2023 Centennial Herd Management Area Wild Horse Gather
Purpose of Gather:
The Centennial Herd Management Area (HMA) Wild Horse Gather will take place on Naval Air Weapons Station – China Lake (NAWSCL). The gather is necessary due to the lack of forage and available water resulting from prolonged drought conditions and two fires that occurred in August 2020, which burned approximately 45,000 acres within NAWSCL. Past storms and precipitation from Hurricane Hillary have helped, but forage species on the range are still experiencing lasting fire effects resulting in distress.
Details of Gather:
The Centennial HMA wild horse gather is scheduled to take place Monday, November 20 through Sunday, November 26, using a helicopter and wranglers to move up to 140 horses into capture sites. Gather dates are flexible and may conclude earlier if the 140 animals are collected prior to November 26.
The gather objective is to remove horses however, burros are also located within the gather area, which may result in burro removal if it is determined it would best meet the resource objectives for the gather area. The capture sites will be located on the NAWSCL and placed to minimize the distances the horses will travel, based on the condition of the animals, topography and weather conditions. The animals will be moved by helicopter at a slow pace to reduce the stress on the horses/burros. The length of daily gather operations will vary each day.
Public Observation:
Due to the gathering operations taking place entirely on base, there will be no public viewing opportunities. However, the BLM Ridgecrest Field Office invites members of the public to view the gathered animals at the Ridgecrest Regional Wild Horse and Burro Corrals daily from 3 – 4 p.m. beginning on Tuesday, November 21 through Monday, November 27, excluding Thanksgiving Day, November 23.
Adoption Information:
Wild horses and/or burros removed from the Centennial HMA will be made available for adoption or purchase at the Ridgecrest Wild Horse and Burro Regional Corrals through the Wild Horse and Burro Adoption and Sales Program. For more information, contact: BLM_CA_RidgecrestCorrals@blm.gov and for details on how to adopt a wild burro, visit http://www.blm.gov/whb.
Background:
The California Desert Protection Act, Public Law 103-433-October 31, 1994, Section 805(g)(4) designated the Secretary of the Navy responsible for managing the wild horses and burros located on NAWSCL lands; such management is in accordance with laws applicable to management on public lands. The NAWSCL coordinates management of the Centennial HMA with the BLM under a Memorandum of Agreement between the base commander, Navy Region Southwest and the BLM Ridgecrest Field Office.
- Daily Gather Reports
-
[Weekday, Month Day]
Summary: (Gather status, temp and weather conditions)
Animals Gathered: 0 (0 Stallions, 0 Mares, and 0 Foals) 0 (0 Jacks, 0 Jennies and 0 Foals)
Animals Shipped: 0 (0 Stallions, 0 Mares, and 0 Foals) 0 (0 Jacks, 0 Jennies and 0 Foals)
Animals Treated with Fertility Control: (0 Stallions, 0 Mares, 0 Jacks, 0 Jennies)
- PZP: 0 (0 Mares, 0 Jennies)
- PZP-22: 0 (0 Mares, 0 Jennies)
- GonaCon: 0 (0 Mares, 0 Jennies)
- IUD: 0 (0 Mares, 0 Jennies)
- Sterilizations: 0 (0 Stallions, 0 Mares, 0 Jacks, 0 Jennies)
- Other: 0 (0 Stallions, 0 Mares, 0 Jacks, 0 Jennies)Animals Released: 0 (0 Stallions, 0 Mares, and 0 Foals) 0 (0 Jacks, 0 Jennies and 0 Foals)
Deaths: 0
- Sudden / Acute: 0
- Pre-existing / Chronic: 0
Provide short description of each animal death
- Daily Gather Reports
-
[Weekday, Month Day]
Summary: (Gather status, temp and weather conditions)
Animals Gathered: 0 (0 Stallions, 0 Mares, and 0 Foals) 0 (0 Jacks, 0 Jennies and 0 Foals)
Animals Shipped: 0 (0 Stallions, 0 Mares, and 0 Foals) 0 (0 Jacks, 0 Jennies and 0 Foals)
Animals Treated with Fertility Control: (0 Stallions, 0 Mares, 0 Jacks, 0 Jennies)
- PZP: 0 (0 Mares, 0 Jennies)
- PZP-22: 0 (0 Mares, 0 Jennies)
- GonaCon: 0 (0 Mares, 0 Jennies)
- IUD: 0 (0 Mares, 0 Jennies)
- Sterilizations: 0 (0 Stallions, 0 Mares, 0 Jacks, 0 Jennies)
- Other: 0 (0 Stallions, 0 Mares, 0 Jacks, 0 Jennies)Animals Released: 0 (0 Stallions, 0 Mares, and 0 Foals) 0 (0 Jacks, 0 Jennies and 0 Foals)
Deaths: 0
- Sudden / Acute: 0
- Pre-existing / Chronic: 0
Provide short description of each animal death
Gather Status
As of 11/23/2023
Animals Gathered: 148
56 Wild Horses (22 Stallions, 24 Mares, and 10 Foals)
92 Wild Burros (46 Jacks, 30 Jennies, and 16 Foals)
Animals Shipped: 148
56 Wild Horses (22 Stallions, 24 Mares, and 10 Foals)
92 Wild Burros (46 Jacks, 30 Jennies, and 16 Foals)
Animals Treated with Fertility Control: 0
0 Wild Horses (0 Stallions, 0 Mares, and 0 Foals)
0 Wild Burros (0 Jacks, 0 Jennies, and 0 Foals)
PZP: 0 (0 Mares, 0 Jennies)
PZP-22: 0 (0 Mares, 0 Jennies)
GonaCon: 0 (0 Mares, 0 Jennies)
IUD: 0 (0 Mares, 0 Jennies)
Sterilizations: 0 (0 Stallions, 0 Mares, 0 Jacks, 0 Jennies)
Other: 0 (0 Stallions, 0 Mares, 0 Jacks, 0 Jennies)
Animals Released:
0 Wild Horses (0 Stallions, 0 Mares, and 0 Foals)
0 Wild Burros (0 Jacks, 0 Jennies, and 0 Foals)
Deaths: 0
-Sudden / Acute: 0
-Pre-existing / Chronic: 0