The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Nevada’s Elko District Wells Field Office is conducting an emergency wild horse gather from the Boone Spring area, located in the Spruce-Pequop Herd Management Area (HMA). The agency said there is not enough water and forage to support the number of horses in the area.

Michael Uhalde Livestock LLC will conduct the gather using the bait and water trap method; the contractors will not use any helicopters. The BLM plans to gather and remove approximately 300 wild horses from the range.

The Spruce-Pequop HMA is 138,000 acres in size and the Boone Spring are is in the HMA’s southern portion. The BLM estimates that there are 1,523 wild horses currently residing in the HMA; the agency set its appropriate management level at 57-82 wild horses.

The BLM said the Spruce-Pequop HMA has very limited naturally occurring water sources. Additionally, there very little forage available to support the excess wild horses. The Boone Spring area currently has minimal to nearly nonexistent water, which cannot sustain the more than 300 wild horses observed on a regular basis waiting for water at this location. The area is remote and the roads are not passable for a water tender, the BLM said.

Due to the nature of the bait and water trap gather method—utilizing temporary water and bait traps consisting of a series of corral panels stocked with water and hay—wild horses are reluctant to approach the trap site when there is too much activity. Therefore, only essential gather operation personnel will be allowed at the trap site during operations.

The BLM said its priority is to conduct safe, efficient, and successful gather operations while ensuring humane care and treatment of all horses gathered. The BLM said it and its contractors use the best available science and handling practices for wild horses while meeting our overall gather goals and objectives in accordance with current BLM policy, standard operating procedures, and contract requirements.

The BLM will transport removed horses to the Indian Lakes Off-Range Corral, in Fallon, Nevada, where they will be examined by a veterinarian and readied for the agency’s wild horse and burro adoption program.

Gather reports and additional information are posted on BLM’s website at go.usa.gov/xUJYT. In addition, gather updates are posted on the BLM Nevada Facebook page at goo.gl/abcBMM.

Individuals with technical questions can contact Wild Horse and Burro Specialist Bruce Thompson at 775/753-0286 or b50thomp@blm.gov.