The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Nevada’s Ely District Schell Field Office began gathering approximately 65 wild horses Oct. 22 in the Water Canyon area of the Antelope herd management area (HMA), 60 miles north of Ely.

Hay and water will be used to gather the horses.

About 25 to 30 wild horses will be released back into the project area. Mares selected for release will be treated with the fertility-control vaccine GonaCon-Equine, which has an expected effectiveness of about two years. Up to 40 excess wild horses will be removed and offered to the public through the BLM Wild Horse and Burro adoption program.

Treated mares will be monitored and given a booster every 20 to 24 months to maintain the vaccine’s effectiveness. When the population exceeds 40 animals, approximately 5 to 10 primarily young horses born within the project area, will be offered to the public through a trap-site adoption