The BLM’s Ridgecrest Regional Wild Horse and Burro Corrals, in cooperation with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, are offering horses and burros for adoption.

We will bring 10 horses less than 2 years old and 10 older than 2 years old, as well as 10 burros. Adoptions are by a first come, first served basis.

Animals must be picked up by 4 pm, May 10, unless adopters have made prior arrangements with BLM staff. Applications approved on-site!

To streamline the process, you can bring a completed application to the event: www.blm.gov/whbapplication. For more information, visit the online corral website: www.blm.gov/whb-ridgecrest.

Cedarville, Calif. – The Bureau of Land Management is seeking public comments on a plan to manage wild horse populations in three herd management areas in far northeast California and far northwest Nevada. The environmental assessment, available for review and comment through the BLM National NEPA Register, addresses population management actions on the Carter Reservoir, Coppersmith and Buckhorn herd management areas.

“Wild horse populations in these herd management areas have greatly exceeded the appropriate management level established in our Resource Management Plan,” said Craig Drake, manager of the BLM Applegate Field Office. “Managing the population at the appropriate management level is important to maintaining healthy, viable herds as part of a thriving natural ecological balance on the range, as required by the Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act.”

A 30-day comment period runs through Nov. 22. Anyone interested can comment by using the “participate now” button on the above NEPA Register page. Those who need the document in printed form can contact the BLM’s Surprise Field Station in Cedarville at 530-279-6101. Comments can also be sent to the Bureau of Land Management, Surprise Field Station, 602 Cressler St., Cedarville, CA 96104, attention Wild Horse Gather. 

The BLM plans to gather excess wild horses from the three HMAs to achieve and maintain populations within the appropriate management level range shown in the EA. The HMAs are not managed for burros; any that have roamed into the HMAs would be removed.

Based on aerial surveys, ground observations, and expected annual population increases, the BLM expects there are more than 700 wild horses in the three HMAs, where the combined appropriate management level is 134 – 195 wild horses. This overpopulation has impacted water and riparian resources on both public and private lands. The BLM would conduct new population survey flights prior to any gathers. The BLM does not intend to reduce populations below the appropriate management level range in any of the herd management areas. Wild horses removed from the range would be made available for private ownership through the BLM’s adoption and sales programs.

The BLM is responsible under the Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act for protecting and managing wild horses and burros to protect resources and ensure healthy herds. The agency periodically removes animals from the range when populations exceed levels established to allow the herds to thrive in balance with other users including wildlife and permitted livestock. More information about the BLM’s Wild Horse and Burro Program is available online. 
 

GERLACH, Nev. – On or about September 18, the Bureau of Land Management’s Applegate and Black Rock field offices will begin a wild horse gather in and around the Surprise and Calico wild horse and burro management complexes on BLM-managed public lands in northwest Nevada, using the helicopter-assisted method.

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 1971 Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act. The action is also necessary to reduce overpopulation of wild horses within and outside the area, and to prevent further degradation of public lands by balancing herd size with other land users and available resources.

The complexes include High Rock, Fox Hog, Wall Canyon, Black Rock Range, Calico Mountains, Granite Range and Warm Springs Canyon Herd Management Areas (HMAs).

Gather operations will begin with the Surprise Complex near Cedarville, Calif., and then shift to the Calico Complex near Gerlach, Nev.

“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,” said Craig Drake, manager of the BLM Applegate Field Office.

The BLM plans to gather approximately 1,200 wild horses, remove approximately 780 excess wild horses from the range, and treat up to 217 mares with GonaCon Equine, a population suppression fertility control vaccine, before releasing them back to the range to maintain herd viability. 

By balancing herd size with what the land can support, the agency aims to protect habitat for other wildlife species such as sage grouse, pronghorn antelope, and mule deer. Removing excess wild horses and burros supports significant progress toward achieving the BLM’s Standards for Rangeland Health.

The agency 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 BLM Comprehensive Animal Welfare Program.

All animals removed from the Surprise Complex will be transported to the Litchfield Off-Range Corrals in Litchfield, Calif. All animals removed from the Calico Complex will be transported to the Palomino Valley Center, near Reno, Nev. Upon arrival at the facilities, all animals will be checked by a veterinarian and readied for placement in private ownership through 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.

Those wishing to view the gather in the Surprise Complex out of Cedarville, Calif. should call 530-252-5332 to get information on viewing and to reserve space for each day.

When operations shift to the Calico Complex, interested observers must call 775-623-1567 to receive specific instructions on each day’s meeting location and time.

The staff is conducting the Surprise Complex portion on the gather under the DOI-BLM-CA-N020-2021-0009-EA Surprise Complex Wild Horse Gather Plan Environmental Assessment decision signed on July 12, 2021. The environmental assessment documents can be found at https://eplanning.blm.gov/eplanning-ui/project/2011428/510.

The staff is conducting the Calico Complex portion of the gather under the DOI-BLM-NV-W030-2019-0019-EA Calico Complex Wild Horse Gather Plan Environmental Assessment decision signed on July 28, 2021. The environmental assessment documents can be found at https://eplanning.blm.gov/eplanning-ui/project/2010516/570.

Gather reports and additional information for the Surprise Complex portion of the gather will be posted on the agency website at https://www.blm.gov/programs/wild-horse-and-burro/herd-management/gathers-and-removals/california. Technical information is available from Wild Horse and Burro Specialist Pat Farris at 530-257-0456.

Gather reports and additional information for the Calico Complex portion of the gather will be posted on the agency website at https://www.blm.gov/programs/wild-horse-and-burro/herd-management/gathers-and-removals/nevada/2023-calico-complex-wild.

For technical information contact Wild Horse and Burro Specialist Garrett Swisher at (775) 623-1500.

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

BISHOP, Calif. – Inyo National Forest, in coordination with the Bureau of Land Management Bishop Field Office, is seeking public input on proposed gathers of wild horses outside the Montgomery Pass Wild Horse Territory in Mono County, California. The proposed gathers would maintain sustainable wild horse herd management levels, protect resources on public and private lands, protect proposed critical habitat for the bi-state distinct population segment of greater sage-grouse, and address public safety concerns for motorists.

The Montgomery Pass Wild Horse Territory (Territory) is managed for a wild horse population of between 138 to 230 animals under the 2019 Inyo National Forest Land Management Plan. A 2020 aerial survey of the Territory and surrounding areas counted 654 horses, with most of the horses located outside of the Territory. This is at least triple the appropriate management level, a situation that is unsafe for horses and damaging to public resources and wildlife habitat.  

The wild horses are now residing 20 miles west of the Territory on the shores of Mono Lake and are a safety concern for motorists traveling on Highway 6 and Highway 120 east. 

“The BLM is motivated to work with the Inyo National Forest to improve wildlife habitat, increase public safety along roadways, and protect horses and people by reducing the risk of horse collisions with vehicles,” said BLM Bishop Field Manager Sherri Lisius.  

“As the lead agency, the Inyo National Forest is happy to partner with BLM in managing the Montgomery Pass Wild Horse Territory herd,” said Inyo National Forest Mono Lake District Ranger Stephanie Heller. “The current size and locations of the herd are causing significant resource damage and safety issues.” 

The Inyo National Forest is the lead agency responsible for managing the Territory, in coordination with the BLM Bishop Field Office, BLM Carson City District, and the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest. The BLM is the lead agency for preparing the environmental assessment for the gather plan and the Inyo National Forest would be the lead agency for an initial gather.  

More information about the project can be found online at the BLM National NEPA Register, where comments can be submitted. The 30-day public scoping period is open until Dec. 7.  

Comments may also be submitted via mail to: 351 Pacu Lane, Bishop, CA 93514, or via email: BLM_CA_Bishop_MPWHT@blm.gov. Written comments must be postmarked on or before Dec. 7.

Should you have any questions or access issues, email BLM_CA_Bishop_MPWHT@blm.gov.