Horses running from BLM contractor’s helicopter during the 2017 helicopter drive trapping at the Frisco HMA in Utah. Photo by Steve Paige.
The Bureau of Land Management captured 121 wild horses on Tuesday, Feb. 20, during the 21st day 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 121 horses captured include 58 mares, 38 studs, and 25 foals. One horse was euthanized due to a pre-existing condition, according to the agency. 83 horses were shipped to the Palomino Valley Wild Horse and Burro Adoption Center, including 39 mares, 26 studs, and 18 foals. Three mares and three foals were released back into the HMAs, bringing the total of horses released during the helicopter drive trapping up to 62.
The BLM originally planned to capture 1,500 wild horses, permanently remove 1,000 and release 500 back into the HMAs. The 500 horses were going to include approximately 250 mares that had been treated with PZP fertility control and approximately 250 studs. On Feb. 13 a press release was sent out informing of significant changes made to these numbers. The agency now plans to capture 1,400 wild horses and release only 100 horses back into the HMA.
Additionally, the press release stated that besides the 28 mares who have already been treated, the agency will conduct no further PZP treatments during the Triple B Complex helicopter drive trapping.
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 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.