Red Rock horses, burros face roundup

Friday, July 28, 2000 | 11:16 a.m.

Federal officials are rounding up 80 of Red Rock Canyon's wild horses and burros this weekend because the animals are facing dangers both natural and man-made.

At least three burros have been struck and killed by motorists along State Road 160 in the past 30 days. Worse yet, horses and burros on both sides of the highway are facing a major drought, Phil Guerrero, Bureau of Land Management spokesman, said.

"We don't have a choice. Nature has dealt us this hand of drought," Guerrero said. "They can't live without water."

Two of the springs in Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area have been dry for at least a month, Gary McFadden said. McFadden is a wild horse and burro specialist for the BLM's Las Vegas office.

One of the two -- Tunnel Spring south of State Road 160 -- has been dry since April. BLM officials have been toting water to fill two 1,800-gallon storage tanks there every two weeks since it dried up.

Mud Spring, north of the highway, has been dry for a month, McFadden said. Members of the private, nonprofit National Wild Horse Association have been carting water there every two to three days, 500 to 1,000 gallons at a time.

But it's not enough. Officials say as many as 45 animals will die of thirst if the herds aren't thinned.

"Some of the mares are taking quite a beating. They're still trying to give milk to their foals, and they have no water," Guerrero said. "We had to go through the highest levels of authorization in Washington, D.C., to get this."

That authorization comes with $30,000 and permission for a seven-day roundup period, although McFadden expects to be finished by Monday.

Half of the 40 burros to be rounded up will come from around Oliver Ranch, Bonnie Springs and Spring Mountain Ranch State Park. It's an area where three burros have been struck and killed in the past month.

"These are the burros that hang out on the highway," McFadden said. "It's a learned behavior because of people, and we have to get that under control."

Males will be kept for the BLM adoption program. Females will be moved away from the road. Officials also will remove 20 wild horses from south of State Road 160, retaining those 5 years old and younger for an Oct. 8 adoption and returning the rest to the range.

Another 20 horses and 20 burros will be taken from north of State Road 160. Male burros will be kept for adoption. Females will be relocated north of Spring Mountain Ranch State Park.

Horses eligible for adoption will be kept. But a stud and four to six of the mares will be put back into the area so the herd retains its knowledge of where to find water and how to use the tunnel that goes under the road, McFadden said.

By thinning the herds, BLM officials hope there will be enough food and water for the animals left behind. They will continue to haul water when needed.

The BLM has for months been working on a controversial plan for managing Red Rock's horse and burro herds. Officials said this roundup has nothing to do with that plan, which is expected to be completed this fall.

"This is an actual emergency," McFadden said.