The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Nevada’s Ely District began an emergency wild horse gather on Feb. 8. The BLM will gather and remove approximately 100 wild horses from public and private lands adjacent to U.S. Highway 93 and State Route 322 in and outside the Caliente herd areas complex and Eagle herd management area (HMA) in eastern Nevada.

The BLM said the helicopter gather is necessary to provide for public and animal safety.

The district will remove up to 50 wild horses from between Pioche and Eagle Valley that have moved outside the Eagle HMA in search of forage. The appropriate management level (AML) for the Eagle HMA is 100-210 wild horses. The current population is 1,370 wild horses.

Additionally, the district will remove up to 50 wild horses from Oak Spring Summit west of Caliente that have moved outside the Caliente complex in search of forage. The Caliente complex is managed for zero wild horses. The current population is 796 wild horses