Horses cross a road as they head to the entrance of the BLM Nevada Triple B Complex Gather trap site on February 2, 2018. BLM photo.

The Bureau of Land Management captured 55 wild horses on Tuesday, Feb.13,  during the 14th 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 55 wild horses captured include 24 mares, 19 studs, and 12 foals. Two horses were euthanized due to what the agency identified as pre-existing conditions. As of now, the cumulative total of wild horses captured during the Triple B Complex helicopter roundup is 817.

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. 

As of now 28 mares who have been treated with PZP, along with one mare who did not receive the treatment, were released back into the HMAs. Furthermore, 27 studs joined the mares in returning to the HMAs.

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