The Bureau of Land Management is scheduled to begin gathering up to 167 wild horses from the Garfield Flat Herd Management Area 10 miles southeast of Hawthorne starting Friday.
The topography of the area ranges from flat valleys through mountainous terrain and contains approximately 141,800 acres of public and private land within the Carson City District-Stillwater Field Office.
The 4-8 day gather is being conducted to achieve the "thriving natural ecological balance," mandated by the Wild Free-Roaming Horse and Burro Act of 1971, and to prevent undue and unnecessary degradation of public land as outlined in the Federal Land Policy & Management Act of 1976.
About 250 wild horses currently roam the area. BLM Public Affairs Officer Mark Struble said the appropriate management level has been established at 83-125 wild horses. The gather is in compliance with all federal, state and local laws, regulations and associated planning documents.
All horses removed will be placed in BLM's wild horse and burro adoption program. For more information, contact Struble at (775) 885-6107.
