2026 Sheepshead/Heath Creek Emergency Wild Horse Gather
*The Sheepshead/Heath Creek Emergency Wild Horse Gather has been temporarily suspended due to mechanical issues. Public land closure has been rescinded as of September 19, 2026. Updates will be posted as additional information becomes available.
Purpose of Gather:
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is proposing to resume implementation of its June 2020 Decision to remove excess wild horses from the Barren Valley Complex with an emergency wild horse gather focusing around the Sheepshead/Heath Creek Herd Management Area (HMA). The target is to gather and remove up to 499 excess wild horses via drive trap due to extreme drought, and lack of forage due to acreage burned during the Bald Mountain fire within the complex.
Emergency Conditions
The Draft Barren Valley Complex DNA was posted on ePlanning for public comment on July 24, 2026, to address emergency drought conditions and declining water availability within the Barren Valley Complex. During this public comment period, the Bald Mountain Fire, which had ignited on July 23, 2026, spread into the Barren Valley Complex and subsequently burned approximately 24,315 acres, representing approximately 13 percent of the Sheepshead/Heath Creek HMA. The fire has resulted in an additional, unanticipated reduction in available forage, particularly in the northwest portion of the HMA.
Due to the lack of snow during the 2025-2026 winter months, and little to no spring precipitation, the needed recharge of seeps, springs and reservoirs within the Barren Valley Complex and subsequent HMAs did not occur, contributing to current drought conditions. As such, historically reliable water sources in the area are unavailable or no longer producing sufficient water. These factors have created an emergency situation based on severely limited water that requires immediate attention.
The Sheepshead/Heath Creek portion of the Barren Valley Complex has over 63 documented water sources, with half of those being historically reliable. About 55 of those water sources are reservoirs, with the remainder being springs and seeps. As of July 10, 2026, there were only three of the 63 documented water sources providing water within the HMA (Sagehen Reservoir, Heath Creek Spring, and Rock Corrals Spring). The three remaining water sources are within the same relative geographic area, but most were anticipated to be dry by August 1st, 2026. As of August 22, 2026, only two water sources remain: the Heath Creek spring and the Rock Corral spring.
Details of Gather:
The BLM would gather and remove up to 499 excess wild horses from the Barren Valley Complex via drive trap. The gather would focus on the areas of the Sheepshead/Heath Creek HMA which are experiencing the most severe drought conditions and contain the least amount of available water to support wild horses.
The HMA is located immediately northwest of Burns Junction, Oregon bordered on the east by highway 78 and on the west by the Steens Mountain Rim. The southern border of the HMA adjoins the Coyote Lake/Alvord-Tule Spring HMA. This HMA is a result of a land use plan decision to combine Burn's Heath Creek/Sheepshead HMA with Vale's Sheepshead HMA due to the migratory movement between them. This HMA is now managed out of Vale as part of the Barren Valley Complex along with Coyote Lake/Alvord-Tule Springs and Sand Springs HMAs.
Public Observation:
In coordination with the gather, BLM has closed public lands within and around the Sheepshead/Heath Creek HMA, pursuant to the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (FLMPA), as amended, and 43 CFR § 8364.1. The BLM is offering a viewing area at the Burns WHB facility where horses will be transported after the gather where they have a drive through viewing area.
Adoption Information:
The BLM will gather up to 499 horses and transport them to off-range holding facilities, where they will receive veterinary evaluations, appropriate care, high-quality feed, and continuous access to fresh water. The facilities provide ample space that meets established agency standards. Once they have been evaluated and are ready, some of the horses will be available for adoption through the BLM Online Corral.
Background:
Sheepshead/Heath Creek Herd Management Area (HMA) is located immediately northwest of Burns Junction, Oregon bordered on the east by Highway 78 and on the west by the Steens Mountain Rim. The southern border of the HMA adjoins the Coyote Lake/Alvord-Tule Spring HMA. This HMA is a result of a land use plan decision to combine Burn's Heath Creek/Sheepshead HMA with Vale's Sheepshead HMA due to the migratory movement between them. This HMA is now managed out of Vale as part of the Barren Valley Complex along with Coyote Lake/Alvord–Tule Springs and Sand Springs HMAs.
Many of the horses are descendants of thoroughbreds from U.S. Army remount stallions while others are descendants of escaped or released horses from local ranches.
- Daily Gather Reports
Tuesday, September 15, 2026
Summary: 60-70 degrees, sunny, 0-5 mph wind
* No flying occurred due to helicopter maintenanceAnimals Gathered: 0
Animals Shipped: 9 (7 Stallions, 2 Mares and 0 Foals)
Deaths: 0
- Sudden / Acute: 0
- Pre-existing / Chronic: 0
Monday, September 14, 2026
Summary: 60-70 degrees, sunny, 0-5 mph wind
* No flying occurred due to helicopter maintenanceAnimals Gathered: 0
Animals Shipped: 0
Deaths: 0
- Sudden / Acute: 0
- Pre-existing / Chronic: 0
Sunday, September 13, 2026
Summary: 80-90 degrees, sunny, 15-20 mph wind
* No flying occurred due to helicopter maintenanceAnimals Gathered: 0
Animals Shipped: 34 (22 Stallions, 9 Mares and 3 Foals)
Deaths: 0
- Sudden / Acute: 0
- Pre-existing / Chronic: 0
Saturday, September 12, 2026
Summary: 80-90 degrees, sunny, 10-15 mph wind
Animals Gathered: 24 (12 Stallions, 9 Mares and 3 Foals)
Animals Shipped: 40 (1 Stallion, 23 Mares and 16 Foals)
Deaths: 0
- Sudden / Acute: 0
- Pre-existing / Chronic: 0
Friday, September 11, 2026
Summary: 80-90 degrees, sunny, 5-10 mph wind
Animals Gathered: 44 (14 Stallions, 18 Mares and 12 Foals)
Animals Shipped: 0
Deaths: 0
- Sudden / Acute: 0
- Pre-existing / Chronic: 0
Thursday, September 10, 2026
Summary: 60-70 degrees, sunny, 5-10 mph wind
* No flying occurred due to helicopter maintenanceAnimals Gathered: 0
Animals Shipped: 0
Deaths: 0
- Sudden / Acute: 0
- Pre-existing / Chronic: 0
Wednesday, September 9, 2026
Summary: 70-80 degrees, sunny, 0-5 mph wind
* No flying occurred due to helicopter maintenanceAnimals Gathered: 0
Animals Shipped: 0
Deaths: 0
- Sudden / Acute: 0
- Pre-existing / Chronic: 0
Tuesday, September 8, 2026
Summary: 70-80 degrees, sunny, 5 mph wind
Animals Gathered: 13 (2 Stallions, 7 Mares and 4 Foals)
Animals Shipped: 69 (31 Stallions, 26 Mares and 12 Foals)
Deaths: 1
- Sudden / Acute: 0
- Pre-existing / Chronic: 1
- 3-year-old bay mare with a prolapsed vagina humanely euthanized with no prognosis for improvement.
Monday, September 7, 2026
Summary: 70-80 degrees, sunny, 5 mph wind
Animals Gathered: 72 (33 Stallions, 27 Mares and 12 Foals)
Animals Shipped: 0
Deaths: 0
- Sudden / Acute: 0
- Pre-existing / Chronic: 0
Sunday, September 6, 2026
Summary: 60-70 degrees, sunny, 15 mph wind
Animals Gathered: 0
Animals Shipped: 60 (20 Stallions, 26 Mares and 14 Foals)
Deaths: 0
- Sudden / Acute: 0
- Pre-existing / Chronic: 0
Saturday, September 5, 2026
Summary: 70-80 degrees, sunny, 5 mph wind
Animals Gathered: 60 (20 Stallions, 26 Mares and 14 Foals)
Animals Shipped: 37 (8 Stallions, 19 Mares and 10 Foals)
Deaths: 1
- Sudden / Acute: 0
- Pre-existing / Chronic: 1
- 20-year-old blue roan stallion humanely euthanized due to blindness in right eye with no prognosis for improvement.
Friday, September 4, 2026
Summary: 42-54 degrees, fog, 5 mph wind
Animals Gathered: 38 (9 Stallions, 19 Mares and 10 Foals)
Animals Shipped: 0
Deaths: 0
- Sudden / Acute: 0
- Pre-existing / Chronic: 0
Gather Status
This gather began on September 4, 2026.
**The Sheepshead/Heath Creek Emergency Wild Horse Gather has been temporarily suspended due to mechanical issues. Public land closure has been rescinded as of September 19, 2026. Updates will be posted as additional information becomes available.
Total Animals Gathered: 251 (90 Stallions, 106 Mares and 55 Foals)
Total Animals Shipped: 249 (89 Stallions, 105 Mares and 55 Foals)
Deaths: 2
-Sudden / Acute: 0
-Pre-existing / Chronic: 2
Scroll to the bottom of this gather page for detailed “Daily Gather Reports."