August 22, 2022 - NEEDLES, Calif. – The Bureau of Land Management has began an emergency gather using the temporary water and bait trap method for about 60 wild burros in the Piute Mountain Herd Area in San Bernardino County. This herd area is not managed to support wild burros and a gather is necessary due to extreme temperatures and insufficient water availability.

Wild burros from the Piute Mountain Herd Area. (Photo by David Briery, BLM)

“The Piute Mountain Herd Area is not actively managed for populations of wild burros due to the recovery of the desert tortoise, cultural resources, and bighorn sheep concerns,” stated Needles Field Manager Mike Ahrens. “The water in the area is scarce and endangers the health of the wild burros.” 

The BLM will capture and transport the animals to the Ridgecrest Regional Wild Horse and Burro Corrals, where they will be made available for adoption or sale. There is no public viewing to minimize disturbances to the animals and allow the BLM staff to safely perform gather operations.

The Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act of 1971 directs federal management of wild horses and burros on public lands. The BLM established the Wild Horse and Burro Program to manage and protect wild horses and burros, on and off the range, while striving to maintain rangeland health. 

Wild burro gather reports and additional information can be found here. For information on how to adopt or purchase a wild horse or burro from the Ridgecrest Wild Horse and Burro Corrals, please send a request to BLM_CA_RidgecrestCorrals@blm.gov, or visit www.blm.gov/whb.

The BLM is conducting the gather under the Capture Plan for Wild Burro Gather and Removals for the Piute Mountain Herd Area. To view the decision record and other National Environmental Policy Act documents, visit the Piute Mountain Herd Area Burro Gather ePlanning site: https://bit.ly/3SEApfN.
Source: BLM