Reno Gazette Journal 6-5-10

BLM to close Nevada public lands for horse gather

ELKO, Nev. - The Bureau of Land Management says some public lands in Nevada’s Elko County will be temporarily closed during a wild horse gather slated to begin later this week.

The BLM is planning to round up more than 1,100 wild horses from within and near the Owyhee, Rock Creek and Little Humboldt Herd Management Areas, a region that covers more than 700 square miles about 90 miles northwest of Elko.

Agency officials say too many horses are on the range, and they want to reduce their numbers to no more than about 560.

A BLM spokeswoman says observation days are tentatively planned on July 23 and 24, so the public can observe the operation.

The temporary land closures will involve about 27,000 acres.