BLM Initiates Emergency Wild Horse Gather Amid Severe Drought
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Ely District, Caliente Field Office, has initiated an emergency helicopter gather to relocate 50 wild horses from the Seaman Herd Area due to severe drought conditions. These conditions threaten the health and well-being of the horses, necessitating urgent action to move them to off-range pastures and facilities.
Severe Drought Conditions
Worsening drought in eastern Nevada has created emergency conditions within the Seaman HA, seriously endangering the wild horses. Despite some rainfall, the drought persists, leaving limited water and forage. Henneke body condition scores (BCS) in the area range from poor (BCS 1.5) to moderately thin (BCS 4), with horses scoring 2 or less at risk of death if they remain.
The BLM has been supplementing natural water sources and providing hay, but the horses are skittish and avoid man-made containers. Even with additional water, the seeps are insufficient to sustain them.
Expert Opinions and Actions
Dr. Boyd Spratling, DVM and co-chair of the BLM’s National Wild Horse and Burro Advisory Board, emphasized the urgency of the situation, stating that a helicopter gather is the best decision given the circumstances. Don Davis, Wild Horse and Burro Representative on the Mojave-Southern Great Basin Resource Advisory Council, supports this method after observing the dire conditions firsthand.
The BLM will use a gather contractor with a helicopter to herd the horses into corrals, assisted by a ground crew and a trained domesticated horse. This method, authorized by the 1971 Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act, is deemed safe and effective.
Potential Outcomes
During the gather, some horses with poor survival prospects may need to be humanely euthanized. Without intervention, more animals, particularly wet mares and foals, would likely suffer and die if left on the range.
BLM Nevada State Director Amy Lueders expressed the gravity of the situation, noting the lack of forage and water has left the horses in need of more help.
Public Involvement and Information
A Wild Horse Gather Information Line is available at (775) 861-6700, providing daily updates. The BLM will also post information on its website at www.blm.gov/nv. Public lands within the HA will be open during operations, with safety restrictions, and public viewing opportunities will be provided.
The Seaman Herd Area Emergency Wild Horse Gather and its impacts are detailed in the Decision Record, available online at www.blm.gov/nv.
Background on the Seaman Herd Area
The Seaman HA, covering approximately 358,834 acres in Lincoln and Nye Counties, is not actively managed for wild horses due to unsuitable habitat. It lies within a Mojave Desert transition zone, with limited water and forage.
Originally Posted By Ely Times