BLM Temporarily Suspends Wild Horse Gather in Pershing County

WINNEMUCCA — The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has temporarily suspended a wild horse water/bait trap gather in Pershing County, Nevada. This decision comes after minimal gather numbers were reported, with only 37 out of the targeted 100 horses captured as of June 27. The operation is set to resume in July, with hopes that the horses will become more accustomed to the trap-site structure.

BLM Field Manager Victor Lozano stated, "Water bait trapping is not an exact science and there are many factors that must be considered. Temporarily suspending gather operations will allow the wild horses to become familiar with the facilities, reducing skittishness."

The gather area spans 431,544 acres of both private and public lands. The removal of excess wild horses is intended to prevent further deterioration of the range and water resources, as well as to address safety issues on roads and private lands, according to the BLM.

An aerial count conducted in May 2014 estimated the wild horse population in the area to be around 282.

For more details, visit the Elko Daily Free Press.