2025 Maverick-Medicine HMA and Wood Hills Area Emergency Wild Horse Gather
Purpose of Gather:
The gather aims to humanely and safely remove drought-impacted wild horses from the Maverick-Medicine HMA within the Triple B Complex and Wood Hills area outside the Spruce-Pequop HMA. Due to exceptional drought, lack of water resources and minimal forage growth on the range 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 August 8, 2025, using water and bait traps near springs in the Maverick Range and the Warm Springs Allotment in the Wood Hills Area. Approximately 215 excess wild horses will be captured and transported to the Palomino Valley Wild Horse & Burro Center in Reno, Nevada, where they will receive veterinary care and be prepared for the BLM’s adoption program.
Public Observation:
Due to the nature of the bait and water trap method, wild horses are reluctant to approach the trap site when there is too much activity; therefore, only essential gather operations personnel will be allowed at the trap site during gather operations.
Adoption Information:
Information for wild horse adoptions can be found on the BLM Wild Horse and Burro Adoption page.
Background:
Maverick-Medicine HMA
During June and July 2025, the BLM conducted water monitoring across the western Maverick-Medicine and Triple B HMAs. Findings revealed critical water shortages at key sources. Of the four Maverick Springs Range sites, only Cherry and Cone Springs had limited flow (9.5 and 5–10 gallons/hour, respectively), insufficient to sustain the wild horse population.
Wild horses were also observed north of Minnow Spring on a playa where they had dug holes to access shallow groundwater.
Most horses were in body condition scores (BCS) ranging from 2–4, but an increasing number were at or below BCS 1.5. Horses in this condition are at a heightened risk of death as water scarcity intensifies throughout the summer.
Wood Hills Area (Outside Spruce-Pequop HMA)
In the Wood Hills area near Wells, NV, a critical water source for wild horses at Warm Springs has degraded into a mud hole, causing horses to become trapped and struggle for limited water. Field staff have rescued several horses mired in mud during site visits in June and July 2025.
This ongoing drought-induced issue recurs annually due to the lack of alternative water sources on public lands. The wild horse population growth and limited resources have pushed horses to establish a new home range outside the Spruce-Pequop HMA, leading to habitat degradation. Past emergency gathers have addressed these issues, and further gathers are necessary to reduce excess horses, prevent further damage, and support range recovery.
Pre-Gather Condition Photos
- Daily Gather Reports
Saturday, August 16, 2025
Summary: No gather activities - just shipping.
Animals Gathered: 0
Animals Shipped: 46 (35 Stallions, 5 Mares and 6 Foals)
Animals Released: 0
Deaths: 0
- Sudden / Acute: 0
- Pre-existing / Chronic: 0
Friday, August 15, 2025
Summary: Temps 55°- 89°; sunny & clear
Animals Gathered: 36 (19 Stallions, 9 Mares, and 8 Foals)
Animals Shipped: 0
Animals Released: 0
Deaths: 1
- Sudden / Acute: 0
- Pre-existing / Chronic: 1
5-year-old dun stallion humanely euthanized due to poor body condition with no prognosis for improvement.
Thursday, August 14, 2025
Summary: Temps 50°- 96°; sunny & clear
Animals Gathered: 3 (3 Stallions, 0 Mares, and 0 Foals)
Animals Shipped: 78 (14 Stallions, 42 Mares and 22 Foals)
Animals Released: 0
Deaths: 2
- Sudden / Acute: 1
- Pre-existing / Chronic: 1
2-year-old red roan stallion humanely euthanized due to poor body condition with no prognosis for improvement.
Sorrel male foal found deceased at temporary holding facility due to unknown causes.
Wednesday, August 13, 2025
Summary: Temps 50°- 96°; sunny & clear
Animals Gathered: 83 (34 Stallions, 34 Mares, and 15 Foals)
Animals Shipped: 74 (42 Stallions and 32 Mares)
Animals Released: 0
Deaths: 5
- Sudden / Acute: 0
- Pre-existing / Chronic: 5
12-year-old grey mare humanely euthanized due to poor body condition with no prognosis for improvement.
15-year-old black mare humanely euthanized due to poor body condition with no prognosis for improvement.
20+-year-old bay stallion humanely euthanized due to poor body condition with no prognosis for improvement.
15-year-old bay mare humanely euthanized due to poor body condition with no prognosis for improvement.
12-year-old sorrel mare humanely euthanized due to poor body condition with no prognosis for improvement.
Tuesday, August 12, 2025
Summary: Temps 50°- 96°; sunny & clear
Animals Gathered: 71 (33 Stallions, 32 Mares, and 6 Foals)
Animals Shipped: 0
Animals Released: 0
Deaths: 3
- Sudden / Acute: 0
- Pre-existing / Chronic: 3
12-year-old bay mare humanely euthanized due to poor body condition with no prognosis for improvement.
9-year-old black mare humanely euthanized due to poor body condition with no prognosis for improvement.
20+-year-old sorrel mare humanely euthanized due to poor body condition with no prognosis for improvement.
Monday, August 11, 2025
Summary: Temps 50°- 93°; sunny & clear
Animals Gathered: 17 (5 Stallions, 10 Mares, and 2 Foals)
Animals Shipped: 0
Animals Released: 0
Deaths: 0
Gather Status
Gather concluded on August 15, 2025.
Animals Gathered: 210 (94 Stallions, 85 Mares, and 31 Foals)
Animals Shipped: 199 (91 Stallions, 78 Mares and 30 Foals)
Deaths: 11
-Sudden / Acute: 1
-Pre-existing / Chronic: 10
Scroll to the bottom of this gather page for detailed “Daily Gather Reports."