BLM to resume Pine Nut Mountain HMA wild horse gather
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CARSON CITY, Nev. – The Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Sierra Front Field Office will resume the Pine Nut Mountain Herd Management Area (HMA) wild horse gather operations near Carson City, Nev. on or about July 29, 2019. Gather operations to reduce overpopulation, which employ the use of helicopters, began in February but were suspended due to inclement weather. The BLM plans to gather approximately 148 additional wild horses and remove approximately 109 excess wild horses in order to achieve a natural ecological balance. The gather is expected to last up to five days.
The purpose of the gather is to protect herd health, prevent overgrazing of important wildlife habitat and address public safety concerns. Wild horses removed from the range will be made available for adoption or sale to good homes through the BLM’s Adoption and Sale Program.
The population of wild horses in the Pine Nut Mountain HMA, as of June 20, 2019, was estimated at 228 animals. The appropriate management level for the HMA is 118-179 animals. Excessive grazing from wild horses has degraded habitat for wildlife, such as sage-grouse, and reduced the amount of native grass both inside and outside the HMA. Any mares released back to the range, will be treated with Porcine zona pellucida (PZP) fertility control.
The BLM’s priority is to conduct safe, efficient, and successful wild horse gather operations while ensuring humane care and treatment of all animals. The BLM will use the best available science and handling practices for wild horses while meeting the overall gather goals and objectives in accordance with its Comprehensive Animal Welfare Policy.
All horses identified for removal will be transported to the Palomino Valley Center in Reno, Nev., where they will be checked by a veterinarian and prepared for the BLM’s Wild Horse and Burro Adoption and Sale Program. For information on how to bring home a wild horse or burro, visit www.blm.gov/whb.
Members of the public are welcome to view the daily gather operations, provided that it does not jeopardize the safety of the animals, staff or observers and that it does not disrupt gather operations. The BLM will escort the public to gather observation sites located on public lands. The BLM anticipates that viewing opportunities will begin on or about July 29, 2019, weather and logistics permitting. Those who want to view gather operations are asked to call the Pine Nut Gather Hotline at (775) 885-6101 at least one day in advance to receive specific instructions on meeting locations and times. The hotline will be updated each day by 7:00 p.m.
The BLM is conducting the gather under the DOI-BLM-NV-C020-2016-0020-EA Pine Nut Mountain Gather Plan Environmental Assessment decision signed on November 28, 2017. Access the decision record and determination of National Environmental Policy Act adequacy at https://goo.gl/uqpD2w.
Once the gather is underway, the BLM will post gather reports and additional information on its website at https://go.usa.gov/xEXxR. For technical information, contact John Axtell, Wild Horse and Burro Specialist at (775) 885-6146 or jaxtell@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.