2024 Marietta Wild Burro Gather
Purpose of Gather:
The purpose of the gather is due to extremely limited food sources, safety to wild burros, and undue or unnecessary degradation of the public lands associated with excess wild burros, and to restore a thriving natural ecological balance and multiple-use relationship on public lands, consistent with the provisions of Section 1333(b) of the 1971 Wild Free-Roaming Horses/burros and Burros Act.
Details of Gather:
The Carson City District, Stillwater Field Office concluded a wild burro gather on August 24 on the Marietta Herd Management Area (HMA) located about 45 miles south of Hawthorne in Mineral County, Nevada. In addition, gather operations will take place in areas outside the HMA where wild burros have moved in search of food. The action is needed due to lack of food for the health of the wild burros and safety issues from burros being hit on roadways.
The BLM will conduct gather operations using helicopters. The BLM plans to gather 290 wild burros and 31 wild horses, remove approximately 290 excess wild burros and 31 wild horses. Once gather operations are completed, approximately 97 wild burros will remain in the HMA. The gather is expected to last approximately 10-14 days.
Public Observation:
Members of the public are welcome to view the gather operations, provided that doing so does not jeopardize the safety of the animals, staff and observers, or disrupt gather operations. The BLM will escort the public to gather observation sites located on public lands. Once gather operations have begun, those wanting to view gather operations must call the gather hotline nightly by 5:30 p.m. PST at (775) 885-6101 to receive specific instructions on each days’ meeting location and time.
Adoption Information:
All burros identified for removal will be transported to the Axtell Off-Range Corrals, located in Axtell, Utah. All horses identified for removal will be transported to the Palomino Valley Off-Range Corrals, located in Reno, NV. Upon arrival to the facility, all animals will be checked by a veterinarian and readied for the BLM’s wild horse and burro Adoption and Sales Program.
Background:
The Marietta Herd Management Area which encompasses 66,045 acres of public and private lands and has an Appropriate Management Level of 78-104 burros and 0 wild horses. Based on the helicopter survey conducted on April 2 & 3, 2024, documented 387 burros and 31 wild horses within and directly outside the management area – nearly five-times above the high end of the established management level.
- Daily Gather Reports
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Saturday, August 24
Summary: Operations concluded today.
Animals Gathered: 0 (0 Stallions, 0 Mares, and 0 Foals) 0 (0 Jacks, 0 Jennies and 0 Foals)
Animals Shipped: 0 (0 Stallions, 0 Mares, and 0 Foals) 44 (44 Jacks, 0 Jennies and 0 Foals)
Animals Treated with Fertility Control: (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, August 23
Summary: Operations continued under sunny skies and temperatures 55 to 84 degrees.
Animals Gathered: 0 (0 Stallions, 0 Mares, and 0 Foals) 0 (0 Jacks, 0 Jennies and 0 Foals)
Animals Shipped: 0 (0 Stallions, 0 Mares, and 0 Foals) 124 (66 Jacks, 37 Jennies and 21 Foals)
Animals Treated with Fertility Control: (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, August 22
Summary: Gather operations continued under sunny skies and temperatures 50 to 90 degrees.
Animals Gathered: 0 (0 Stallions, 0 Mares, and 0 Foals) 87 (27 Jacks, 38 Jennies and 22 Foals)
Animals Shipped: 0 (0 Stallions, 0 Mares, and 0 Foals) 128 (0 Jacks, 84 Jennies and 44 Foals)
Animals Treated with Fertility Control: (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, August 21
Summary: Gather operations continued under sunny skies and temperatures 50 to 90 degrees.
Animals Gathered: 0 (0 Stallions, 0 Mares, and 0 Foals) 210 (84 Jacks, 83 Jennies and 43 Foals)
Animals Shipped: 21 (5 Stallions, 11 Mares, and 5 Foals) 0 (0 Jacks, 0 Jennies and 0 Foals)
Animals Treated with Fertility Control: (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
13-year-old, Gray stallion humanely euthanized due to severe lameness -- right front leg.
Tuesday, August 20
Summary: Gather operations began under sunny skies and temperatures 48 to 85 degrees.
Animals Gathered: 25 (6 Stallions, 14 Mares, and 5 Foals) 0 (0 Jacks, 0 Jennies and 0 Foals)
Animals Shipped: 0 (0 Stallions, 0 Mares, and 0 Foals) 0 (0 Jacks, 0 Jennies and 0 Foals)
Animals Treated with Fertility Control: (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: 3
- Sudden / Acute: 0
- Pre-existing / Chronic: 3
20-plus-year-old, Bay mare humanely euthanized due to poor body condition (BCS 1) with a poor chance of recovery.
18-year-old, Bay mare humanely euthanized due to poor body condition (BCS 1) with a poor chance of recovery.
15-year-old, Bay mare humanely euthanized due to poor body condition (BCS 1) with a poor chance of recovery.
Gather Status
Gather concluded on August 24
Animals Gathered: 321
25 Wild Horses (6 Stallions, 14 Mares, and 5 Foals)
296 Wild Burros (110 Jacks, 121 Jennies, and 65 Foals)
Animals Shipped: 317
21 Wild Horses (5 Stallions, 11 Mares, and 5 Foals)
296 Wild Burros (110 Jacks, 121 Jennies, and 65 Foals)
Animals Treated with Fertility Control: 0
Animals Released:
0 Wild Horses (0 Stallions, 0 Mares, and 0 Foals)
0 Wild Burros (0 Jacks, 0 Jennies, and 0 Foals)
Deaths: 4
-Sudden / Acute: 0
-Pre-existing / Chronic: 4
Scroll to the bottom of this gather page for detailed “Daily Gather Reports"