Herds Across the West: Owyhee Complex Wild Horses
Introduction: The Owyhee Complex in Nevada is home to a diverse and resilient population of wild horses. This article explores the unique characteristics of these herds, their habitat, and the challenges they face due to human activities and environmental changes. The American Wild Horse Conservation (formerly American Wild Horse Campaign) continues to advocate for their protection.
About the Herds
The Owyhee Complex wild horses are located within both the Elko and Winnemucca, Nevada, districts of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). The 1.1 million-acre complex comprises five Herd Management Areas (HMAs): Snowstorm Mountains, Little Owyhee, Rock Creek, Owyhee, and Little Humboldt.
The Snowstorm Mountains HMA covers 117,000 acres, with an AML of 90-140 wild horses.
The Little Owyhee HMA spans over 460,000 acres, with an AML of 194-298 wild horses.
The Rock Creek HMA encompasses over 183,000 acres, with an AML of 150-250 wild horses.
The Owyhee HMA covers over 339,000 acres, with an AML of 103-139 wild horses.
The Little Humboldt HMA includes nearly 64,000 acres, with an AML of 48-80 wild horses.
Wild horses have roamed this remote wilderness for decades, living free as wild horses should. Some are believed to be descendants of ranch stock released in the area. These horses display a beautiful array of colors, from bays to buckskins to paints. They have evolved to be incredibly strong, adapting to extreme temperature changes. In areas like the Snowstorm Mountains, temperatures can drop to 20-30 below zero (F), yet the horses not only survive but thrive.
They coexist with other animals such as chukar, sage grouse, deer, coyotes, and various reptiles. The horses share the land with private cattle and other extractive land use operations, including large mineral mines. The BLM allows over 10,000 cow/calf pairs to graze on the public lands in the Owyhee Complex, while only permitting a maximum of 1,000 wild horses to live there.
The habitat features deep canyons, towering rocky mountains, and extensive plateaus. The Little Owyhee River winds 12 miles through the complex, providing habitat for many fish, including the Lahontan Cutthroat Trout, the largest species of trout. Climate changes bring shifts in the flora and fauna of the Owyhee complex. Visitors can expect to see sagebrush, colorful phlox, aspen and willow trees, and, if timed right, waterways lined with beautiful wild roses.
Roundup Status
The Owyhee Complex has been the site of numerous roundups in recent years. In 2016, the BLM rounded up and permanently removed 1,400 wild horses, separating them from their families. More recently, in 2018, the BLM removed 1,178 Owyhee horses, citing an emergency measure after the Martin Fire, which burned 46% of the Little Owyhee HMA and 26% of the Owyhee HMA.
Despite the “urgent need” for wild horses to be removed, AWHC confirmed with the BLM that no actions were taken to reduce the number of livestock grazing in the area. The roundup lasted 14 days and resulted in 25 protected wild horses losing their freedom and lives prematurely. The BLM released 280 of the rounded-up horses, including 129 mares treated with fertility control and 151 stallions.