The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Nevada Winnemucca District’s Humboldt River Field Office (HRFO) is seeking public input as it initiates an environmental assessment for the Blue Wing Complex.

As part of the scoping process, the HRFO is hosting a public scoping tour of the Blue Wing Complex on March 19 and 20. The purpose of this tour is to offer the public an opportunity to get out on the ground to see the condition of the range in regards to wild horse and burro populations.

The Blue Wing complex is located in Pershing County, west of Lovelock, Nevada. The complex is comprised of 1,230,364 acres of both private and public lands. The BLM says managing wild horse and burro populations is necessary to maintain healthy and viable wild horse/burro herds and prevent deterioration of range and water resources.

There are currently an estimated 1,733 wild horses and 704 wild burros in the Blue Wing Complex based on an aerial population count conducted in December 2014, including the 2015 foal crop (20% reproduction rate for horses, 13% reproduction rate for burros). Appropriate management level ranges for the Blue Wing Complex are 333 to 553 wild horses and 55 to 90 wild burros