The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is set to begin a wild horse gather operation in the Surprise and Calico wild horse and burro management complexes in northwest Nevada.
Starting on or around September 18, the BLM’s Applegate and Black Rock field offices will use helicopter-assisted methods to gather and manage these wild horse populations.
This initiative aims to address the overpopulation of wild horses and burros while preserving the ecological balance on public lands. The operation will begin in the Surprise Complex near Cedarville, in Modoc County, and then shift to the Calico Complex near Gerlach, Nevada.
Around 1,200 wild horses will be gathered, with nearly 800 excess horses removed from the range. Additionally, over 200 mares will be treated with a population suppression fertility control vaccine before being released back into the range.
All animals removed from these complexes will be transported to specific off-range facilities, checked by veterinarians, and prepared for placement in private ownership through the BLM’s Adoption and Sales Program.
Detailed environmental assessment documents and technical information are available on the BLM’s website. For those interested in adopting or purchasing a wild horse or burro, visit the BLM Wild Horse and Burro webpage www.blm.gov/whb for more information.
