2026 Jakes Fire Emergency Wild Horse Gather
Purpose of Gather:
The gather aims to humanely and safely remove wild horses from the Snowstorm Mountain and Little Humboldt HMAs within the Owyhee Complex within the boundaries of the Jakes Fire. Due due to the vegetation and drought-impacts the range and has jeopardized both the health of the land and the wild horse population. The gather is essential to address herd overpopulation and ensure the future well-being of both the horses and their habitat.
Details of Gather:
The BLM will begin a wild horse gather around January 26, 2026, using helicopter assist-method. Approximately 182 excess wild horses will be captured and transported to the Winnemucca off-range corrals where they will receive veterinary care and be prepared for the BLM’s adoption program.
Public Observation:
To keep the public informed and allow reasonable access to gather operations, agency staff plan to schedule daily public visitation opportunities to view the gather operations.
A Public Affairs Officer and Law Enforcement Officer will meet the observers each morning at the pre-determined meeting location, to escort the group to the gather and/or holding sites each day. Please make yourself familiar with the gather protocols. The “What to Know before You Go” information and “Visitation Protocol and Ground Rules” are provided in the links to the right.
All media and/or observers wanting to go to the gather site will need to RSVP by 5:30 P.M. the night before they wish to observe the gather by calling 775-623-1567. You will receive a call back no later than 9 P.M. with daily meeting times and locations.
Adoption Information:
Information for wild horse adoptions can be found on the BLM Wild Horse and Burro Adoption page.
Background:
The Owyhee Complex encompasses approximately 1.055M total acres. The gather area will be in and around the Little Humboldt, Snowstorm Mountains Herd Management Areas (HMAs).
By balancing herd size with what the land can support, the HRTFO aims to protect habitat for other wildlife species such as sage grouse, pronghorn antelope and mule deer. Removing excess animals will enable significant progress toward achieving the Standards for Rangeland Health The gather is expected to last a week.
- 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 [DATE]
or
This gather will begin on [DATE]
This gather was completed on [DATE]
Animals Gathered: 0
0 Wild Horses (0 Stallions, 0 Mares, and 0 Foals)
0 Wild Burros (0 Jacks, 0 Jennies, and 0 Foals)
Animals Shipped: 0
0 Wild Horses (0 Stallions, 0 Mares, and 0 Foals)
0 Wild Burros (0 Jacks, 0 Jennies, and 0 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
Scroll to the bottom of this gather page for detailed “Daily Gather Reports"