The Bureau of Land Management concluded the FY2023 Calico Complex Wild Horse Gather
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Gerlach, Nev. – The Black Rock Field Office has concluded the FY2023 Calico Complex wild horse gather near Gerlach, Nev., on October 17, 2023. 489 wild horses were gathered, and 344 excess wild horses were removed from public lands. Of those gathered, 145 studs were released back to the range. 145 mares will be treated with GonaCon Equine, a population suppression control vaccine, and will be released back to public lands at a later date.
The purpose of the gather was to reduce overpopulation of wild horses within and outside the area, where there was not enough water to support the number of animals in the region, to prevent further degradation of the public lands associated with excess wild horses and restore a thriving natural ecological balance and multiple-use relationship on public lands.
The gather was conducted in compliance with the provisions of Section 1333(b) of the 1971 Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act. Removing excess animals supports significant progress toward achieving the Standards for Rangeland Health identified by the Sierra Front Northern Great Basin Resource Advisory Council. In addition, by balancing herd size with what the land can support, the agency aims to protect habitat for other wildlife species such as sage grouse, pronghorn antelope and mule deer.
“By bringing the number of horses back to an Appropriate Management Level, we can better manage the overall health of public lands within the complex,” said Mandy DeForest, Black Rock Field Office Manager.
The BLM transported the animals removed from the range to the Palomino Valley Wild Horse and Burro Off-range Corrals located in Reno, Nev., to be readied for the BLM’s wild horse and burro Adoption and Sales 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 https://www.blm.gov/programs/wild-horse-and-burro/herd-management/gathers-and-removals/nevada/2023-calico-complex-wild .
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.