The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Oregon’s Vale District has concluded an emergency gather of wild horses in the Three Fingers herd management area (HMA).

Between Aug. 29 and Sept. 1, 155 horses—33 foals, 55 mares, and 67 stallions—were gathered and transported to the Oregon adoption facility near Burns/Hines. They will be offered for adoption later in the year. For viewing, the public can visit the corral facility anytime between regular business hours—Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., local time.

“This gather was safe and successful for the horses,” said BLM Vale District Manager Don Gonzales. “Our overall goal is to maintain a thriving ecological balance of the Three Fingers HMA and surrounding rangelands, and to preserve the health and well-being of the Three Fingers herd.”

The Cherry Road wildfire, which started Aug. 21, burned approximately 90% of the Wildhorse Basin pasture in the Three Fingers HMA, where more than half of the estimated 279 horses in the herd reside. Most critically, the fire damaged the mature seed heads needed to sustain the horses through the coming fall and winter months. The remaining 10% of the Wildhorse Basin pasture has limited water resources or forage. The Vale District BLM initiated this emergency gather due to the fire’s impact on forage and water resources