Eagle Emergency Wild Horse Gather

The Bureau of Land Management Ely District, Caliente Field Office will begin an emergency wild horse gather on or about September 13, 2018, within and outside the northern portion of the Eagle Herd Management Area located in Lincoln County, as there is not enough water to support the number of horses in the area. The BLM plans to gather and remove approximately 300 excess wild horses using the helicopter gather method.  

Purpose of Gather

The gather is necessary to prevent wild horse mortalities due to a water shortage caused by the overpopulation of wild horses. The purpose of the gather is to prevent undue or unnecessary degradation of the public lands associated with excess wild horses, and to restore a thriving natural ecological balance and multiple-use relationship on public lands, consistent with the provisions of Section 1333(b) of the 1971 Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act (WFRHBA).

Details of Gather

The BLM will utilize the services of a helicopter contractor to gather and remove approximately 300 excess wild horses. During the gather, the BLM will collect information on herd characteristics and determine herd health. The gather operation is expected to last approximately five-10 days. Approximately 1,559 wild horses will remain in the HMA once the gather is completed. Appropriate Management Level is 100-210 wild horses.

Public Observation

Members of the public are welcome to view the gather operations, provided that doing so does not jeopardize the safety of the animals, staff and observers, or disrupt gather operations.  The BLM will escort the public to gather observation sites located on public lands.  The BLM anticipates that viewing opportunities will be limited due to logistics in regards to private land issues, terrain and weather. Once gather operations have begun, those wanting to view gather operations must call the Eagle HMA gather hotline nightly at (775) 861-6700 to receive specific instructions on meeting locations and times.

Observers must provide their own transportation.  The BLM recommends footwear and clothing suitable for harsh field conditions and a four-wheel drive, high clearance vehicle.

Adoption Information

All horses identified for removal will be transported to the National Wild Horse and Burro Center at Palomino Valley, in Reno, Nev., where they will be checked by a veterinarian and readied for the BLM’s wild horse and burro adoption program.  For information on how to adopt a wild horse, visit www.blm.gov/whb.

Background

The Eagle HMA is located in the BLM Ely District on public lands administered by the Caliente Field Office. The gather may also take place in areas outside the HMA where wild horses have moved in search of food and water.

The current population estimate for the Eagle HMA is approximately 1,859 wild horses, including the 2018 foal crop. Appropriate Management Level is 100-210 wild horses. AML is the level at which wild horse populations are consistent with the land’s capacity to support them and other mandated uses of those lands, including protecting ecological processes and habitat for other resources.

Access the decision record and determination of National Environmental Policy Act adequacy at the national NEPA register. For more information on the Wild Horse and Burro Program, call 1-866-468-7826 or email wildhorse@blm.gov