Drivers asked to closely watch for wild horses, burros during low visibility
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LAS VEGAS –The Bureau of Land Management Southern Nevada District Office asks motorists to be careful of wild horses and burros along our roadways, as the end of Daylight Saving Time brings earlier darkness and lower visibility to Southern Nevada.
In the past, several wild horses and burros have been hit and killed, or sustained injuries leading to euthanization. The animals can wander onto the road creating a safety hazard to themselves and for motorists. These areas include State Route 159, State Route 160, and Lee, Kyle, and Cold Creek roads.
“One of the biggest problems is people stopping to see the wild horses and burros and feeding them,” said Tabitha Romero, BLM Wild Horse and Burro Specialist. “Now some of the wild horses and burros stay alongside the road waiting for food.”
Feeding and interacting with the wild horses and burros makes them lose aspects of their wild character and they begin to associate vehicles with food. It is illegal to feed, pet or otherwise harass a wild horse or burro. Individuals will be cited for those activities and the citations carry a fine.
Numbers of animals hit by cars varies by year; however, several burros have been hit the past few months on State Route 160 near Hualapai Way, on State Route 159 near Bonnie Springs, and near State Route 160 and Leslie on the north end of Pahrump.
If you hit a wild burro or horse with your vehicle, please call 911. For more information about the Southern Nevada District Wild Horse and Burro program, please contact Tabitha Romero at (702) 515-5171, or by email at tromero@blm.gov. Updates are also be found on the BLM Nevada twitter @BLMNV and Facebook site https://www.facebook.com/BLMNevada.
The BLM manages more than 245 million acres of public land located primarily in 12 western states, including Alaska, on behalf of the American people. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. Our mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of America’s public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations.