BLM Begins Fish Creek Wild Horse Gather

The gather, expected to last 10 days, will be followed by a wild horse adoption event on Feb. 28.
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As part of its efforts to effectively manage public rangeland resources, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Nevada has begun gathering approximately 500 wild horses from the Fish Creek herd management area (HMA), located approximately 20 miles south of Eureka, Nevada.

Approximately 150 mares will be treated with a two-year fertility control vaccine and released back to the HMA along with approximately 150 studs. The BLM will also remove as many as 200 horses from the HMA to be placed into the BLM’s adoption program.

The BLM has determined that the appropriate management level for the Fish Creek HMA is up to 170 wild horses, which is the number of horses BLM has determined can exist in the HMA while still providing for a thriving natural ecological balance. The current population of wild horses in the Fish Creek HMA is estimated at 549 animals.

Based on the recent population inventory, ongoing drought conditions within the HMA, and monitoring data showing the impact on rangeland resources due to wild horse overpopulation, the BLM has determined that a long-term plan for controlling the population growth rate of wild horses in the Fish Creek HMA is needed. The current gather is part of the initial phase of this plan, which includes the use of a helicopter to gather horses within the HMA for fertility control treatments and removal, the BLM said. Future phases could include ground darting to booster-treat the mares and bait and water trapping to capture wild horses for future fertility control treatment, the BLM said

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