BLM concludes the Fox and Lake Range HMA emergency Wild Horse gather
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WINNEMUCCA, Nev. - The Bureau of Land Management (BLM), concluded an emergency wild horse helicopter gather on a portion of the Fox and Lake Range Herd Management Area on November 18. The BLM gathered 189 wild horses.
The gather took place on private land and public land administered by the BLM, about 20 miles south of Gerlach. The Tohakum 2 wildfire burned nearly 27,000 acres of the HMA, including an area containing two critical water sources on public lands. Removing wild horses was necessary due to the reduced forage available to wild horses in the unburned area and to prevent further deterioration of animal health. In addition, the gather was necessary to reduce grazing in the affected area and provide for the recovery of the burned rangelands.
All the horses removed were transported to the Indian Lakes Wild Horse Off-Range Corral in Fallon, Nevada, where they will be prepared for the BLM adoption program. Horses not adopted will be placed in off-range 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. The BLM does not sell or send any horses to slaughter. For information on how to adopt a wild horse, 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.