DENIO - On Monday, Sept. 9, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) will begin gathering approximately 400 wild horses at Sheldon National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) as part of its ongoing management actions at the refuge.
In order to conduct effective and efficient operations, to improve safety for horses, and to ensure public safety, portions of Sheldon NWR surrounding gather operations, including some roads, will be closed to public entry during the gather.
Public viewing and observation of gather operations and sorting may be possible at a distance from other roads and areas of Sheldon NWR open to the public.
In addition, the USFWS will provide an escort for up to 10 members of the public/media per day for observation of gather operations. Observation opportunities will be provided on a first-come first-serve basis.
Primary considerations for selection of observation sites are safety and to ensure efficient and effective gather operations. The exact location of the gather sites will depend on site-specific conditions that may vary from day to day.
The observation locations will be selected to provide an opportunity to view the gather without disrupting gather operations or creating a safety hazard. Consequently, members of the public/media should not expect opportunities for up-close observation or observation of all gather operations and should be prepared to travel to different locations within the broader gather area.
Currently USFWS officials anticipate gather operations will conclude on Thursday, Sept. 12. Gather operations and schedules are subject to change at any time.
Members of the public/ media will not be allowed into temporary closed areas of Sheldon NWR without escort. A USFWS escort will depart from the road intersection of Washoe County Road 8A and the Summit Lake-Badger Road at 8 a.m. on Monday, Sept. 9, and 6 a.m. on following days to allow for travel time to the observation site without interfering with gather operations.
Members of the public/media arriving later are not guaranteed observation opportunity and escort to the observation site will be contingent upon staff availability and gather operations in progress.
Travel to gather observation sites will require driving gravel roads and potentially dirt roads suitable only for high clearance four-wheel drive vehicles. The USFWS will not provide transportation to the gather observation sites.
Weather during the gather may be variable with temperatures ranging from 30-90 degrees Fahrenheit with rain showers or thunderstorms possible. Facilities will not be available and observers should plan accordingly, including adequate food and water.
Observers should be prepared to hike through steep, rocky and uneven terrain for distances up to one-half mile and to remain at the observation site for a minimum of four hours. Departing from/arriving at the observation site at other times will depend upon USFWS escort availability and gather operations underway.
If you wish to observe the 2013 horse gather operations within Sheldon NWR, please notify Megan Negal no later than 12 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 7, at megan_nagel@fws.gov or by calling 503-231-6123.[[In-content Ad]]
