FEBRUARY 3 UPDATE:

180 excess wild horses were removed from the area of the Jakes Fire as part of an emergency wild horse gather.

It was carried out by the Bureau of Land Management's Humboldt River Field Office between January 26 and January 30, according to a release from the BLM.

The purpose of the gather was to prevent unnecessary degradation of public lands that excess wild horses can cause, the BLM said.

The gather sought to humanely and safely remove the horses from the Snowstorm Mountain and Little Humboldt Herd Management Areas within the boundary of the Jakes Fire.

The BLM also says that the health of the wild horse population in the area, as well as the health of the land itself, has been jeopardized due to vegetation and drought impacts.

"The gather is essential to address herd overpopulation and ensure the future well-being of both the horses and their habitat," said the BLM in its release.

The BLM took the horses it removed to the Winnemucca Off-Range Wild Horse and Burro Corrals located in Paradise Valley, where they will be prepared for the wild horse adoption and sale program.

Any wild horses not adopted will be placed in long-term pastures where they will be humanely cared for and retain their “wild” status and protection under the 1971 Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act.

ORIGINAL ARTICLE:

Wild horses in northern Nevada will soon face an emergency relocation as officials respond to the aftermath of last year’s Jakes Fire.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) said the gather is necessary to protect both the animals and the land in the burn areas.

The BLM will begin the operation on or about January 26, in the Snowstorm Mountain and Little Humboldt Herd Management Areas, about 45 miles northeast of Winnemucca in Humboldt and Elko counties.

The agency plans to remove roughly 182 excess wild horses using a helicopter drive method.

The Snowstorm Mountain HMA covers 103,802 acres of BLM land and 13,307 acres of private and other public land, with an appropriate management level of 90 to 140 horses.

The Little Humboldt HMA includes 15,741 acres of BLM land and 1,411 acres of private and other public land, with an AML of 48 to 80 horses. Both areas are part of the Owyhee Complex.

Current monitoring estimates the combined population in both HMAs at 272 horses. The most recent gathering in the area was completed in 2021.

BLM said the purpose of the gathering is to “humanely and safely gather impacted and compromised wild horses from the area of the Jakes wildfire burn area.”

Officials noted that monitoring showed limited availability of forage due to the fire, which is not sufficient to sustain the nutritional needs of the current population. Declining range conditions, along with overpopulation, have led to lower body condition scores, with the average at a score of 3 to 4. BLM said the gathering is “critical to ensuring the future health of the HMA lands as well as the wild horses in the area, both of which are in jeopardy due to herd overpopulation and extremely limited forage that is remaining due to the recent fires.”

BLM said it will prioritize “safe, efficient, and successful wild horse gather operations while ensuring humane care and treatment of all animals gathered.” The agency and its contractors will follow established science and handling practices for wild horses and burros under the Comprehensive Animal Welfare Policy.

All horses removed will be transported to the Winnemucca Off Range Corrals in Paradise Valley, Nevada, for veterinary checks and preparation for the BLM Wild Horse and Burro Adoption and Sale Program. Information about adoption or purchase is available at the BLM website.

The gathering is being conducted under the BLM Determination of NEPA Adequacy, and all related documents are available on the National BLM NEPA Register.  Updates and reports for the 2026 Jake's Fire Emergency Wild Horse Gather will be posted online.