July 23, 2018
ELKO, Nev. – The Bureau of Land Management, Elko District, Wells Field Office will begin an emergency wild horse water gather on or about July 23, from the Deer Spring area, located in the Antelope Valley Herd Management Area (HMA), as there is not enough water to support the number of horses in the area. The gather will be conducted by Cattoor Livestock Roundup Inc using the bait and water trap method; no helicopters will be used. The BLM plans to gather and remove approximately 250 excess wild horses.
The Antelope Valley HMA is 463,540 acres in size and the area around Deer Spring is located in the northwest portion of the Antelope Valley HMA. The current population estimate for the Antelope Valley HMA is 1,755 and the Appropriate Management Level (AML) is 155-259 wild horses.
The Deer Spring area within the Antelope Valley HMA is not capable of sustaining the excess wild horses which rely on this water source. Deer Spring produces approximately 15 gallons an hour, which cannot sustain the more than 200 wild horses that have been observed on a regular basis waiting for water at this location. The BLM is supplementing the water supply until the excess wild horses can be gathered.
The BLM plans to gather and remove the excess wild horses utilizing temporary water and bait traps consisting of a series of corral panels stocked with water and hay; no helicopters will be used. 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.
The BLM’s priority is to conduct safe, efficient, and successful wild horse gather operations while ensuring humane care and treatment of all animals gathered. The BLM and its contractors will use the best available science and handling practices for wild horses while meeting our overall gather goals and objectives in accordance with current BLM policy, standard operating procedures, and contract requirements.
The horses identified for removal will be transported to the Indian Lakes Off-Range Corral in Fallon, NV, where they will be examined 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.
Gather reports and additional information are posted on BLM’s website at https://go.usa.gov/xURtA.
In addition, updates on the gather, follow the BLM Nevada Facebook page at https://goo.gl/abcBMM. For technical information, contact Wild Horse and Burro Specialist, Bruce Thompson at 775-753-0286 or [email protected].
