2026 Pancake Complex Bait and Water Trap Wild Horse Gather
Purpose of Gather:
The purpose of this gather is to remove approximately 300 wild horses located within and outside the designated herd management areas to:
- Prevent further deterioration of rangeland resources.
- Protect the health and welfare of wild horses currently in the area.
- Maintain ecological balance within designated herd management areas; and
- Reduce the likelihood of more serious animal health outcomes that could necessitate emergency intervention at a later date.
Recent monitoring indicates a range of moderate to severe forage utilization and limited available water resources within the project area. Body condition scoring has identified animals in fair to moderate condition (BCS 3–4 on the Henneke scale), indicating declining range conditions and increasing risk to animal health if resource availability continues to decrease.
The gather aims to protect public lands from degradation caused by excess wild horses and to restore ecological balance and multiple-use management, in accordance with the 1971 Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act. The BLM is committed to supporting public safety, being a responsible community partner, and promoting economic opportunities through sustainable land use.
Details of Gather:
The goal of this gather is to capture approximately 300 excess wild horses from within or outside the Pancake Complex utilizing bait and water trap. Due to the overpopulation of wild horses within the Pancake Complex wild horses are highly concentrated around primary water and feed sources and traveling to areas outside of the Complex boundaries where BLM does not manage wild horses.
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 Wildhorse and Burro Adoption page.
Background:
The Pancake Complex is within the Great Basin physiographic region, characterized by a high, rolling plateau underlain by basalt flows covered with a thin loess and alluvial mantle. On many of the low hills and ridges that are scattered throughout the area, the soils are underlain by bedrock. Elevations within the Complex range from approximately 5,000 feet to 11,000 feet.
Vegetation in the HMA consists primarily of brush, fir and mountain mahogany in the higher elevations, pinion-juniper and sagebrush on the lower mountain slopes and white sage, black sage, saltbush and other “salt desert shrub” type communities on the valley floors.
- Daily Gather Reports
Sunday, March 15
Summary: Temperatures : 0 - 0 degrees
Animals Gathered: 0 (0 Stallions, 0 Mares, and 0 Foals)
Animals Shipped: 0 (0 Stallions, 0 Mares, and 0 Foals)
Deaths: 0
- Sudden / Acute: 0
- Pre-existing / Chronic: 0
Gather Status
As of March 15, 2026
Animals Gathered: 0
(0 Stallions, 0 Mares, and 0 Foals)
Animals Shipped: 0
(0 Stallions, 0 Mares, and 0 Foals)
Deaths: 0
-Sudden / Acute: 0
-Pre-existing: 0
Scroll to the bottom of this gather page for detailed “Daily Gather Reports"