BLM To Conduct The Jackson Mountains HMA Emergency Wild Horse Gather
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WINNEMUCCA, Nev. – On or around June 15, 2020, the Bureau of Land Management Winnemucca District, Black Rock Field Office will begin a wild horse gather on the Jackson Mountains Herd Management Area (HMA) located about 40 miles west of Winnemucca in Humboldt County, Nevada. The action is needed due to lack of water and declining health of the wild horses. The Jackson Mountains HMA encompasses over 283,775 acres of public and private lands and has a history of water issues during dry spring and summer months.
The BLM plans to gather approximately 300 wild horses, from within and outside of the Jackson Mountains HMA. The gather is expected to last 30-45 days and the BLM will conduct gather operations utilizing temporary water and bait traps consisting of a series of corral panels stocked with water and hay; no helicopters will be used.
The purpose of the gather is critical to prevent further deteriorating body condition of the wild horses in the area due to extremely limited water sources, undue or unnecessary degradation of the public lands associated with excess wild horses, and to restore a thriving natural ecological balance and multiple-use relationship on public lands, consistent with the provisions of Section 1333(b) of the 1971 Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act.
The appropriate management level (AML) for the Jackson Mountains HMA is 130-217. Based on the 2020 public land stats the current estimated population is 906 wild horses which does not include the 2020 foal crop. The current population estimation puts the HMA at approximately 417 percent over the high AML.
The BLM’s priority is to conduct safe, efficient, and successful wild horse and burro gather operations while ensuring humane care and treatment of all animals gathered. The BLM and its contractors will 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.
Due to the nature of the bait and water trap method, wild horses are reluctant to approach the trap site when there is too much activity; therefore, only essential gather operations personnel will be allowed at the trap site during operations. In addition, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, there will be no public viewing opportunities during gather operations or at the holding facilities. All essential gather personnel will be practicing social distancing during gather operations.
All horses identified for removal will be transported to the Indian Lakes Off-Range Wild Horse and Burro Corrals, located in Fallon, Nevada, where they will be checked by a veterinarian and readied for the BLM’s wild horse and burro Adoption and Sale Program. For information on how to adopt or purchase a wild horse or burro, visit www.blm.gov/whb.
Once the gather begins, gather reports and additional information for the “2020 Jackson Mountain HMA Emergency Wild Horse Gather” will be posted on the BLM website at https://go.usa.gov/xwNqn. For technical information, contact Garrett Swisher, Wild Horse and Burro Specialist at (775) 623-1534 or gswisher@blm.gov.
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.