Wild horses captured at the Salt Wells Creek HMA in Wyoming during September 2017. RTF file photo by Steve Paige.

The Bureau of Land Management captured 30 wild horses on Wednesday, Feb. 7,  during the eighth day of the helicopter drive trapping at the Triple B Complex, in Nevada, according to the agency.

The 1,682,998-acre Triple  B Complex consists of four separate Herd Management Areas including the Triple B HMA (Ely), Maverick Medicine HMA (Elko), Antelope Valley HMA (Elko), and Cherry Springs Wild Horse Territory (Elko).

The 30 wild horses captured include 18 mares,7 studs, and 5 foals. There was one death reported, which was classified as “acute”.

104 horses were shipped to the Palomino Valley Wild Horse and Burro Adoption Center, including 45 mares, 36 studs, and 23 foals. Additionally, the agency also released 27 studs back into the HMAs, along with 29 mares who were treated with the PZP fertility control vaccine. 

The BLM plans to capture 1,500 wild horses and permanently remove 1,000 from the Triple B Complex. The cumulative agency set Appropriate Management Level for all of the HMA’s within the Triple B Complex is 472 – 884 wild horses. The current population estimate for the Triple B Complex is approximately 3,842 wild horses.

The agency plans to release approximately 250 mares that will have been treated with the PZP fertility control vaccine. Additionally, approximately 250 stallions will be selected to be returned to the HMAs.

The horses selected will be prepared for adoption at the Palomino Valley Wild Horses and Burros Adoption Center.