Breaking update: The BLM has changed their original plan of capturing 1,500 horses and later releasing 500  horses back into the HMAs, including 250 mares treated with PZP fertility control. The agency has now stated that they will remove 1,400 horses total, and only release 100 back into the HMAs.  Additionally, the agency has decided that aside from the 28 mares already treated and released, there will be no further fertility control treatments for the remainder of the helicopter roundup.

One in a small group of wild horses on the run from a distant helicopter during the 2017 Salt Wells helicopter drive trapping. Photo by Steve Paige.

The Bureau of Land Management captured 99 wild horses on Saturday, Feb. 17,  during the 18th of the helicopter drive trapping at the Triple B Complex, in Nevada.

The 1,682,998-acre 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 99 horses captured include 39 mares, 39 studs, and 21 foals. Six horses were euthanized due to pre-existing conditions, according to the agency. 41 horses were shipped to the Palomino Valley Wild Horse and Burro Adoption Center, including 13 mares, 13 studs, and 15 foals.

The BLM plans to capture 1,500 wild horses and permanently remove 1,000.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 Horse and Burro Adoption Center.

Attending:

Those who wish to view the roundup should contact Gregory Deimel at (775) 388-7078 or gdeimel@blm.gov. Participants must provide their own transportation, water and good.