Wild Horse Population Reduced by 2,000 in Nevada BLM Operation
BATTLE MOUNTAIN, Nev. – In a significant effort to manage wild horse populations, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) wrapped up the FY2026 Callaghan Complex/Herd Management Area wild horse gather on July 26, 2026. Through this initiative, 2,000 wild horses were removed from public lands.
The initiative aimed to address the overpopulation of wild horses both within and beyond the designated area. The primary goal was to mitigate the impact of insufficient water resources and prevent further degradation of public lands, thereby restoring ecological balance and ensuring multiple-use relationships on these lands.
Conducted under Section 1333(b) of the 1971 Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act, the gather supports achieving the Rangeland Health Standards set by the Mojave-Southern Great Basin Resource Advisory Council. By aligning the herd size with the land’s carrying capacity, the BLM also seeks to protect habitats for other wildlife species.
Post-gather, the horses were taken to the Palomino Valley and Indian Lakes Wild Horse and Burro Off-range Corrals in Reno and Fallon, Nevada. Here, they will be prepared for the BLM’s wild horse and burro Adoption and Sales Program. Horses not adopted or sold will live in long-term pastures, maintaining their “wild” status and protection under the 1971 Act.
For further details on the gather, visit the 2026 Callaghan Gather website.
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