The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) completed a wild horse gather in Nevada at the end of October and was set to conduct a gather in Utah in early November.
BLM concluded gather operations near Reno, NV, on Oct. 22, rounding up 323 horses in the North Complex, which comprises the Dogskin Mountains, Flanigan and Granite Peak herd management areas (HMA). Recent wildfires and drought conditions have reduced the suitability of the HMAs to support wild horses, BLM said.
The appropriate management level (AML) for the complex is 101-157 horses but its population was estimated at 424 prior to the gather. Gathered animals were taken to Litchfield, CA, and will be prepared for the BLM’s horse and burro adoption program.
On Nov. 2, BLM began gather options in the Swasey HMA near Delta, UT. The agency planned to remove about 140 horses, as the latest population was projected at 247 horses compared to the AML of 60-100 horses.
“This effort will help improve herd health, reduce pressure on range resources, and support a balanced, healthy environment for wild horses into the future,” the agency said.
As of Nov. 3, BLM had gathered 28 animals. Animals removed from the range will receive care before being made available for adoption or sale.
