BLM investigates wild horse gunshot wound

BLM NEWS RELEASE

ELKO — The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) discovered that a wild horse mare gathered as part of the Elko District’s Antelope Complex Gather yesterday had been injured by a gunshot wound in her upper left leg.  The on-site veterinarian conducted a health assessment at the trap site and observed a puncture wound in her upper left leg (left shoulder).

The animal was transported to the gather holding facility, placed in a separate pen from the other gathered horses and monitored closely by the on-site veterinarian.  This morning, she spun around in the corral and broke her front left leg.

She was humanely euthanized as a result.  Upon closer examination, the vet determined the puncture wound was actually a gunshot wound, and was a major contributing factor to the break.  BLM law enforcement rangers are on the scene at the holding facility and have initiated an investigation of the gunshot to the mare.

The BLM is continuing with gather operations today at the Dolly Varden Springs area of the Antelope Valley Herd Management Area (HMA).  To date, 571 wild horses have been gathered.

The BLM is scheduled to gather and remove approximately 1,917 to 2,278 excess wild horses from in and around the Antelope Complex.  The complex is located approximately 60 miles south of Wells, Nev., and consists of the Antelope HMA which is managed by the Ely District, Schell Field Office and the Antelope Valley, Goshute, and Spruce-Pequop HMAs which are managed by the Elko District, Wells Field Office.  There are currently an estimated 2,705 wild horses within the complex where the appropriate management level is 427-788 wild horses.

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 the 1971 Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act, and Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976, as well as help to achieve and maintain healthy, viable wild horse populations.

For more information about the gather, contact Lesli Coakley, BLM Elko District public affairs specialist, at (775) 753-0386 or by email at [email protected].