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 72 wild horses on Tuesday, Feb. 6,  during the seventh day of the helicopter drive trapping at the Triple B Complex, in Nevada, according to the BLM.

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 72 wild horses captured include 34 mares, 15 studs, and 23 foals. The agency reported no deaths or injuries. 83 horses were shipped to the Palomino Valley Wild Horse and Burro Adoption Center, including 21 mares, 38 studs, and 24 foals.

 Tuesday’s helicopter roundup brings the total number of wild horses captured by the BLM from the Triple B Complex to 488. There have been eight reported deaths, seven of which were horses euthanized due to pre-existing conditions identified by the agency. The remaining death was classified as “acute” by the BLM.

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 Horses and Burros 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 food.