BLM concludes gather of excess wild horses in eastern Nevada
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ELKO, Nev. – The Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Elko and Ely Districts have officially concluded the Antelope and Antelope Valley Herd Management Areas (HMA) Excess Wild Horse Gather on November 15, 2019. From August 5 through October 18, 2019, the BLM gathered and removed 946 excess wild horses from in and around the Antelope and Antelope Valley Herd Management Areas (HMA) located in Elko and White Pine counties in northeastern Nevada.
The purpose of the gather was to reduce the overpopulation of wild horses, in order to prevent further degradation of public lands by helping to balance herd size with what the land can support. The BLM aims to protect habitat for other wildlife species such as sage grouse, pronghorn antelope, mule deer and elk. Removing excess animals would also enable significant progress toward achieving the Standards for Rangeland Health identified by the Northeastern Great Basin Resource Advisory Council.
The BLM transported wild horses removed from the range to the Indian Lakes Off-Range Wild Horse and Burro Corral in Fallon, Nev., to be 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.
Additional gather information is available on the BLM website at 2019 Caliente Complex Nuisance Wild Horse Gather.
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.