BLM to round up more wild burros

Kris Hill

Wednesday, Jan. 10, 2001 | 10:02 a.m.

Concern for the safety of drivers and animals has prompted the Bureau of Land Management to schedule another roundup of wild burros today and Thursday.

Over the past six months BLM officials estimate that between three and six burros have been killed each month on state routes 159 and 160 near Pahrump, Phil Guerrero, BLM spokesman, said.

Cowboys on horses and staff in helicopters will gather 40 burros from the Johnnie Herd Management Area near Pahrump, and another 40 will be rounded up at the Red Rock Herd Management Area near Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area west of Las Vegas.

The roundup is expected to take two days, but BLM has given its crew four days in case rain or other problems make it difficult to do the work, Mark Morse, BLM's Las Vegas field office manager, said.

After the burros are rounded up, they will be taken by truck to BLM's Oliver Ranch in Red Rock Canyon where they will be checked out by a veterinarian to determine if they are healthy enough to be put up for adoption. Then they will be branded, Guerrero said.

Burros that can be adopted out will be sent to the bureau's facility in Ridgecrest, Calif., where the process will begin.

Last summer BLM was forced to thin the herd of wild burros and horses in Red Rock and Pahrump because at least 45 animals were on the verge of dying of thirst.

In addition to the impact of the drought, BLM officials were also concerned about the number of wild burros that were being killed on the highways at that time.

Those interested in adopting a burro can call BLM at 647-5000 for more information.