BLM Reward for information on five wild horse shootings in Jakes Valley, Nevada doubles to $20,000
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The Bureau of Land Management’s reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person(s) responsible for shooting and mortally wounding five wild horses in eastern Nevada late last year is now $20,000, courtesy of a matching reward from the National Mustang Association. The match of $10,000 followed the BLM’s original reward of $5,000 which was matched by another group’s commitment in early September.
“It is our hope that raising the amount of the reward would give someone the incentive to come forward with information leading to the arrest and conviction for the heinous crime,” said George R. Higgins, President of the National Mustang Association.
The BLM continues the investigation into the incident which occurred in mid-November 2021 in Jakes Valley, about 30 miles west of Ely, Nev. BLM Criminal Investigator Michael Mortensen stated, “the BLM investigates and prosecutes the killings of wild horses as part of the agency's enforcement of the Wild Horse and Burro Act of 1971. Our investigation is seeking additional information from the public to identify further leads and ultimately the person(s) responsible. Anyone with information about the incident is encouraged to contact us by calling the BLM crime hotline”.
On November 16, 2021, the BLM Ely District, Bristlecone Field Office was contacted by a member of the public who had discovered five mortally wounded wild horses in Jakes Valley, approximately two miles south of U.S. Highway 50. The remains were located within 600 yards of each other. An aborted fetus was attached to one of the dead animals. One horse was still alive but wounded so severely that it had to be humanely euthanized. A necropsy revealed that the animals ranged in age from about 18 months to six years. The horses were killed on or about the day they were reported.
Anyone with information about the incident is encouraged to call the BLM crime hotline at 1-775-861-6550.
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.