The Bureau of Land Management concluded the FY2022 Desatoya Wild Horse Gather
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CARSON CITY, Nev. – The Bureau of Land Management, Carson City District, Stillwater Field Office concluded the Desatoya Wild Horse Gather located approximately 77 miles east of Fallon, Nev., in the Desatoya Mountain Herd Management Area.
The Stillwater Field Office gathered 200 wild horses and removed 160 excess wild horses from public lands. In addition, 2 stallions were released back to the range. A population suppression control vaccine called GonaCon Equine was administered to 38 mares. The mares will get a second dose within approximately 30 days and then be released back to the Desatoya Herd Management Area.
The purpose of the gather was to prevent undue or unnecessary degradation of the public lands associated with excess wild horses and burros, 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. By balancing herd size with what the land can support, the Stillwater Field Office aims to address resource issues related to drought and protect habitat for other wildlife species. Removing excess animals will enable significant progress toward achieving the Standards for Rangeland Health.
“BLM’s goal during the Desatoya HMA wild horse gather and removal was to achieve appropriate management levels and administer GonaCon to selected mares as safely and humanely as possible,” said Stillwater Field Office Manager, Jake Vialpando. “I believe we achieved this goal while also completing BLM’s mission in accordance with the applicable laws and regulations.”
Excess wild horses gathered and removed from the range were transported to the Palomino Valley Wild Horse and Burro Off-range Corrals located near Reno, 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 FY2022 Desatoya Herd Management Area Wild Horse Gather located at https://www.blm.gov/programs/wild-horse-and-burro/herd-management/gathers-and-removals/nevada/2022-desatoya-wild-horse. .
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.