The U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is removing nearly 1,000 wild horses from public land in northeastern Nevada, citing insufficient forage caused by drought conditions. The agency says the gathers were planned for later in 2008 but have been moved up because the land can’t support the existing number of horses.
According to the BLM, ranchers also are reducing livestock use in the areas.
Approximately 400 wild horses from the Antelope Valley Herd Management Area and about 550 horses from the Antelope HMA are being gathered and removed. According to the BLM, sustainable management levels are 23 to 38 horses for Antelope Valley and 194 to 324 horses for Antelope.
The culled horses are being taken to the National Wild Horse and Burro Center and other facilities near Reno, as well as the Delta Corrals in Delta, Utah, where they will be placed for adoption.