The gather has concluded - The Bureau of Land Management’s Elko District, Wells Field Office wild horse emergency bait and water trap gather ran from July 28- August 18, 2020. The final load of horses was shipped to The Palomino Valley Wild Horse and Burro Center in Reno, NV on August 22, 2020.
2020 Triple B Maverick-Medicine Emergency Wild Horse Gather
Purpose of Gather:
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Ely District, Bristlecone Field Office will begin an emergency wild horse gather on or about July 24, 2020 on the Triple B and Maverick-Medicine Herd Management Areas (HMAs) located about 75 miles northwest of Ely in White Pine County, Nevada.
The action is needed due to lack of water and declining health of the wild horses - the Triple B and Maverick Medicine HMAs have a history of water issues during dry spring and summer months.
All horses identified for removal will be transported to the Palomino Valley Center Wild Horse and Burro Corrals, in Sparks, Nev., where they will be checked by a veterinarian and readied for the BLM’s wild horse and burro Adoption and Sale Program.
Details of Gather:
The BLM will conduct gather operations by using temporary water and bait traps consisting of a series of corral panels stocked with water and hay; no helicopters will be used. The BLM plans to gather and remove approximately 360 excess wild horses, once gather operations are completed, approximately 1,318 wild horses will remain in the Triple B HMA and approximately 1,884 wild horses will remain in the Maverick-Medicine HMA. The gather is expected to last approximately 15-30 days.
Background:
The current population of wild horses, including the 2020 foal crop, in the Triple B HMA was estimated at 1,618 and in the Maverick-Medicine HMA was estimated at 1,944– this is approximately 448% above the appropriate management level (AML) of 250-518 and 166-276 wild horses, respectively.
The purpose of the gather is critical to prevent further deteriorating body condition of the wild horses in the area due to extremely limited water sources, 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.
The Triple B HMA is located about 30 miles northwest of Ely, Nevada, in White Pine County. The area consists of 1,230,579 acres of BLM land and 1,915 acres of a mix of private and other public lands for a total of 1,232,494 acres. The Triple B HMA is typical of the Great Basin region, characterized by north-south trending mountain ranges. Significant features are large flat valley bottoms and steep mountains with elevations ranging from about 6,000 feet on the valley floors to 9,000-plus feet atop the mountain peaks. The area is remote and rugged. Vegetation in the HMA consists primarily of brush, fir and mountain mahogany in the higher elevations, pinion-juniper and sagebrush on the lower mountain slopes and white sage, black sage, saltbush and other “salt desert shrub” type communities on the valley floors. The area falls within the Great Basin Desert which encompasses much of Nevada and western Utah, portions of southern Oregon and small parts of California and Idaho. The Great Basin is effectively cut off from the westerly flow of Pacific moisture due to crossing air masses created by the Sierra and Cascade mountain ranges that cool and precipitate much of the moisture out. The result is a cold, dry desert. Precipitation in the Triple B HMA ranges from approximately 7 inches on the valley bottoms to 16 to 18 inches on the mountain peaks. Most of this precipitation comes in the form of snow during the winter months. Summers are hot and dry, with high temperatures in the 90’s or higher. Winters are cold, with temperatures dropping below freezing and below zero degrees.
The Maverick-Medicine HMA is located approximately 75 miles southeast of Elko. The area consists of 318,760 acres of BLM land and 4,802 acres of a mix of private and other public lands for a total of 323,562 acres. The HMA is 30 miles wide, 25 miles long. The highest point in the HMA is High Bald Peak at 9,396 feet in elevation. The lowest points can be found in the valley bottoms and playas and range from 6,000 to 7,000 feet. Between these high and low points, rolling juniper covered hills broken by sagebrush covered valleys make up the topography. Temperatures can be extreme, ranging from a high of 100 degrees Fahrenheit in the summer to well below 0 degrees in the winter months. The vegetation in the foothills and valley regions support desert shrubs such as sagebrush, spiny hopsage, horsebrush, shadscale and rabbitbrush mixed with many species of native grasses such as Indian ricegrass, squirreltail and bluebunch wheatgrass. The higher elevations support pinyon pine and juniper forests. At the highest elevations, fir and spruce trees are abundant.
Public Observation:
Because of the nature of the bait and water trap method, wild horses are reluctant to approach the trap site when there is too much activity; therefore, only essential gather operation personnel will be allowed at the trap site during operations.
Adoption Information:
The wild horses removed from the range will be transported to the BLM’s Palomino Valley Center Wild Horse and Burro Corrals, in Sparks, Nev., where they will be checked by a veterinarian and readied for the BLM’s wild horse and burro adoption program. Animals not adopted will be cared for in off-range pastures, where they retain their "wild" status and protection under 1971 Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act.
For more information on the Wild Horse and Burro Program, call 1-866-468-7826 or email wildhorse@blm.gov.
Gather Reports
Saturday, August 22
Summary:
Animals Gathered: 0 (0 Studs, 0 Mares, and 0 Foals)
Animals Shipped: 30 (14 Studs, 16 Mares, and 0 Foals)
Deaths: 0
-Sudden / Acute: 0
-Pre-existing / Chronic: 0
• details of any deaths will be noted
Friday, August 21
Summary: Widespread haze. Areas of smoke. Mostly sunny, with a high near 91. Light south wind becoming southwest 10 to 15 mph in the afternoon.
Animals Gathered: 0 (0 Studs, 0 Mares, and 0 Foals)
Animals Shipped: 43 (0 Studs, 26 Mares, and 17 Foals)
Deaths: 0
-Sudden / Acute: 0
-Pre-existing / Chronic: 0
• details of any deaths will be noted
Thursday, August 20
Summary: Sunny, with a high near 91. Light and variable wind becoming southwest 5 to 10 mph in the afternoon.
Animals Gathered: 0 (0 Studs, 0 Mares, and 0 Foals)
Animals Shipped: 36 (36 Studs, 0 Mares, and 0 Foals)
Deaths: 0
-Sudden / Acute: 0
-Pre-existing / Chronic: 0
• details of any deaths will be noted
Wednesday, August 19
Summary: Sunny, with a high near 91. Light and variable wind becoming southwest 5 to 10 mph in the afternoon.
Animals Gathered: 0 (0 Studs, 0 Mares, and 0 Foals)
Animals Shipped: 0 (0 Studs, 0 Mares, and 0 Foals)
Deaths: 4
-Sudden / Acute: 0
-Pre-existing / Chronic: 4
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18 y.o. Grey mare BCS 1; was euthanized in accordance with IM 2015-070 due to chronic injury (blind).
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6 y.o. Dun mare BCS 2.5; was euthanized in accordance with IM 2015-070 due to chronic injury (blind).
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7 y.o. Sorrel stud BCS 2.5; was euthanized in accordance with IM 2015-070 due to chronic injury (blind).
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10 y.o. Black stud BCS 2.5; was euthanized in accordance with IM 2015-070 due to chronic injury (broken leg).
Tuesday, August 18
Summary: Sunny, with a high near 90. Light southwest wind becoming west southwest 10 to 15 mph in the morning.
Animals Gathered: 63 (20 Studs, 27 Mares, and 16 Foals)
Animals Shipped: 0 (0 Studs, 0 Mares, and 0 Foals)
Deaths: 0
-Sudden / Acute: 0
-Pre-existing / Chronic: 0
• details of any deaths will be noted
Monday, August 17
Summary: Sunny, with a high near 95. Calm wind becoming west southwest around 5 mph in the afternoon.
Animals Gathered: 20 (15 Studs, 4 Mares, and 1 Foals)
Animals Shipped: 49 (0 Studs, 25 Mares, and 24 Foals)
Deaths: 0
-Sudden / Acute: 0
-Pre-existing / Chronic: 0
• details of any deaths will be noted
Sunday, August 16
Summary: Sunny, with a high near 95. Southeast wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Animals Gathered: 33 (10 Studs, 14 Mares, and 9 Foals)
Animals Shipped: 0 (0 Studs, 0 Mares, and 0 Foals)
Deaths: 0
-Sudden / Acute: 0
-Pre-existing / Chronic: 0
• details of any deaths will be noted
Saturday, August 15
Summary: Sunny, with a high near 95. Southeast wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Animals Gathered: 10 (3 Studs, 4 Mares, and 3 Foals)
Animals Shipped: 40 (27 Studs, 13 Mares, and 0 Foals)
Deaths: 1
-Sudden / Acute: 0
-Pre-existing / Chronic: 1
- 15 y.o. sorrel stud BCS 2.5 was euthanized in accordance with IM 2015-070 due to chronic injury (broken leg).
Friday, August 14
Summary: Mostly sunny, with a high near 93. North northeast wind 5 to 10 mph becoming southeast in the afternoon.
Animals Gathered: 5 (2 Studs, 2 Mares, and 1 Foals)
Animals Shipped: 0 (0 Studs, 0 Mares, and 0 Foals)
Deaths: 0
-Sudden / Acute: 0
-Pre-existing / Chronic: 0
• details of any deaths will be noted
Thursday, August 13
Summary: Sunny, with a high near 91. Light north northeast wind becoming northwest 5 to 10 mph in the afternoon.
Animals Gathered: 9 (6 Studs, 2 Mares, and 1 Foals)
Animals Shipped: 0 (0 Studs, 0 Mares, and 0 Foals)
Deaths: 0
-Sudden / Acute: 0
-Pre-existing / Chronic: 0
• details of any deaths will be noted
Wednesday, August 12
Summary: Sunny, with a high near 84. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph increasing to 10 to 15 mph in the afternoon.
Animals Gathered: 4 (2 Studs, 2 Mares, and 0 Foals)
Animals Shipped: 0 (0 Studs, 0 Mares, and 0 Foals)
Deaths: 0
-Sudden / Acute: 0
-Pre-existing / Chronic: 0
• details of any deaths will be noted
Monday, August 10
Summary: Tonight: Isolated thunderstorms before 11pm. Mostly clear, with a low around 54. Northwest wind 5 to 10 mph becoming southeast in the evening. Little or no precipitation expected. Tomorrow: Sunny, with a high near 84. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph increasing to 10 to 15 mph in the afternoon.
Animals Gathered: 21 (7 Studs, 10 Mares, and 4 Foals)
Animals Shipped: 0 (0 Studs, 0 Mares, and 0 Foals)
Deaths: 0
-Sudden / Acute: 0
-Pre-existing / Chronic: 0
• details of any deaths will be noted
Sunday, August 9
Summary: Forecast for today isolated thunderstorms before 8pm. Mostly clear, with a low around 56. North northwest wind 5 to 10 mph becoming light and variable in the evening. Little or no precipitation expected. Isolated showers and thunderstorms after 11am. Mostly sunny, with a high near 85. Light and variable wind becoming southwest 5 to 10 mph in the morning. Chance of precipitation is 20%
Animals Gathered: 2 (0 Studs, 1 Mares, and 1 Foals)
Animals Shipped: 0 (0 Studs, 0 Mares, and 0 Foals)
Deaths: 0
-Sudden / Acute: 0
-Pre-existing / Chronic: 0
• details of any deaths will be noted
Saturday, August 8
Summary: Forecast today Sunny, with a high near 88. South southwest wind 5 to 10 mph. Tonight Clear, with a low around 54. Tomorrow Sunny, with a high near 88. West winds 5-10 mph.
Animals Gathered: 16 (6 Studs, 6 Mares, and 4 Foals)
Animals Shipped: 95 (26 Studs, 41 Mares, and 28 Foals)
Deaths: 2
-Sudden / Acute: 0
-Pre-existing / Chronic: 2
- 6 month old Sorrel colt was euthanized in accordance with IM 2015-070 due to chronic injury (blind)
- 20+ y.o. Paint, Stud BCS 1; was euthanized in accordance with IM 2015-070 due to a hopeless prognosis of recovery.
Friday, August 7
Summary: Forecast today Sunny, with a high near 89. South southwest wind 5 to 10 mph. Tonight Clear, with a low around 54. Tomorrow Sunny, with a high near 88. West winds 5-10 mph.
Animals Gathered: 13 (3 Studs, 5 Mares, and 5 Foals)
Animals Shipped: 0 (0 Studs, 0 Mares, and 0 Foals)
Deaths: 0
-Sudden / Acute: 0
-Pre-existing / Chronic: 0
• details of any deaths will be noted
Wednesday, August 5
Summary: Forecast today Sunny, with a high near 89. South southwest wind 5 to 10 mph. Tonight Clear, with a low around 53. South southwest winds around 5-10 mph. Tomorrow Sunny, with a high near 88. South southwest winds 5-10 mph.
Animals Gathered: 35 (9 Studs, 16 Mares, and 10 Foals)
Animals Shipped: 34 (22 Studs, 12 Mares, and 0 Foals)
Deaths: 1
-Sudden / Acute: 0
-Pre-existing / Chronic: 1
1 y.o. Black, Stud was euthanized in accordance with IM 2015-070 due to chronic injury (blind)
Tuesday, August 4
Summary: Forecast today Sunny, with a high near 94. South southwest wind 5 to 10 mph. Tonight Clear, with a low around 56. West wind around 5 mph. Tomorrow Sunny, with a high near 90. South winds 10-15 mph with gust to 25 mph.
Animals Gathered: 1 (0 Studs, 0 Mares, and 1 Foals)
Animals Shipped: 0 (0 Studs, 0 Mares, and 0 Foals)
Deaths: 0
-Sudden / Acute: 0
-Pre-existing / Chronic: 0
• details of any deaths will be noted
Monday, August 3
Summary: Forecast today Sunny, with a high near 94. South southwest wind 5 to 10 mph. Tonight Clear, with a low around 56. West wind around 5 mph. Tomorrow Sunny, with a high near 90. South winds 10-15 mph with gust to 25 mph.
Animals Gathered: 37 (11 Studs, 16 Mares, and 10 Foals)
Animals Shipped: 0 (0 Studs, 0 Mares, and 0 Foals)
Deaths: 0
-Sudden / Acute: 0
-Pre-existing / Chronic: 0
• details of any deaths will be noted
Sunday, August 2
Summary: Forecast today Sunny, with a high near 94. South southwest wind 5 to 10 mph. Tonight Clear, with a low around 55. West northwest wind 5-15 mph. Tomorrow Sunny, with a high near 90. West southwest around 5 mph.
Animals Gathered: 47 (10 Studs, 25 Mares, and 12 Foals)
Animals Shipped: 55 (0 Studs, 28 Mares, and 27 Foals)
Deaths: 1
-Sudden / Acute: 1
8 month old Sorrel colt was euthanized in accordance with IM 2015-070 due to acute injury (broken leg)
-Pre-existing / Chronic: 0
Saturday, August 1
Summary: Forecast today Sunny, with a high near 94. South southwest wind 5 to 10 mph. Tonight Clear, with a low around 61. South southwest wind 5 to 10 mph. Tomorrow Sunny, with a high near 90. West northwest wind 10-15 mph.
Animals Gathered: 24 (7 Studs, 9 Mares, and 8 Foals)
Animals Shipped: 0 (0 Studs, 0 Mares, and 0 Foals)
Deaths: 0
-Sudden / Acute: 0
-Pre-existing / Chronic: 0
• details of any deaths will be noted
Friday, July 31
Summary: Forecast today Sunny, with a high near 93. Light and variable wind becoming south southwest 10 to 15 mph. Tonight Clear, with a low around 61. South southwest wind 5 to 10 mph. Tomorrow Sunny, with a high near 93. South southwest wind 5 to 10 mph.
Animals Gathered: 15 (3 Studs, 7 Mares, and 5 Foals)
Animals Shipped: 0 (0 Studs, 0 Mares, and 0 Foals)
Deaths: 0
-Sudden / Acute: 0
-Pre-existing / Chronic: 0
• details of any deaths will be noted
Thursday, July 30
Summary: Forecast today Sunny, with a high near 93. Light and variable wind becoming south southwest 10 to 15 mph. Tonight Clear, with a low around 61. South southwest wind 5 to 10 mph. Tomorrow Sunny, with a high near 93. South southwest wind 5 to 10 mph.
Animals Gathered: 9 (3 Studs, 3 Mares, and 3 Foals)
Animals Shipped: 0 (0 Studs, 0 Mares, and 0 Foals)
Deaths: 0
-Sudden / Acute: 0
-Pre-existing / Chronic: 0
• details of any deaths will be noted
Wednesday, July 29
Summary: Forecast today Sunny, with a high near 92. Light and variable wind becoming south southwest 10 to 15 mph. Tonight Clear, with a low around 61. South southwest wind 5 to 10 mph. Tomorrow Sunny, with a high near 94. South southwest wind 5 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Animals Gathered: 16 (8 Studs, 6 Mares, and 2 Foals)
Animals Shipped: 0 (0 Studs, 0 Mares, and 0 Foals)
Deaths: 0
-Sudden / Acute: 0
-Pre-existing / Chronic: 0
• details of any deaths will be noted
Tuesday, July 28
Summary: Recent rainfall has transitioned to warm and dry weather. Forecast today Sunny, with a high near 90. South wind 10-15 mph. Tonight Mostly clear, with a low around 58. West northwest wind 5 to 10 mph. Tomorrow Sunny, with a high near 91. West southwest wind 5 to 10 mph
Animals Gathered: 11 (4 Studs, 4 Mares, and 3 Foals)
Animals Shipped: 0 (0 Studs, 0 Mares, and 0 Foals)
Deaths: 0
-Sudden / Acute: 0
-Pre-existing / Chronic: 0
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