BLM approves management plan to reduce wild horse overpopulation in Eagle Complex

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The Bureau of Land Management announced the approval of a comprehensive herd management area plan designed to address severe wild horse overpopulation and restore deteriorating rangelands across the Eagle Complex in eastern Nevada and western Utah.

The Eagle Complex encompasses three contiguous Herd Management Areas, consisting of the Eagle HMA in Nevada alongside the Mount Elinor and Choke Cherry HMAs in Utah. According to BLM population surveys conducted in March 2026, more than 2,000 wild horses reside within and surrounding the complex, representing approximately ten times the ecological carrying capacity the arid landscape can sustain.

Federal land managers noted that without routine population control measures, wild horse and burro herds grow rapidly, often doubling every four to five years. The current excess population has placed acute pressure on limited desert forage, water sources and native wildlife habitats, contributing to rangeland degradation while increasing the risk of equine dehydration, malnutrition and long-distance travel in search of food.

The approved plan authorizes targeted gathers and removals to bring the population down to a sustainable herd size between 145 and 265 wild horses. In addition to physical gathers, the agency will deploy fertility control vaccines to suppress herd reproduction rates, ensuring the remaining horses have sufficient forage, water and space to thrive year-round.

Agency officials reiterated that federal operations adhere strictly to the Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act of 1971, which mandates the protection and humane management of herds on public lands. Federal law prohibits the commercial slaughter of wild horses and burros, while the BLM maintains strict policies against selling or transferring animals to slaughter operations. To ensure animal welfare following removals, the agency enforces strict adoption and private sale requirements, strengthened bill of sale provisions and regular collaboration with law enforcement to investigate potential violations.

The agency completed its environmental review process prior to signing the decision, making the full environmental assessment, finding of no significant impact and official decision record available to the public on the BLM National NEPA Register.