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LEE VINING, Calif., Jan. 17, 2026 – The USDA Forest Service will begin an emergency operation to trap and move up to 25 snow-bound wild horses located on the Inyo National Forest outside the Montgomery Pass Wild Horse Territory. This emergency action is critical to ensuring the future health, well-being, and humane treatment of these wild horses as they are in critical jeopardy due to snow impact, limited water, and extremely limited forage.
Effective from January 17 at 9 a.m. through January 27, going into or being within the Bald Mountain Closure Area is prohibited within the Inyo National Forest. Due to the nature of the bait and water trap method, wild horses are reluctant to approach the trap site when there is too much activity; therefore, only essential personnel will be allowed at the trap site during the operation. We ask the public to not interfere with the operation.
Multiple Over-Snow Vehicle (OSV) routes are affected by this closure, including portions of Trail I, Trail D, I and D Connector Trail. Travel on the trails within the closure is prohibited. The closure area is shown on the map below.
About the Forest Service: The USDA Forest Service has for more than 100 years brought people and communities together to answer the call of conservation. Grounded in world-class science and technology–and rooted in communities–the Forest Service connects people to nature and to each other. The Forest Service cares for shared natural resources in ways that promote lasting economic, ecological, and social vitality. The agency manages 193 million acres of public land, provides assistance to state and private landowners, maintains the largest wildland fire and forestry research organizations in the world. The Forest Service also has either a direct or indirect role in stewardship of about 900 million forested acres within the U.S., of which over 130 million acres are urban forests where most Americans live.
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