2015 Fish Creek Wild Horse Gather
Gather Complete
2/13/15 - 2/18/15
Purpose of Gather:
The 2015 Fish Creek gather is part of a long term management plan with the objective of slowing population growth and achieving the established Appropriate Management Level (AML) over the next ten years. The plan includes the use of multiple methods to initially and subsequently capture and treat mares with a fertility control vaccine within the Fish Creek HMA.
Details of Gather:
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Mount Lewis Field Office (MLFO) conducted a gather within the Fish Creek Herd Management Area (HMA). This HMA is located south and west of Eureka, Nevada, encompassing the east side of Antelope Valley, the Mahogany Hills, Fish Creek Range and a portion of the Antelope Range. The gather was conducted by a contractor using a helicopter to locate and guide wild horses toward a set of corrals. The use of helicopters, authorized in the Wild Free Roaming Horses and Burros Act of 1971, has been proven to be a safe, effective and practical means to gather wild horses.
This initial gather will include the capture of 500-549 wild horses and removal of 200 excess wild horses from the Fish Creek HMA. Approximately 300-349 wild horses will be released back to the range following the gather. The fertility control vaccine PZP (Porcine Zona Pellucida) or other current formulation will be applied to mares released back to the range (estimated 150-175 mares) to slow population growth rates.
The Fish Creek HMA is approximately 230,600 acres in size and is located south and west of Eureka, Nevada, encompassing the east side of Antelope Valley, the Mahogany Hills, Fish Creek Range and a portion of the Antelope Range. The gather area is bordered in the north by U.S. Highway 50, on the west by the Monitor Range and on the east by Little Smoky Valley. The gather area will include areas within and outside of the HMA in an area approximately 431,000 acres in size.
It has been nine years since the last gather of the Fish Creek HMA and the current population is 323% of the established AML. Drought conditions have compounded the heavy utilization of rangeland resources by wild horses. Water is very limited within the Fish Creek HMA due to drought, and trailing is severe in many locations as wild horses travel long distances to water.
Public Observation:
The BLM is committed to providing as much public access as possible; however, the Herd Management Area is rugged and remote and public safety is our first priority. BLM staff will be available each day to escort the public into observation areas. For the latest information call the local Hotline at 775-861-6700, option 1 for the latest information about observation opportunities.
Gather Reports
Friday, February 13
Summary: 20 studs, 12 mares, 3 yearlings, and one newborn brought in today from the first Fish Creek HMA trap site. Operations will begin tomorrow morning at the second Fish Creek HMA trap site.
Animals gathered: 36
Animals shipped: 0
Total Deaths Today: 0
Acute: 0
Chronic/Pre-existing: 0
Saturday, February 14
Summary: 36 studs, 59 mares and 3 foals (note: all foals were born in 2015) brought in today from the second Fish Creek HMA trap site. Operations will begin tomorrow morning at the same trap site.
Animals gathered: 98
Animals shipped: 19
Total Deaths Today: 0
Acute: 0
Chronic/Pre-existing: 0
Sunday, February 15
Summary: 59 studs, 72 mares and 2 foals (note: all foals were born in 2015) were brought in today from the second Fish Creek HMA trap site. Operations will begin tomorrow morning at the same trap site.
Animals gathered: 133
Animals shipped: 50
Total Deaths Today: 1
Acute: 0
Chronic/Pre-existing: 1*
* Left front broken leg which had healed (over a year ago) at a 40-60 degree angle, resulting in abnormal hoof wear/growth. Body condition was 1-2 on the Henneke Body Condition Scoring system.
Monday, February 16
Summary: 26 studs, 20 mares and 1 foal (note: foal was born in 2015) were brought in today from the second Fish Creek HMA trap site. Operations will begin tomorrow morning at the same trap site.
Animals gathered: 47
Animals shipped: 71
Total Deaths Today: 0
Acute: 0
Chronic/Pre-existing: 0
Tuesday, February 17
Summary: 26 studs, 20 mares and 1 foal (note: foal was born in 2015) were brought in today from the second Fish Creek HMA trap site. Operations will begin tomorrow morning at the same trap site.
Animals gathered: 64
Animals shipped: 0
Total Deaths Today: 0
Acute: 0
Chronic/Pre-existing: 0
Wednesday, February 18
Summary: 23 studs, 21 mares and 2 foals (note: all foals were born in 2015) were brought in today from the second Fish Creek HMA trap site. Operations concluded today.
Animals gathered: 46
Animals shipped: 46
Total Deaths Today: 2
Acute: 0
Chronic/Pre-existing: 2*
* A 14 year-old bay mare and a 16 year old gray mare were euthanized at temporary holding. Both mares were of body condition 1-2 on the Henneke body condition scoring scale. Necropsies were performed on both mares and the preliminary diagnosis was liver failure. Biological samples were taken from both mares by the on-site APHIS veterinarian.
Thursday, February 19
Summary: Gather operations concluded on Feb. 18. BLM staff treated 70 mares with population growth suppression.
Animals gathered: 0
Animals shipped: 30
Total Deaths Today: 3
Acute: 0
Chronic/Pre-existing: 3*
* A 12 year-old bay mare, a 25 year-old sorrel stud and a 17 year-old bay stud were euthanized at temporary holding due to their poor prognosis. A necropsy was performed on the mare and evidence of liver failure was once again encountered - liver, kidney and blood samples were taken by the on-site APHIS veterinarian. The mare was of body condition 1-2 on the Henneke body condition scoring scale. The 25 year-old sorrel stud had severe tooth wear, with nubs for top/bottom incisors and inflamed gums. The stud was of body condition 1-2 on the Henneke BCS scale. The 17 year-old bay stud had a Grade 3-4 lameness due to severe clubbing of the front hooves. The stud was of body condition 3 on the Henneke BCS scale.
Friday, February 20
Summary: No gather operations conducted. BLM staff treated 32 mares with population growth suppression.
Animals gathered: 0
Animals shipped: 0
Total Deaths Today: 0
Acute: 0
Chronic/Pre-existing: 0
Sunday, February 22
Summary: No gather operations conducted.
Animals gathered: 0
Animals shipped: 102
Total Deaths Today: 0
Acute: 0
Chronic/Pre-existing: 0
Monday, February 23
Summary: No gather operations conducted. 81 studs to Palomino Valley Center
Animals gathered: 0
Animals shipped: 81
Total Deaths Today: 2
Acute: 1*
Chronic/Pre-existing: 1*
* A 5 year-old bay stud had a severe injury with infection in his right eye which steadily worsened. The stud was euthanized at temporary holding due to his poor prognosis. The stud was of body condition 3 on the Henneke body condition scoring (BCS) scale. A 7 year-old black stud had significant osteoarthritis in his left front elbow and knee with a grade 4 lameness. The stud was euthanized at temporary holding due to his poor prognosis. The stud was of body condition 4 on the Henneke body condition scoring (BCS) scale.
Tuesday, April 7
Summary: 82 mares and 80 studs were released south of U.S. Highway 50 in the Antelope Valley area west of Eureka. "Release horses" are normally turned back to the range after gather operations conclude. In this case, an Appeal and Request for Stay with the Interior Board of Land Appeals was filed trying to prevent the release of the horses. BLM agreed to hold off on the release and shipped 102 mares and 81 studs to temporary holding facilities until the IBLA judge ruled on the Stay. The judge denied the Stay on March 30. Since the gather ended, 5 mares died and 1 stud with a bad infection was euthanized while at temporary holding facilities. The 14 identified deaths include 8 animals from gather operations, and 6 animals while at temporary holding facilities. Another 15 mares and their newborn foals are being held for later release when the foals are stronger.
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A death labeled as "acute" is when an animal dies or is euthanized due to acute injuries or medical conditions brought about by the gather and removal process including those that occur during capture, sorting and holding at the gather site. This term will include animals that die for known or unknown reasons thought to be related to gather activities.
A death labeled as "chronic/pre-existing" is when an animal dies or is euthanized for reasons related to chronic or pre-existing conditions such as body condition, lameness, serious physical defects, etc. This term will include animals that are euthanized for conditions not brought about by the gather activity.
Veterinary Reports
There are no veterinarian reports to display at this time.
Adoption Information
The Mount Lewis Field Office held two on-site wild horse adoption events in Eureka, Nevada that offered 16 wild horses recently removed from the Fish Creek HMA. Six horses found a new home.
Cumulative Totals
Animals Gathered
424
Animals Returned to Home Range
162
Animal Deaths
8
*Includes non-gather related deaths. See details in "Gather Reports"