Forest Service cites habitat damage and public safety as horse population exceeds management goals
The U.S. Forest Service will begin gathering wild horses outside the Montgomery Pass Wild Horse Territory on July 8, removing up to 450 horses as part of an effort to reduce impacts on public lands, improve herd health, and address public safety concerns.
According to the Inyo National Forest, the Montgomery Pass Wild Horse Territory is managed for 138 to 230 horses, but a 2024 census estimated the population at approximately 699 horses, with many animals roaming beyond the designated management area. Forest officials say the excess horses are damaging springs, riparian habitat, sensitive wildlife areas, and Mono Basin’s distinctive tufa formations while increasing the risk of collisions along nearby highways.
Helicopter gather expected to last one to two weeks
The operation is expected to last 7 to 14 days and will use helicopters operated by experienced contractors to gather horses across the rugged terrain of the Eastern Sierra. According to the Forest Service, helicopters will be used to gather horses across the Montgomery Pass territory. The agency says helicopter-assisted gathers are the safest and most effective method for removing large numbers of horses from remote areas. 
Captured horses will receive veterinary evaluations before being transported to the Double Devil Wild Horse Corral on the Modoc National Forest, where they will be prepared for adoption through the Forest Service’s Wild Horse Adoption Program. People interested in adopting a Montgomery Pass wild horse can learn more through the Double Devil Wild Horse Corrals Facebook page, where the Forest Service posts information about available horses and upcoming adoption opportunities.
Members of the public may observe gather operations by reservation, with participation limited because of safety and logistical considerations.
Visitors traveling through the Montgomery Pass area in early July may encounter temporary activity associated with the gather. The Forest Service encourages visitors to check current conditions before traveling.
For updates, public viewing information, and additional details, visit the Inyo National Forest Wild Horses webpage here.
MAIN IMAGE: Montgomery Pass horses in the Granite Mountain Basin. Photo by Jeff Starosta, BLM.
Editor’s Note: Wild horse management remains a debated issue on public lands in the American West. While the Forest Service says gathers are necessary to protect habitat, improve herd health, and address public safety concerns, some wild horse advocacy organizations favor greater use of fertility control and other non-removal management strategies in place of large helicopter gathers.
During a June public hearing and in subsequent public statements, representatives of the Mono Lake Kutzadika’a and Utu Utu Gwaitu Paiute tribes also called for greater tribal involvement in managing the Montgomery Pass herd and emphasized the horses’ cultural significance. While acknowledging that horse populations require active management, they have advocated for greater tribal participation in decision-making, expanded use of fertility control, and alternatives to helicopter gathers
