Panamint Valley Burros
Credit: Jesse Pluim, BLM

April 24, 2021 - RIDGECREST, Calif. - The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Ridgecrest Field Office has approved the gather and removal of up to 939 wild burros from the Centennial, Panamint, and Slate herd management areas over a ten-year period to address resource impacts and reduce the risk of burro-vehicle collisions. The gathered burros will be placed for adoption or sale.

“The BLM gathers burros from public lands to not only safeguard the health of the animals but to protect the land as well,” said Carl Symons, Ridgecrest Field Manager.  “Left unchecked, burro populations can increase rapidly resulting in damage to rangelands.” 

The initial gather scheduled in late May will remove excess burros using a variety of methods including helicopter-assisted wrangling and bait trapping. Gathered animals will be transported to the BLM’s Ridgecrest Regional Wild Horse and Burro Corrals where they will be prepared for adoption or sale.

The gather decision supports the BLM’s continuing efforts to provide public safety, improve the status of endangered species, and manage wild burro populations under the land use decisions of the California Desert Conservation Area Plan of 1980 and associated amendments. 

The decision record, finding of no significant impact, environmental assessment, and associated documents are available at  https://go.usa.gov/xs7K7.

For additional information or for accessibility options, contact Alex Neibergs at aneiberg@blm.gov.
Source: BLM