ELY — The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has issued the decision record for the final environmental assessment (EA) for the Triple B, Maverick-Medicine, and Antelope Valley herd management areas (HMAs) wild horse gather. The BLM will gather and remove 1,726 excess wild horses from in and around the HMAs, and the Cherry Springs wild horse territory (WHT) located about 30 miles northwest of Ely and 70 miles southeast of Elko, beginning in July.

At the time of the proposed gather, it is estimated that the population will be more than 1,460 wild horses in the Triple B HMA where the appropriate management level (AML) is between 250 and 518 wild horses; 636 wild horses in the Maverick-Medicine HMA where the AML is between 166 and 276 wild horses; 28 wild horses in the portion of the Antelope Valley HMA west of U.S. Highway 93 where the AML is between 16 and 27 wild horses; and 74 wild horses in the Cherry Springs WHT where the AML is between 40 and 68 wild horses. The estimate includes the 2011 foal crop.

Of the horses remaining on the range, the BLM plans to conduct fertility control measures on mares or adjust the sex ratios of the gathered animals to be returned to the HMA to 60 percent male/40 percent female ratios.

Removing the excess wild horses will help to prevent further deterioration of the range and achieve and maintain a thriving natural ecological balance and multiple-use relationship as required under federal law.

The gathered animals will be transported to the Palomino Valley Center north of Sparks where they will be prepared for adoption. Unadopted horses will be placed in long-term pastures where they will be humanely cared for and retain their “wild” status and protection. The BLM does not sell or send any horses to slaughter.

For more information, visit www.blm.gov/nv/. Click on the Ely District map and then click on the EA listed “In the Spotlight.”