2025 Triple B Complex Wild Horse Gather
Purpose of Gather:
The purpose of the gather is to prevent undue or unnecessary degradation of the public lands associated with excess wild horses, 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. Removing excess animals would also enable significant progress toward achieving the Standards for Rangeland Health identified by the Northeastern Great Basin Resource Advisory Council.
The action is also necessary to reduce overpopulation of wild horses within and outside the Complex, where there currently is not enough water and/or forage to support the number of horses in the area, and to prevent further degradation of public lands by helping to balance herd size.
Details of Gather:
The BLM will utilize the services of a helicopter contractor to gather up to 2,255 wild horses and remove up to 2,155 excess horses. Up to 50 mares will be treated with the population suppression vaccine GonaCon and released back to the range with 50 stallions. During the gather, the BLM will collect information on herd characteristics and determine herd health.
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 anticipates that viewing opportunities will begin on or about November 2, 2024, weather and logistics permitting. Please review the "Know Before You Go" and "Visitation Protocol and Ground Rules" documents, located on the right-hand side of this page, before planning to attend.
All media and/or visitors wanting to attend gather operations as an observer must RSVP to 775-296-0679 by 5:30 p.m. the night before the intended observation date. They will receive a call back no later than 9 p.m. with the observation schedule, meeting time and location. A Public Affairs Officer and/or a Law Enforcement Officer will meet the public each morning at the pre-determined meeting location, to escort the group to and from the gather observation and/or holding sites. Observers must provide their own transportation. The BLM recommends a four-wheel drive, high clearance vehicle with spare tires and extra can of gas.
Adoption Information:
Horses identified for removal will be transported to the Palomino Valley Center Wild Horse and Burro Corrals, in Sparks, Nev., and Indian Lakes Off-Range Wild Horse and Burro Corral, in Fallon, Nev., where they will be checked by a veterinarian and readied for the BLM’s wild horse and burro adoption program. Those that are not placed into a new home will be cared for in off-range pastures, where they live off the rest of their lives on grass pastures. For information on how to adopt a wild horse, visit www.blm.gov/whb.
Background:
The Triple B Complex is located in the BLM Elko and Ely districts on public lands administered by the Wells and Bristlecone field offices. The Complex consists of the Triple B, Maverick Medicine and Antelope Valley Herd Management Areas (HMAs). The BLM Elko District, Wells Field Office administers the Antelope Valley and Maverick Medicine HMAs. The BLM Ely District, Bristlecone Field Office administers the Triple B HMA. The gather may also take place in areas outside the Complex where wild horses have moved in search of food and water and are creating a public safety hazard by traveling across roads and highways.
The current population estimate for the Triple B Complex is 3,335 wild horses. Appropriate Management Level is 472-889 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 https://go.usa.gov/xSYnE. For more information on the Wild Horse and Burro Program, call 1-866-468-7826 or email wildhorse@blm.gov
- Daily Gather Reports
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Thursday, November 21
Summary: Gather continued under sunny skies and temperatures 26 to 51 degrees.
Animals Gathered: 115 (38 Stallions, 50 Mares, and 27 Foals)
Animals Shipped: 0 (0 Stallions, 0 Mares, and 0 Foals)
Animals Treated with Fertility Control: 0
- GonaCon: 0 MaresAnimals Released: 0 (0 Stallions, 0 Mares, and 0 Foals)
Deaths: 0
- Sudden / Acute: 0
- Pre-existing / Chronic: 0
Wednesday, November 20
Summary: Gather continued under partly cloudy skies and temperatures 24 to 38 degrees.
Animals Gathered: 20 (8 Stallions, 8 Mares, and 4 Foals)
Animals Shipped: 62 (13 Stallions, 0 Mares, and 49 Foals)
Animals Treated with Fertility Control: 0
- GonaCon: 0 MaresAnimals Released: 0 (0 Stallions, 0 Mares, and 0 Foals)
Deaths: 2
- Sudden / Acute: 0
- Pre-existing / Chronic: 2
4-year-old Dun mare humanely euthanized due to pre-existing condition -- poor body condition; unable to maintain or improve.
10-year-old Black mare humanely euthanized due to pre-existing condition -- poor body condition; unable to maintain or improve.
Tuesday, November 19
Summary: Gather continued under partly cloudy skies and temperatures 24 to 38 degrees.
Animals Gathered: 60 (17 Stallions, 26 Mares, and 17 Foals)
Animals Shipped: 112 (37 Stallions, 75 Mares, and 0 Foals)
Animals Treated with Fertility Control: 0
- GonaCon: 0 MaresAnimals Released: 0 (0 Stallions, 0 Mares, and 0 Foals)
Deaths: 0
- Sudden / Acute: 0
- Pre-existing / Chronic: 0
Monday, November 18
Summary: Gather continued under partly cloudy skies and temperatures 30 to 38 degrees.
Animals Gathered: 140 (58 Stallions, 50 Mares, and 32 Foals)
Animals Shipped: 120 (56 Stallions, 38 Mares, and 26 Foals)
Animals Treated with Fertility Control: 0
- GonaCon: 0 MaresAnimals Released: 0 (0 Stallions, 0 Mares, and 0 Foals)
Deaths: 0
- Sudden / Acute: 0
- Pre-existing / Chronic: 0
Sunday, November 17
Summary: Gather continued under partly cloudy skies and temperatures 22 to 42 degrees.
Animals Gathered: 125 (48 Stallions, 51 Mares, and 26 Foals)
Animals Shipped: 126 (57 Stallions, 38 Mares, and 31 Foals)
Animals Treated with Fertility Control: 0
- GonaCon: 0 MaresAnimals Released: 0 (0 Stallions, 0 Mares, and 0 Foals)
Deaths: 2
- Sudden / Acute: 1
- Pre-existing / Chronic: 1
12-year-old Black stallion humanely euthanized due to acute intestinal compromise.
3-year-old Black mare humanely euthanized due to pre-existing condition -- blindness.
Saturday, November 16
Summary: Gather continued under partly cloudy skies and temperatures 32 to 36 degrees.
Animals Gathered: 149 (66 Stallions, 52 Mares, and 31 Foals)
Animals Shipped: 0 (0 Stallions, 0 Mares, and 0 Foals)
Animals Treated with Fertility Control: 0
- GonaCon: 0 MaresAnimals Released: 0 (0 Stallions, 0 Mares, and 0 Foals)
Deaths: 1
- Sudden / Acute: 1
- Pre-existing / Chronic: 0
3-year-old Black stallion was humanely euthanized after fracturing neck.
Friday, November 15
Summary: No animals gathered today. Weather: cloudy skies and temperatures 17 to 35 degrees.
Animals Gathered: 0 (0 Stallions, 0 Mares, and 0 Foals)
Animals Shipped: 0 (0 Stallions, 0 Mares, and 0 Foals)
Animals Treated with Fertility Control: 0
- GonaCon: 0 MaresAnimals Released: 0 (0 Stallions, 0 Mares, and 0 Foals)
Deaths: 0
- Sudden / Acute: 0
- Pre-existing / Chronic: 0
Thursday, November 14
Summary: No animals gathered today. Weather: sunny skies and temperatures 25 to 50 degrees.
Animals Gathered: 0 (0 Stallions, 0 Mares, and 0 Foals)
Animals Shipped: 117 (29 Stallions, 66 Mares, and 22 Foals)
Animals Treated with Fertility Control: 0
- GonaCon: 0 MaresAnimals Released: 2 (2 Stallions, 0 Mares, and 0 Foals)
Deaths: 0
- Sudden / Acute: 0
- Pre-existing / Chronic: 0
Wednesday, November 13
Summary: Gather continued under sunny skies, wind, and temperatures 25 to 50 degrees.
Animals Gathered: 54 (16 Stallions, 22 Mares, and 16 Foals)
Animals Shipped: 128 (57 Stallions, 38 Mares, and 33 Foals)
Animals Treated with Fertility Control: 0
- GonaCon: 0 MaresAnimals Released: 0 (0 Stallions, 0 Mares, and 0 Foals)
Deaths: 0
- Sudden / Acute: 0
- Pre-existing / Chronic: 0
Tuesday, November 12
Summary: Gather continued under sunny skies, wind, and temperatures 25 to 41 degrees.
Animals Gathered: 160 (72 Stallions, 49 Mares, and 39 Foals)
Animals Shipped: 0 (0 Stallions, 0 Mares, and 0 Foals)
Animals Treated with Fertility Control: 0
- GonaCon: 0 MaresAnimals Released: 0 (0 Stallions, 0 Mares, and 0 Foals)
Deaths: 0
- Sudden / Acute: 0
- Pre-existing / Chronic: 0
Monday, November 11
Summary: Operations continued under sunny skies, wind, and temperatures 25 to 51 degrees.
Animals Gathered: 0 (0 Stallions, 0 Mares, and 0 Foals)
Animals Shipped: 44 (28 Stallions, 0 Mares, and 16 Foals)
Animals Treated with Fertility Control: 0
- GonaCon: 0 MaresAnimals Released: 0 (0 Stallions, 0 Mares, and 0 Foals)
Deaths: 2
- Sudden / Acute: 0
- Pre-existing / Chronic: 2
18-year-old Sorrel stallion humanely euthanized due to pre-existing club foot -- both hind legs.
20+ year-old Bay stallion humanely euthanized due to poor body condition -- severe tooth loss.
Sunday, November 10
Summary: Gather continued under sunny skies and temperatures 25 to 51 degrees.
Animals Gathered: 52 (15 Stallions, 21 Mares, and 16 Foals)
Animals Shipped: 126 (17 Stallions, 74 Mares, and 35 Foals)
Animals Treated with Fertility Control: 12
- GonaCon: 12 MaresAnimals Released: 18 (6 Stallions, 12 Mares, and 0 Foals)
Deaths: 4
- Sudden / Acute: 2
- Pre-existing / Chronic: 2
10-year-old Palomino stallion died suddenly after fractured leg.
14-year-old Sorrel mare died suddenly after fractured neck.
17-year-old Black mare humanely euthanized due to pre-existing injury -- fractured left front leg.
15-year-old Black mare humanely euthanized due to pre-existing injury -- fractured right front fetlock.
Saturday, November 9
Summary: Gather continued under sunny skies and temperatures 18 to 51 degrees.
Animals Gathered: 57 (15 Stallions, 24 Mares, and 18 Foals)
Animals Shipped: 118 (74 Stallions, 33 Mares, and 11 Foals)
Animals Treated with Fertility Control: 0
- GonaCon: 0 MaresAnimals Released: 0 (0 Stallions, 0 Mares, and 0 Foals)
Deaths: 0
- Sudden / Acute: 0
- Pre-existing / Chronic: 0
Friday, November 8
Summary: Gather continued under sunny skies and temperatures 18 to 51 degrees.
Animals Gathered: 136 (52 Stallions, 58 Mares, and 26 Foals)
Animals Shipped: 125 (56 Stallions, 38 Mares, and 31 Foals)
Animals Treated with Fertility Control: 0
- GonaCon: 0 MaresAnimals Released: 0 (0 Stallions, 0 Mares, and 0 Foals)
Deaths: 0
- Sudden / Acute: 0
- Pre-existing / Chronic: 0
Thursday, November 7
Summary: Gather continued under sunny skies and wind, and temperatures 18 to 41 degrees.
Animals Gathered: 159 (75 Stallions, 55 Mares, and 29 Foals)
Animals Shipped: 0 (0 Stallions, 0 Mares, and 0 Foals)
Animals Treated with Fertility Control: 0
- GonaCon: 0 MaresAnimals Released: 0 (0 Stallions, 0 Mares, and 0 Foals)
Deaths: 1
- Sudden / Acute: 0
- Pre-existing / Chronic: 1
8-year-old Bay stallion humanely euthanized due to physical defect -- severe sway back.
Wednesday, November 6
Summary: Gather continued under sunny skies and wind, and temperatures 14 to 31 degrees.
Animals Gathered: 22 (10 Stallions, 10 Mares, and 2 Foals)
Animals Shipped: 44 (25 Stallions, 0 Mares, and 19 Foals)
Animals Treated with Fertility Control: 0
- GonaCon: 0 MaresAnimals Released: 0 (0 Stallions, 0 Mares, and 0 Foals)
Deaths: 2
- Sudden / Acute: 0
- Pre-existing / Chronic: 2
5-year-old Sorrel stallion humanely euthanized due to blindness -- missing right eye.
6-year-old Bay mare humanely euthanized due to blindness -- missing left eye.
Tuesday, November 5
Summary: Gather continued under sunny skies and wind, and temperatures 28 to 41 degrees.
Animals Gathered: 54 (20 Stallions, 22 Mares, and 12 Foals)
Animals Shipped: 37 (0 Stallions, 37 Mares, and 0 Foals)
Animals Treated with Fertility Control: 0
- GonaCon: 0 MaresAnimals Released: 0 (0 Stallions, 0 Mares, and 0 Foals)
Deaths: 0
- Sudden / Acute: 0
- Pre-existing / Chronic: 0
Monday, November 4
Summary: Gather continued under sunny skies and wind, and temperatures 28 to 45 degrees.
Animals Gathered: 34 (15 Stallions, 11 Mares, and 8 Foals)
Animals Shipped: 122 (58 Stallions, 36 Mares, and 26 Foals)
Animals Treated with Fertility Control: 0
- GonaCon: 0 MaresAnimals Released: 0 (0 Stallions, 0 Mares, and 0 Foals)
Deaths: 0
- Sudden / Acute: 0
- Pre-existing / Chronic: 0
Sunday, November 3
Summary: Gather continued with wind and snow, and temperatures 30 to 45 degrees.
Animals Gathered: 128 (42 Stallions, 56 Mares, and 30 Foals)
Animals Shipped: 45 (0 Stallions, 28 Mares, and 17 Foals)
Animals Treated with Fertility Control: 0
- GonaCon: 0 MaresAnimals Released: 0 (0 Stallions, 0 Mares, and 0 Foals)
Deaths: 0
- Sudden / Acute: 0
- Pre-existing / Chronic: 0
Saturday, November 2
Summary: Gather started under sunny skies and temperatures 26 to 43 degrees.
Animals Gathered: 81 (26 Stallions, 38 Mares, and 17 Foals)
Animals Shipped: 0 (0 Stallions, 0 Mares, and 0 Foals)
Animals Treated with Fertility Control: 0
- GonaCon: 0 MaresAnimals Released: 0 (0 Stallions, 0 Mares, and 0 Foals)
Deaths: 1
- Sudden / Acute: 0
- Pre-existing / Chronic: 1
20+ year-old Bay stallion humanely euthanized due to blindness -- missing left eye.
Gather Status
As of November 21, 2024
Animals Gathered: 1,546 (593 Stallions, 603 Mares, and 350 Foals)
Animals Shipped: 1,327 (507 Stallions, 501 Mares, and 319 Foals)
Animals Treated with Fertility Control: 12
GonaCon: 12 Mares
Animals Released: 20 (8 Stallions, 12 Mares, and 0 Foals)
Deaths: 15
-Sudden / Acute: 4
-Pre-existing / Chronic: 11
Scroll to the bottom of this gather page for detailed “Daily Gather Reports"