Gathering Wild Horses Next Door

Next door in Nevada, an emergency wild horse gather is currently underway in the Medicine Herd Management Area, about 62 miles southwest of Wells. The Bureau of Land Management initiated this operation on August 25 due to limited water resources threatening the local wild horse population. No helicopters are being used; instead, temporary bait and water traps are set up to safely capture the horses.

The Maverick-Medicine area spans approximately 286,460 acres, with a recommended wild horse population of 166-276. However, the current population has surged to over 1,000. To prevent potential fatalities from dehydration, the BLM aims to gather and remove about 100 horses. The last gather in this area took place in 2022, when 906 excess horses were removed.

Elko District Manager Jared Bybee highlighted the urgency, saying, "We are doing this gather to prevent approximately 100 horses from dying due to a lack of water."

The BLM is dedicated to humane treatment throughout the process. After removal, the horses will be checked by veterinarians at the Indian Lakes Facility in Fallon, Nevada, before being made available for adoption.