BLM completes wild horse, burro gather in Twin Peaks Herd Management Area
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SUSANVILLE, Calif. — The Bureau of Land Management completed gathering and removing excess wild horses and burros from the Twin Peaks Herd Management Area on public lands along the California-Nevada border northeast of Susanville. The agency captured 2,111 wild horses and 339 wild burros. The BLM plans to remove from the range 1,996 wild horses and 339 wild burros.
The Bureau will conduct an aerial population count in the coming weeks to confirm the wild horse and burro populations remaining on the range. Up to 110 mares will be treated with a fertility control drug and released back into the herd management area. The BLM’s appropriate management level for the Twin Peaks HMA is 448-758 wild horses and 72-116 wild burros.
“This was a large and challenging project, and we are pleased to complete it while meeting our goals of safety, humane treatment of the animals and providing full public access and transparency,” said Emily Ryan, manager of the BLM Eagle Lake Field Office. “Reducing wild horse and burro populations reduces pressure on rangeland resources, helping to keep the rangelands healthy for the horse and burro herds and for domestic livestock and wildlife that depend on healthy rangelands.”
Wild horses and burros removed from the range will be available for public adoption or purchase at various venues, including the BLM short-term holding corrals, via internet adoption events, and at wild horse and burro adoption events across the nation. Details will be announced.
Older wild horses will be housed in long-term pastures, where they will live out their lives, while retaining their protection under the Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act of 1971. Animals in BLM’s care are protected under the Act from commercial processing.
Complete gather statistics, including detailed daily gather reports, are available at https://www.blm.gov/programs/wild-horse-and-burro/herd-management/gathers-and-removals/northern-california-do/2022-twin.
“We recognize the value that many people have for wild horses and burros, and we share that appreciation,” Ryan said. “With completion of this gather, wild horse and burros will enjoy healthy rangeland habitat or humane care off the range.”
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.