Burros on the range

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

How to Adopt

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.