.
The purpose of the gather was to help as many horses as possible while protecting the habitat for other wildlife, including water sources and vegetation. Without emergency action, the condition of the wild horses in the Red Rock HMA was expected to deteriorate, potentially resulting in the death of horses within a few weeks.
Red Rock HMA encompasses nearly 162,000 acres and has an Appropriate Management Level of 16 to 27 wild horses. Approximately 50 horses remain 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 use the best available science and handling practices for wild horses while meeting overall gather goals and objectives in accordance with the Comprehensive Animal Welfare Policy.
All horses removed were transported to Ridgecrest Holding Corrals located in Ridgecrest, California, where they will be checked by a veterinarian and readied for the BLM wild horse and burro adoption program. For information on how to adopt or purchase a wild horse or burro, visit www.blm.gov/whb.
Gather reports and additional information are posted on the BLM website at https://www.blm.gov/programs/wild-horse-and-burro/herd-management/gathers-and-removals/nevada/2019-red-rock-herd.
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.