Bureau of Land Management concludes the FY2022 Triple B Complex Wild Horse Gather
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ELY, Nev. – On August 25, 2022, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Elko District, Wells Field Office and Ely District, Bristlecone Field Office concluded the FY2022 Triple B Complex wild horse gather in Elko and White Pine counties, about 60 miles north of Ely, Nevada.
The BLM gathered 1,897 excess wild horses from public lands. The BLM will treat up to 50 mares with the population suppression vaccine GonaCon-Equine and release them back into the Complex. In addition, the BLM will release up to 50 stallions back into the Complex. If you would like to view the release of the mares, once they have received the initial and booster of the GonaCon-Equine vaccines, you must RSVP to bnoyes@blm.gov for the tentative meeting date, location and time.
The purpose of the gather was to reduce overpopulation of wild horses within and outside the Complex, where there was not enough water and/or forage to support the number of horses in the area, 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 crucial to ensuring public land health, as well as the health of the horses. Both continue to be at risk due to herd overpopulation and exceptional drought conditions,” said Robbie McAboy, Ely District Manager.
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 will enable significant progress toward achieving the Standards for Rangeland Health identified by the Northeastern Great Basin Resource Advisory Council. In addition, by balancing herd size with what the land can support, the BLM aims to protect habitat for other wildlife species such as sage grouse, pronghorn antelope and mule deer.
The BLM transported the animals removed from the range to the Indian Lakes Off-Range Wild Horse and Burro Corral, in Fallon, Nev.; and Sutherland Off-Range Corrals, in Sutherland, Utah 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 BLM website at https://go.usa.gov/xSYNY.
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.