The Bureau of Land Management concluded the FY2025 Buffalo Hills Herd Management Area Wild Horse and Burro Gather
GERLACH, Nev. – The Black Rock Field Office (BRFO) has concluded the FY2025 Buffalo Hills Herd Management Area wild horse and burro gather near Gerlach, Nev., on November 25, 2024. The BLM gathered 138 wild horses and 33 burros and removed 32 excess wild horses and 33 excess burros from public lands. In addition, the BLM released back to the range 5 mares treated with GonaCon, a population suppression control vaccine, and 45 studs. The remaining mares were also treated with GonaCon and will receive a booster and be released in approximately 30-days.
The purpose of the gather was to reduce overpopulation of wild horses and burros within and outside the HMA due to the impacts of the Stockade Canyon wildfire and to prevent further degradation of the public lands associated with excess wild horses and burros and restore a thriving natural ecological balance and multiple-use relationship on public lands.
The gather was conducted in compliance with the provisions of Section 1333(b) of the 1971 Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act. Removing excess animals supports significant progress toward achieving the Standards for Rangeland Health identified by the Sierra Front/Northern Great Basin Resource Advisory Council. In addition, 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 and mule deer.
“The gather was critical to minimize impacts to the burned public lands within the HMA, as well as the wild horses and burros in the area, by managing the population within the AML range, rangeland health will be sustained ” said Sam Burton, Winnemucca District Manager.
The BLM transported the animals removed from the range to the Palomino Valley Wild Horse and Burro Off-range Corrals located in Reno, Nev., to be readied for the BLM’s wild horse and burro Adoption and Sales Program. Wild horses and burros not adopted or sold will be placed in long-term pastures where they will be humanely cared for and retain their “wild” status and protection under the 1971 Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act.
Additional gather information is available on the BLM website at FY 2025 Buffalo Hill gather webpage.
The BLM manages more than 245 million acres of public land located primarily in 12 western states, including Alaska, on behalf of the American people. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. Our mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of America’s public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations.