BLM Implements New Plan to Safeguard Wild Horses in the Eagle Complex
ELY, Nev. – In a move to preserve the well-being of wild horses in the Eagle Complex, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has put forth a strategic management plan. This plan addresses the critical issues of overpopulation and deteriorating range conditions that threaten the health and safety of these herds.
Wild horse and burro populations can expand rapidly, often doubling in size every four to five years if left unmanaged. As of March 2026, the BLM reported an estimation of over 2,000 wild horses in and around the Eagle Complex. This figure significantly exceeds the landscape’s capacity, which can sustainably support only a fraction of that number. Such overpopulation exacerbates the strain on limited resources like forage and water, leading to poor rangeland conditions and increasing the likelihood of malnutrition and dehydration among the animals.
The newly approved herd management area plan outlines specific actions to safeguard the long-term health of both the wild horses and their habitat. Key measures include targeted gathers and the removal of horses that exceed the sustainable herd size of 145-265. Additionally, fertility control techniques will be utilized to slow the growth rate of the herd. These combined efforts aim to ensure that the horses have adequate access to the essentials they need, including food, water, and space, throughout the year.
Those interested in more detailed information can access the planning documents, such as the environmental assessment and decision record, on the BLM National NEPA Register.
The Wild Free‑Roaming Horses and Burros Act of 1971 mandates that the BLM manage wild horses and burros on public lands. This federal law strictly prohibits the commercial slaughter of these animals, and the BLM neither sells nor dispatches them for slaughter. To uphold these protections, the agency enforces strict adoption and sale regulations, has strengthened the bill of sale language, and collaborates with law enforcement when credible evidence of a violation arises.
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