Bureau of Land Management concludes FY2025 Triple B Complex wild horse gather

ELY – The Bureau of Land Management Elko District, Wells Field Office and Ely District, Bristlecone Field Office on December 4, 2024, concluded the FY2025 Triple B Complex wild horse gather in Elko and White Pine counties, about 60 miles north of Ely, Nevada.

The BLM gathered 2,196 excess wild horses from public lands. The BLM treated 23 mares with the population suppression vaccine GonaCon-Equine and released them and 16 stallions back into the Complex.

The purpose of the gather was to reduce overpopulation of wild horses within and outside the Complex, where there was not enough water and/or forage to support the number of horses in the area, to prevent further degradation of the public lands associated with excess wild horses and restore a thriving natural ecological balance and multiple-use relationship on public lands.

“The gather was crucial to ensuring public land health, as well as the health of the horses. Both continue to be at risk due to herd overpopulation,” said Robbie McAboy, Ely District Manager.

The gather was conducted in compliance with the provisions of Section 1333(b) of the 1971 Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act. Removing excess animals will enable significant progress toward achieving the Standards for Rangeland Health identified by the Northeastern Great Basin Resource Advisory Council. In addition, by balancing herd size with what the land can support, the BLM aims to protect habitat for other wildlife species such as sage grouse, pronghorn antelope and mule deer.

The BLM transported the animals removed from the range to the Palomino Valley Center Wild Horse and Burro Corrals, in Sparks, Nev., and Indian Lakes Off-Range Wild Horse and Burro Corral, in Fallon, Nev., to be readied for the BLM’s wild horse and burro Adoption and Sale Program. Wild horses not adopted or sold will be placed in long-term pastures where they will be humanely cared for and retain their “wild” status and protection under the 1971 Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act.

Additional gather information is available on the BLM website at https://www.blm.gov/programs/wild-horse-and-burro/herd-management/gathers-and-removals/nevada-elko-do-wells-fo-ely-do.