WINNEMUCCA, Nev. – Preparations are underway for a significant operation to manage the wild horse population in the Snowstorm Mountain and Little Humboldt Herd Management Areas (HMA), situated about 45 miles northeast of Winnemucca in Humboldt and Elko County, Nevada. Beginning January 26, 2026, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) intends to conduct an emergency gather of approximately 182 excess wild horses using the helicopter drive method.
The Snowstorm Mountain HMA encompasses 117,109 acres, comprising 103,802 acres of BLM land and 13,307 acres of both private and other public lands. The Appropriate Management Level (AML) for this area is set between 90 and 140 wild horses. Meanwhile, the Little Humboldt HMA covers 17,152 acres, with 15,741 acres managed by the BLM and 1,411 acres a mix of private and other types of public lands. The AML for this region is 48 to 80 wild horses. Both these HMAs are part of the Owyhee Complex.
The operation will focus on the area surrounding the Jakes Fire burn site, where approximately 272 wild horses currently roam. The last gather in this region took place in 2021. Due to the Jakes wildfire, forage has become scarce, and current resources cannot support the nutritional demands of the existing horse population. The decline in forage has resulted in the horses displaying body condition scores (BCS) averaging between 3 and 4, indicating poor health. This gather aims to protect the sustainable future of both the wild horses and the land, threatened by overpopulation and limited resources.
Ensuring the welfare of the horses is a priority for the BLM, which is committed to executing the gather in a humane and effective manner. The agency and its contractors plan to adopt the best available science and handling practices, adhering to the Comprehensive Animal Welfare Policy throughout the operation.
Following the gather, the horses will be transported to the Winnemucca Off Range Corrals in Paradise Valley, Nevada. There, they will undergo veterinary checks before potentially being placed in the BLM’s wild horse and burro Adoption and Sale Program. Those interested in adopting or purchasing a wild horse or burro can visit www.blm.gov/whb for more details.
This gather is being conducted under the BLM Determination of NEPA Adequacy, with detailed documents accessible through the National BLM NEPA Register.
Updates and additional information about the “2026 Jakes Fire Emergency Wild Horse Gather” will be available on the BLM’s webpage. For further inquiries, contact the Wild Horse and Burro Specialist, Brianna Brodowski, at (775) 623-1500.
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