Bureau of Land Management to begin the FY2025 Buffalo Hills Herd Management Area Wild Horse and Burro Gather

GERLACH, Nev. – On or about November 15, 2024, the Black Rock Field Office plans to begin a wild horse and burro gather on and around the Buffalo Hills Herd Management Area located near Gerlach, Nev., using the helicopter-assisted method.
 

The Buffalo Hills Herd Management Areas which encompasses over 125,000 acres of public and private lands and has an Appropriate Management Level of 188-314 wild horses and 0 wild burros. Based on a helicopter survey conducted in June 2024, documented 314 wild horses and 33 wild burros within and directly outside the management area.
 

The BLM plans to gather approximately 235 wild horses and 33 excess wild burros, remove approximately 32 excess wild horses and 33 excess wild burros, and treat up to 100 mares with GonaCon Equine, a population suppression fertility control vaccine, before being released back to the range along with up to 103 Studs.

The purpose of the gather is to prevent undue or unnecessary degradation of the public lands associated with excess wild horses and burros and to restore a thriving natural ecological balance and multiple-use relationship on public lands, consistent with the provisions of Section 1333(b) of the 1971 Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act. The action is also necessary to reduce overpopulation of wild horses and burros within and outside the area, where there currently is not enough water to support the number of horses and burros in the region, and to prevent further degradation of public lands by balancing herd size.

“After the impacts of the Stockade Canyon wildfire, gathers like this are conducted to reduce additional impacts to the damaged ecosystem,” said Winnemucca District Manager, Sam Burton.

By balancing herd size with what the land can support, the BLM aims to protect habitat for other wildlife species such as sage grouse, pronghorn antelope, mule deer and elk. Removing excess wild horses and burros supports significant progress toward achieving the Standards for Rangeland Health identified by the Sierra Front Northern Great Basin Resource Advisory Council.
 

The BLM’s priority is to conduct safe, efficient, and successful wild horse and burro gather operations while ensuring humane care and treatment of all animals gathered. The BLM and its contractors are committed to using the best available science and handling practices for wild horses and burros while meeting overall gather goals and objectives in accordance with the Comprehensive Animal Welfare Program.

All animals identified for removal will be transported to the Palomino Valley Off-Range Corrals, located in Sparks, Nev. Upon arrival to the facility, all animals will be checked by a veterinarian and readied for the BLM’s wild horse and burro Adoption and Sales Program. 

Members of the public are welcome to view the gather operations, provided that doing so does not jeopardize the safety of the animals, staff and observers, or disrupt gather operations. The BLM will escort the public to gather observation sites located on public lands. Once gather operations have begun, those wanting to view gather operations must RSVP at (775) 623-1567 to receive specific instructions on each days’ meeting location and time.

The BLM is conducting the gather under the DOI-BLM-NV-W030-2024-0011-DNA Buffalo Hills Herd Management Area Capture, Treat and Release Wild Horse and Burro Gather Determination of NEPA Adequacy decision signed on Nov 4, 2024. Access the Determination of National Environmental Policy Act adequacy on the BLM National NEPA Register.

Gather reports and additional information will be posted on the BLM website at the FY2025 Buffalo Hills Gather Webpage. For technical information, contact Garrett Swisher, Wild Horse and Burro Specialist at (775) 623-1500.

For information on how to adopt or purchase a wild horse or burro, visit www.blm.gov/whb.