2020 Outside Cibola-Trigo Nuisance Gather (Yuma Proving Grounds)
Purpose of Gather
The purpose of this gather is to remove nuisance horses and burros that are damaging private property and creating a public safety hazard for motorists along roadways. The Bureau of Land Management has received complaints from private landowners and Yuma Proving Grounds (YPG), pertaining to numerous wild horses and burros that are creating public safety and nuisance situations on private land, YPG land, and U.S. Highway 95.
Details of Gather
The BLM plans to remove 35 nuisance wild burros and 40 nuisance wild horses from private and YPG land within the Cibola-Trigo Herd Management Area (HMA) between the months of April 2020 and July 2020 via bait trapping, water trapping, or both. A contractor and BLM staff will set temporary traps on private and YPG lands. They will remove the panels, hay, and manure once the trapping is complete. For the purpose of this gather no burros or horses will be treated with fertility control. The Yuma Field Office will oversee all trapping operations.
Public Observation
There will be no public viewing opportunities for this gather due to the nature of the gather.
Adoption Information
Animals removed from the Cibola-Trigo HMA will be made available for adoption at the Florence Wild Horse and Burro Training and Off-Range Corral in Florence, Arizona, through the Wild Horse and Burro Adoption Program. Those that are not adopted will be cared for in off-range pastures, where they retain their “wild” status and protection under the 1971 Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burro Act.
Background
The Cibola-Trigo HMA is in southwestern Arizona, north of Yuma. The area parallels the eastern shoreline of the Colorado River for approximately 60 miles, from Yuma to Ehrenberg. The estimated population for this HMA as of March 2020 is 616 wild burros and 274 wild horses based on various analytical population count data and reports.
Gather Reports
Cumulative Totals
[Gather Completed]
Contractor: Sampson / In house
Gather Method: Bait trap
Planned Gathered (#):40 horses 35 burros
Planned Removed (#): 40 horses 35 burros
Planned Mares Treated (#): 0
Current as of: July 31, 2020
Animals Gathered
April 16:
2 burros (2 females)
April 17:
0 burros
6 horses (6 males)
April 18:
13 horses (4 mares, 1 foal, 8 males)
April 19–May 2:
0 burros
0 horses
May 3:
7 burros (males)
0 horses
May 4:
3 burros (males)
0 horses
May 5:
11 burros (5 males, 3 females, 3 foals)
0 horses
May 6:
3 burros (1 male, 1 female, 1 foal)
0 horses
May 7:
1 burro (male)
6 horses (3 males, 3 females, 1 foal)
May 8:
0 burros
0 horses
May 9:
1 burro (male)
0 horses
May 10:
3 burros (2 males, 1 female)
0 horses
May 11:
0 burros
0 horses
May 12-13:
0 burros
0 horses
- Contractor is not going to continue to catch remaining animals. In-house crew will attempt to gather remaining horses and burros later this summer. Gather reports will resume when gather operations resume.
July 30:
(In-house crew)
0 burros
12 horses (3 males, 9 females)
Total Animals Gathered: 30 burros, 37 horses
Total Animals Released: 0
Total Deaths Cumulative (#): 1
Acute (#): 1 (May 7)
Chronic/Pre-existing (#):
List animal’s age, color, gender and cause(s) of death: 19-year-old black mare, ran in to a panel.
Facility Destination:
- April 20, 2020 12 stud horses to Florence
- April 22, 2020 2 stud horses, 4 mares, 1 foal, and 2 burros to Florence
- May 6, 2020 21 burros shipped to Florence (15 males, 3 females, 3 foals)
- May 13, 2020 5 horses (2 mares 2 studs 1 colt), 6 burros (2 females, 3 jacks 1 foal
- July 30, 2020 12 horses 3 males 9 females
Total Released Cumulative (#): 0
Notable Incidents (e.g. separated foals): 1 male foal about a month old was an orphan foal when gathered. Burro was adopted out locally.