Herd Areas

Following passage of the Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act (WFRHBA) in 1971, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) was directed to identify areas where wild horses and burros were located. In the first few years following passage of the 1971 WFRHBA, BLM Nevada inventoried and mapped wild horses and burros on 19.6 million acres. These areas were designated as Herd Areas (areas where horses and burros were in 1971).

Through land use planning, BLM evaluated the 19.6 million acres of Herd Areas to determine whether or not there was enough food, water, cover and space to support healthy and diverse populations of wild horses and burros over the long-term. Areas which met these criteria were then designated as Herd Management Areas (HMAs). About 82% or nearly 16 million acres of the original herd area acreage in Nevada has been identified as suitable for the long-term management of wild horses and burros.

An example of a Herd Area where there is not enough food (forage) and water to support healthy and diverse populations of wild horses and burros over the long term.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q – Why doesn’t BLM manage wild horses and burros on all the original herd areas?
A – Several Nevada Herd Areas were comprised of intermingled public and private land (checkerboard landownership). A ruling by the Federal Court in 1978 required BLM to remove wild horses and burros from private land as soon as practicable upon landowner request (for more information reference Roaring Springs vs. Andrus, 1978). As a result, this made it difficult to manage wild horses and burros where there was intermingled public-private land. Other Herd Areas didn’t have enough food and water to support healthy and diverse populations of horses and burros.

Q – Can BLM manage wild horses or burros where herds did not exist in 1971?
A – No. Under the law, BLM is authorized to manage wild horses or burros only on those areas where they were found in 1971.

Q – How much of the original herd area acreage is managed today for wild horses and burros?
A – About 82% or nearly 16 million acres of Nevada’s original herd areas are managed for wild horses and burros today.

Q – Could a herd area ever become an HMA or vice versa?
A – Yes. If conditions change, it is possible the areas could be re-evaluated and the designations changed. Any changes would be made with public participation and through an in-depth environmental analysis and decision process.