Bureau of Land Management Endorses New Plan for Wild Horse Management in Nevada
BATTLE MOUNTAIN, Nev. – A significant step towards sustainable wild horse management has been taken as the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has sanctioned a new herd management plan for the expansive Callaghan Complex in Lander County, Nevada.
Covering roughly 1.15 million acres of both public and private lands, the complex includes the North Shoshone Herd Area and the Bald Mountain, Callaghan, South Shoshone, and the northern portion of Hickison herd management areas. By late 2025, the horse population is expected to exceed the defined appropriate management level of 323-552 animals.
The newly approved plan outlines several management strategies aimed at achieving a natural ecological balance. These include the gathering and removal of excess horses, alongside the application of mare fertility control measures. BLM staff and contractors will employ the latest scientific methods and humane practices to ensure the health and safety of the horses while achieving the program’s objectives, in line with the Comprehensive Animal Welfare Program.
Without intervention, wild horse populations can grow by 15% to 20% annually, leading to a doubling of their numbers approximately every four years. Such overpopulation threatens both the health of the land and the well-being of the horses, which face the risk of starvation due to habitat scarcity and recurring drought conditions.
For those interested in learning more or participating in the care of these animals, the BLM encourages visits to their Adoptions and Sales page.
Detailed planning documents, including the environmental assessment, decision record, and the finding of no significant impact, can be accessed through the BLM National NEPA Register.
For further information, the Mount Lewis Field Office wild horse and burro specialist can be contacted at 775-635-4000.
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