2024 Piute Mountain Wild Burro Emergency Gather
Purpose of Gather:
The BLM‘s Needles Field Office is conducting an emergency bait-trap gather to capture and remove up to 50 excess wild burros within the Piute Mountain Herd Area due to lack of water. This herd area is not actively managed to support wild burros and a gather is necessary due to extreme temperatures and insufficient water availability at Fenner Spring, the sole water source in the area.
Details of Gather:
The BLM will conduct the gather using a temporary water and bait trap consisting of a series of corral panels stocked with water.
Public Observation:
There is no public viewing to minimize disturbances to the animals and allow the BLM to safely perform gather operations. Only essential gather operation personnel are allowed at the trap site during operations.
Adoption Information:
Burros removed from the Piute Herd Area will be made available for adoption at the Ridgecrest Regional Wild Horse and Burro Holding and Adoption Facility through the Wild Horse and Burro Adoption / Sales Program.
More information on the availability of these burros can be obtained from the Ridgecrest Regional Wild Horse and Burro Holding and Adoption Facility at BLM_CA_RidgecrestCorrals@blm.gov or visit www.blm.gov/whb.
For information on how to adopt a burro, visit http://www.blm.gov/whb or contact the BLM at wildhorse@blm.gov or 866-468-7826.
Background:
Nineteen wild burros were gathered from the Piute Mountain Herd Area between August 16 - September 16, 2022. The monsoonal rains at the end of August and into September provided the area with substantial precipitation causing dispersed ephemeral waters and new growth on annuals, perennial grasses, and shrubs. Wild burros were more dispersed in the area and were not utilizing the supplemental water. Operations to supplement water to the area were suspended.
On May 7, 2024, BLM staff conducted a site visit and saw continued heavy use at the Fenner Spring area and noticed the spring was not producing the amount of water needed for the current population of burros. Fenner Spring is the only perennial water source in the Piute Mountains and is currently unable to support a growing population of burros and wildlife which depend on it for their survival. A single wild burro may drink between 5-10 gallons of water daily. To support the known population of burros in the area, a minimum of 190 gallons of water would be required daily.
On May 9, 2024, water was placed in a temporary 700-gallon water trough to provide wild burros and wildlife alternative water sources and reduce the impact on Fenner Spring.
The Piute Mountain Herd Area is not managed as a herd management area due to the recovery of the desert tortoise and cultural and bighorn sheep concerns. The BLM does not actively manage for populations of wild horses and burros in herd areas. The Northern and Eastern Colorado Desert Coordinated Management Plan (2002) amending the California Desert Conservation Area (CDCA) Plan (1980) addressed the Piute Mountain Herd Area and did not change the management objectives from the CDCA Plan.
- Daily Gather Reports
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Friday, June 28
Animals Gathered: 3 (1 Jack, 1 Jenny and 1 Foal)
Animals Shipped: 3 (1 Jack, 1 Jenny and 1 Foal)
Animals Treated with Fertility Control: (0 Stallions, 0 Mares, 0 Jacks, 0 Jennies)
- PZP: 0 (0 Mares, 0 Jennies)
- PZP-22: 0 (0 Mares, 0 Jennies)
- GonaCon: 0 (0 Mares, 0 Jennies)
- IUD: 0 (0 Mares, 0 Jennies)
- Sterilizations: 0 (0 Stallions, 0 Mares, 0 Jacks, 0 Jennies)
- Other: 0 (0 Stallions, 0 Mares, 0 Jacks, 0 Jennies)Animals Released: 0 (0 Stallions, 0 Mares, and 0 Foals) 0 (0 Jacks, 0 Jennies and 0 Foals)
Deaths: 0
- Sudden / Acute: 0
- Pre-existing / Chronic: 0
Wednesday, June 26
Animals Gathered: 8 (1 Jack, 5 Jennies and 2 Foals)
Animals Shipped: 8 (1 Jack, 5 Jennies and 2 Foals)
Animals Treated with Fertility Control: (0 Stallions, 0 Mares, 0 Jacks, 0 Jennies)
- PZP: 0 (0 Mares, 0 Jennies)
- PZP-22: 0 (0 Mares, 0 Jennies)
- GonaCon: 0 (0 Mares, 0 Jennies)
- IUD: 0 (0 Mares, 0 Jennies)
- Sterilizations: 0 (0 Stallions, 0 Mares, 0 Jacks, 0 Jennies)
- Other: 0 (0 Stallions, 0 Mares, 0 Jacks, 0 Jennies)Animals Released: 0 (0 Stallions, 0 Mares, and 0 Foals) 0 (0 Jacks, 0 Jennies and 0 Foals)
Deaths: 1
- Sudden / Acute: 0
- Pre-existing / Chronic: 1
Thursday, June 13
Animals Gathered: 5 (2 Jacks, 3 Jennies and 0 Foals)
Animals Shipped: 5 (2 Jacks, 3 Jennies and 0 Foals)
Animals Treated with Fertility Control: (0 Stallions, 0 Mares, 0 Jacks, 0 Jennies)
- PZP: 0 (0 Mares, 0 Jennies)
- PZP-22: 0 (0 Mares, 0 Jennies)
- GonaCon: 0 (0 Mares, 0 Jennies)
- IUD: 0 (0 Mares, 0 Jennies)
- Sterilizations: 0 (0 Stallions, 0 Mares, 0 Jacks, 0 Jennies)
- Other: 0 (0 Stallions, 0 Mares, 0 Jacks, 0 Jennies)Animals Released: 0 (0 Stallions, 0 Mares, and 0 Foals) 0 (0 Jacks, 0 Jennies and 0 Foals)
Deaths: 0
- Sudden / Acute: 0
- Pre-existing / Chronic: 0
Wednesday, June 12
Animals Gathered: 8 (4 Jacks, 4 Jennies and 0 Foals)
Animals Shipped: 8 (4 Jacks, 4 Jennies and 0 Foals)
Animals Treated with Fertility Control: (0 Stallions, 0 Mares, 0 Jacks, 0 Jennies)
- PZP: 0 (0 Mares, 0 Jennies)
- PZP-22: 0 (0 Mares, 0 Jennies)
- GonaCon: 0 (0 Mares, 0 Jennies)
- IUD: 0 (0 Mares, 0 Jennies)
- Sterilizations: 0 (0 Stallions, 0 Mares, 0 Jacks, 0 Jennies)
- Other: 0 (0 Stallions, 0 Mares, 0 Jacks, 0 Jennies)Animals Released: 0 (0 Stallions, 0 Mares, and 0 Foals) 0 (0 Jacks, 0 Jennies and 0 Foals)
Deaths: 0
- Sudden / Acute: 0
- Pre-existing / Chronic: 0
Friday, June 7
Animals Gathered: 4 (4 Jacks, 0 Jennies and 0 Foals)
Animals Shipped: 4 (4 Jacks, 0 Jennies and 0 Foals)
Animals Treated with Fertility Control: (0 Stallions, 0 Mares, 0 Jacks, 0 Jennies)
- PZP: 0 (0 Mares, 0 Jennies)
- PZP-22: 0 (0 Mares, 0 Jennies)
- GonaCon: 0 (0 Mares, 0 Jennies)
- IUD: 0 (0 Mares, 0 Jennies)
- Sterilizations: 0 (0 Stallions, 0 Mares, 0 Jacks, 0 Jennies)
- Other: 0 (0 Stallions, 0 Mares, 0 Jacks, 0 Jennies)Animals Released: 0 (0 Stallions, 0 Mares, and 0 Foals) 0 (0 Jacks, 0 Jennies and 0 Foals)
Deaths: 0
- Sudden / Acute: 0
- Pre-existing / Chronic: 0
Thursday, June 6
Animals Gathered: 11 (10 Jacks, 1 Jenny and 0 Foals)
Animals Shipped: 11 (10 Jacks, 1 Jenny and 0 Foals)
Animals Treated with Fertility Control: (0 Stallions, 0 Mares, 0 Jacks, 0 Jennies)
- PZP: 0 (0 Mares, 0 Jennies)
- PZP-22: 0 (0 Mares, 0 Jennies)
- GonaCon: 0 (0 Mares, 0 Jennies)
- IUD: 0 (0 Mares, 0 Jennies)
- Sterilizations: 0 (0 Stallions, 0 Mares, 0 Jacks, 0 Jennies)
- Other: 0 (0 Stallions, 0 Mares, 0 Jacks, 0 Jennies)Animals Released: 0 (0 Stallions, 0 Mares, and 0 Foals) 0 (0 Jacks, 0 Jennies and 0 Foals)
Deaths: 0
- Sudden / Acute: 0
- Pre-existing / Chronic: 0
Friday, May 31
Animals Gathered: 5 (5 Jacks, 0 Jennies and 0 Foals)
Animals Shipped: 5 (5 Jacks, 0 Jennies and 0 Foals)
Animals Treated with Fertility Control: (0 Stallions, 0 Mares, 0 Jacks, 0 Jennies)
- PZP: 0 (0 Mares, 0 Jennies)
- PZP-22: 0 (0 Mares, 0 Jennies)
- GonaCon: 0 (0 Mares, 0 Jennies)
- IUD: 0 (0 Mares, 0 Jennies)
- Sterilizations: 0 (0 Stallions, 0 Mares, 0 Jacks, 0 Jennies)
- Other: 0 (0 Stallions, 0 Mares, 0 Jacks, 0 Jennies)Animals Released: 0 (0 Stallions, 0 Mares, and 0 Foals) 0 (0 Jacks, 0 Jennies and 0 Foals)
Deaths: 0
- Sudden / Acute: 0
- Pre-existing / Chronic: 0
Gather Status
This gather began on Friday, May 31, 2024
As of 6/28/2024
Animals Gathered: 44
44 Wild Burros (27 Jacks, 14 Jennies and 3 Foals)
0 Wild Horses (0 Stallions, 0 Mares, and 0 Foals)
Animals Shipped: 44
44 Wild Burros (27 Jacks, 14 Jennies and 3 Foals)
0 Wild Horses (0 Stallions, 0 Mares, and 0 Foals)
Animals Treated with Fertility Control: 0
0 Wild Horses (0 Stallions, 0 Mares, and 0 Foals)
0 Wild Burros (0 Jacks, 0 Jennies, and 0 Foals)
PZP: 0 (0 Mares, 0 Jennies)
PZP-22: 0 (0 Mares, 0 Jennies)
GonaCon: 0 (0 Mares, 0 Jennies)
IUD: 0 (0 Mares, 0 Jennies)
Sterilizations: 0 (0 Stallions, 0 Mares, 0 Jacks, 0 Jennies)
Other: 0 (0 Stallions, 0 Mares, 0 Jacks, 0 Jennies)
Animals Released:
0 Wild Horses (0 Stallions, 0 Mares, and 0 Foals)
0 Wild Burros (0 Jacks, 0 Jennies, and 0 Foals)
Deaths: 1
-Sudden / Acute: 0
-Pre-existing / Chronic: 1
Scroll to the bottom of this gather page for detailed “Daily Gather Reports"