2020 Planet Ranch Nuisance Wild Burro Gather

[Gather Complete]

Purpose of Gather

The purpose of this gather is to remove nuisance burros that are damaging private property. The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has received complaints from a private landowner pertaining to numerous wild burros that are creating nuisance situations on private land.

Details of Gather

The BLM plans to remove 120 nuisance burros from private land within the Havasu Herd Management Area (HMA) between the months of May and September 2020 via bait trapping, water trapping, or both. A contractor and BLM staff will set temporary traps on private lands, and will remove the panels, hay and manure once the trapping is complete. For the purpose of this gather no burros will be treated with fertility control. All trapping operations will be overseen by BLM's Lake Havasu Field Office.

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 Havasu HMA will be made available for adoption at the Florence Wild Horse and Burro Training and Off-Range Corral in Florence, AZ 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.

How to Adopt

Background

The Havasu HMA is in western Arizona, south and east of Lake Havasu City. The area parallels the Bill Williams River for approximately 20 miles. The current wild burro population is estimated at approximately 172 wild burros, based on a March 2018 population estimate. However, the Havasu HMA is adjacent to the Alamo HMA with no barriers separating the two HMAs so burros can travel back and forth between the two HMAs freely. This ability to cross-over between HMAs allows for both HMA populations to fluctuate. The Alamo HMA's current estimated population is 948 wild burros based on a 2012 population estimate.