The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Black Rock Field Office began an emergency wild horse gather this week in the Jackson Mountains Herd Management Area in Nevada.
Approximately 600 wild horses are expected to be gathered over a period between seven and 15 days, the office said in a recent release.
“We conduct gathers like this to ensure the health of public lands within the HMAs, as well as the health of the wild horses in the area,” Winnemucca District Manager Ester McCollough said in the release.
The goal of the gather is to prevent further deterioration of wild horse body conditions in the area due to limited water sources and degradation of public lands associated with an excess of horses, the BLM stated.
"As one of the agencies charged with the responsibility to protect and manage America’s wild horses and burros, the BLM is prepared to take emergency action where we can in order to save the lives of these cherished animals," Nada Culver, BLM’s deputy director of policy and programs told E&E News.
This comes as extreme heat and drought conditions have led the Bureau to estimate up to 6,000 additional wild horses and burros may be removed from federal lands by the end of September, E&E reported.
"At the same time, we are committed to continuing our efforts to reduce overpopulation across the West and achieve healthy, sustainable herd sizes that are more capable of withstanding severe conditions, including prolonged drought, which are becoming more frequent due to climate change," Culver added.
The gather began Sept. 15, and used helicopters to help round up horses.
As of the first day of the gather, 37 animals have been retrieved including eight Stallions, 20 Mares, and nine Foals. Daily counts can be found on the BLM website.
Members of the public hoping to view the gather or obtain additional information may call the gather hotline nightly at (775) 861-6700.
