2022 Desatoya 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, 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. Excessive grazing from wild horses has not only degraded the sage-grouse habitat but has also reduced the number of native grass plants in areas of the HMA, which impacts the overall availability of forage grasses within the HMA and has reduced the number of wild horses that can be supported by current range conditions. Continued heavy grazing from wild horses occurring on spring meadow systems and creeks, are adversely affecting Lahontan Cutthroat Trout which is federally listed. Removing excess animals would also enable significant progress toward achieving the Standards for Rangeland Health identified by the Sierra Front-Northwestern Great Basin Resource Advisory Council.
Details of Gather:
On or around January 16, 2022, the Stillwater Field Offices (SWFO) will begin a wild horse gather at the Desatoya Herd Management Area (HMA) located approximately 77 miles east of Fallon, Nevada. The Desatoya HMA encompasses approximately 161,700 acres of public and private lands. The SWFO will conduct gather operations using the helicopter-assisted method.
The SWFO plans to gather approximately 223 wild horses, remove approximately 151 wild horses, and treat and release up to 42 mares from the Desatoya HMA. The released mares will be treated with GonaCon fertility control.
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, contractors and observers, or disrupt gather operations. The SFFO staff will escort the public to gather observation sites.
Once gather operations have begun, those wanting to view gather operations must call the gather hotline nightly no later than 5:00 p.m. at (775) 885-6101 to RSVP. If no RSVPs are received by 5:00 p.m., no public viewing will be available the following day.
Adoption Information:
For information on how to adopt or purchase a wild horse or burro, visit www.blm.gov/whb
Background:
The total Appropriate Management Level (AML) for the Desatoya HMA is 127-180 wild horses. In October 2020, the BLM conducted an aerial flight or population inventory count and estimates the current population is approximately 278 wild horses, which includes foals born this last year. The most recent gather in this HMA was completed in 2019.
- Daily Gather Reports
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Thursday, January 27, 2022
Summary: Gather operations concluded today.
Animals Gathered: 0 (0 Stallions, 0 Mares, and 0 Foals)
Animals Shipped: 23 (10 Stallions, 10 Mares, and 3 Foals)
Animals Treated with Fertility Control: (38 Mares)
- GonaCon: 38 (38 Mares)
Animals Released: 0 (0 Stallions, 0 Mares)
Deaths: 1
- Sudden / Acute: 0
- Pre-existing / Chronic: 1
20+ year old Bay Mare was euthanized in accordance with IM 2021-007 due to pre-existing condition (very poor body condition/severe tooth loss)
Wednesday, January 26, 2022
Summary: Gather operations continued under clear skies, light winds and temperatures 9 to 36 degrees.
Animals Gathered: 12 (5 Stallions, 5 Mares, and 2 Foals)
Animals Shipped: 16 (0 Stallions, 16 Mares, and 0 Foals)
Animals Treated with Fertility Control: (0 Mares)
- GonaCon: 0 (0 Mares)
Animals Released: 0 (0 Stallions, 0 Mares)
Deaths: 2
- Sudden / Acute: 1
- Pre-existing / Chronic: 1
30+ year old Red Roan Stallion was euthanized in accordance with IM 2021-007 due to pre-existing condition (very poor body condition/no teeth)
10 year old Bay Mare died suddenly due to acute injury (head fracture)
Tuesday, January 25, 2022
Summary: Gather operations continued under partly cloudy skies, light winds and temperatures 14 to 32 degrees.
Animals Gathered: 6 (2 Stallions, 3 Mares, and 1 Foal)
Animals Shipped: 18 (9 Stallions, 0 Mares, and 9 Foals)
Animals Treated with Fertility Control: (0 Mares)
- GonaCon: 0 (0 Mares)
Animals Released: 0 (0 Stallions, 0 Mares)
Deaths: 0
- Sudden / Acute: 0
- Pre-existing / Chronic: 0
Monday, January 24, 2022
Summary: Gather operations continued under clear skies, light winds and temperatures 15 to 43 degrees.
Animals Gathered: 25 (7 Stallions, 13 Mares, and 5 Foals)
Animals Shipped: 0 (0 Stallions, 0 Mares, and 0 Foals)
Animals Treated with Fertility Control: (0 Mares)
- GonaCon: 0 (0 Mares)
Animals Released: 0 (0 Stallions, 0 Mares)
Deaths: 1
- Sudden / Acute: 0
- Pre-existing / Chronic: 1
3 year old Bay Stallion was euthanized in accordance with IM 2021-007 due to pre-existing condition (severe lameness in all four legs)
Sunday, January 23, 2022
Summary: Gather operations continued under clear skies, light winds and temperatures 14 to 38 degrees.
Animals Gathered: 8 (4 Stallions, 3 Mares, and 1 Foals)
Animals Shipped: 14 (14 Stallions, 0 Mares, and 0 Foals)
Animals Treated with Fertility Control: (0 Mares)
- GonaCon: 0 (0 Mares)
Animals Released: 0 (0 Stallions, 0 Mares)
Deaths: 0
- Sudden / Acute: 0
- Pre-existing / Chronic: 0
Saturday, January 22, 2022
Summary: Gather operations continued under partly cloudy skies, light winds and temperatures 12 to 34 degrees.
Animals Gathered: 2 (2 Stallions, 0 Mares, and 0 Foals)
Animals Shipped: 0 (0 Stallions, 0 Mares, and 0 Foals)
Animals Treated with Fertility Control: (0 Mares)
- GonaCon: 0 (0 Mares)
Animals Released: 0 (0 Stallions, 0 Mares)
Deaths: 0
- Sudden / Acute: 0
- Pre-existing / Chronic: 0
Friday, January 21, 2022
Summary: Gather operations continued under partly cloudy skies, winds 10 to 20 mph and temperatures 21 to 33 degrees.
Animals Gathered: 8 (5 Stallions, 3 Mares, and 0 Foals)
Animals Shipped: 15 (11 Stallions, 1 Mares, and 3 Foals)
Animals Treated with Fertility Control: (0 Mares)
- GonaCon: 0 (0 Mares)
Animals Released: 0 (0 Stallions, 0 Mares)
Deaths: 0
- Sudden / Acute: 0
- Pre-existing / Chronic: 0
Thursday, January 20, 2022
Summary: Gather operations continued under partly cloudy skies, light winds and temperatures 17 to 38 degrees.
Animals Gathered: 40 (18 Stallions, 17 Mares, and 5 Foals)
Animals Shipped: 0 (0 Stallions, 0 Mares, and 0 Foals)
Animals Treated with Fertility Control: (0 Mares)
- GonaCon: 0 (0 Mares)
Animals Released: 0 (0 Stallions, 0 Mares)
Deaths: 1
- Sudden / Acute: 0
- Pre-existing / Chronic: 1
30+ year old Bay Stallion was euthanized in accordance with IM 2021-007 due to pre-existing condition (club foot)
Wednesday, January 19, 2022
Summary: Gather operations continued under partly cloudy skies, light winds and temperatures 17 to 38 degrees.
Animals Gathered: 6 (2 Stallions, 3 Mares, and 1 Foal)
Animals Shipped: 68 (40 Stallions, 15 Mares, and 13 Foals)
*NOTE: 9 privately-owned horses returned to owner counted as shipped (2 Stallions and 7 Mares)
Animals Treated with Fertility Control: (0 Mares)
- GonaCon: 0 (0 Mares)
Animals Released: 2 (2 Stallions, 0 Mares)
*NOTE: 2 Stallions, each blind in one eye with good body condition, characteristics and confirmation, were released back into the HMA.
Deaths: 0
- Sudden / Acute: 0
- Pre-existing / Chronic: 0
Tuesday, January 18, 2022
Summary: Gather operations continued under partly cloudy skies, light winds and temperatures 16 to 38 degrees.
Animals Gathered: 40 (14 Stallions, 20 Mares, and 6 Foals)
*NOTE: 9 privately-owned horses were returned to owner (2 Stallions and 7 Mares)
Animals Shipped: 0 (0 Stallions, 0 Mares, and 0 Foals)
Animals Treated with Fertility Control: (0 Mares)
- GonaCon: 0 (0 Mares)
Animals Released: 0 (0 Mares)
Deaths: 1
- Sudden / Acute: 0
- Pre-existing / Chronic: 1
- 4 year old Buckskin Mare was euthanized in accordance with IM 2021-007 due to chronic injury (Previously broken leg)
Monday, January 17, 2022
Summary: Gather operations continued under partly cloudy skies, light winds and temperatures 16 to 41 degrees.
Animals Gathered: 29 (17 Stallions, 9 Mares, and 3 Foals)
Animals Shipped: 0 (0 Stallions, 0 Mares, and 0 Foals)
Animals Treated with Fertility Control: (0 Mares)
- GonaCon: 0 (0 Mares)
Animals Released: 0 (0 Mares)
Deaths: 0
- Sudden / Acute: 0
- Pre-existing / Chronic: 0
Sunday, January 16, 2022
Summary: Gather operations began today under partly cloudy skies, light winds and temperatures 15 to 40 degrees.
Animals Gathered: 24 (11 Stallions, 9 Mares, and 4 Foals)
Animals Shipped: 0 (0 Stallions, 0 Mares, and 0 Foals)
Animals Treated with Fertility Control: (0 Mares)
- GonaCon: 0 (0 Mares)
Animals Released: 0 (0 Mares)
Deaths: 0
- Sudden / Acute: 0
- Pre-existing / Chronic: 0
News
Gather Status
As of January 27, 2022
Animals Gathered: 200
200 Wild Horses (87 Stallions, 85 Mares, and 28 Foals)
* 9 privately-owned horses gathered on January 18, (2 Stallions and 7 Mares) have been returned to their owner and are included in the total number gathered.
Animals Shipped: 154
154 Wild Horses (84 Stallions, 42 Mares, and 28 Foals)
Animals Treated with Fertility Control: 38
38 Wild Horses (0 Stallions, 38 Mares, and 0 Foals)
GonaCon: 38 (38 Mares)
Animals Released: 2
2 Wild Horses (2 Stallions, 0 Mares)
Deaths: 6
-Sudden / Acute: 1
-Pre-existing / Chronic: 5