2019 Seven Troughs Wild Burro Gather

The gather began on Tuesday, June 4 and concluded on Tuesday, July 2; the numbers posted are as close of business on Tuesday, July 2. 

 

Wild Burros from the Seven Troughs HMA near Porter Springs

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Winnemucca District (WDO), Humboldt River Field Office (HRFO) will conduct an in-house, wild burro gather to remove excess wild burros from in and around the Seven Troughs Herd Management Area beginning on or about June 2, 2019.  The purpose of the gather is to reduce impacts to sage-grouse habitat, competition of water resources, and public safety issues such as vehicle collisions associated to an over-population of burros. 

Details of Gather

The Bureau of Land Management, Winnemucca District (WDO), Humboldt River Field Office will begin gather operations on or about June 1, 2019 and is expected to last approximately 45-days. The gather will be conducted by BLM staff using a bait and water trap method; no contracted helicopters will be used. The BLM plans to gather and remove up to 200 excess wild burros. 

Public Observation

The BLM’s priority is to conduct safe, efficient, and successful wild burro gather operations while ensuring humane care and treatment of all animals. The BLM will use the best available science and handling practices for wild burros while meeting the overall gather goals and objectives in accordance with its Comprehensive Animal Welfare Policy. Because animals are reluctant to approach the trap site when there is too much activity, only essential gather operation personnel will be allowed at the trap site during gather operations.

Adoption Information

Wild burros identified for removal will be transported to the Palomino Valley Center in Reno, Nev., where they will be checked by a veterinarian and prepared for the BLM’s Wild Horse and Burro Adoption and Sale Program. For information on how to bring home a wild horse or burro, visit www.blm.gov/whb

Background

The population of wild burros in the area was estimated at 240 animals as of February 2019 – more than five times above the target population of 28-46 animals. Due to limited forage and water within the Seven Troughs herd management area, excess wild burros are now leaving public rangelands and crossing roadways in search of resources. Vehicle collisions with wild burros have occurred on Highway 399 and burros have been spotted on Highway 447 south of Empire, Nev. as well as within the town of Empire. Resource damage around the Porter Springs Recreation Management Area has also been attributed to the overpopulation of wild burros.

The Seven Troughs HMA is located in western Pershing County, approximately 75 miles northeast of Reno, Nevada, and is administered by the BLM Winnemucca District, Humboldt River Field Office. The HMA contains approximately 148,884 acres of unfenced public and private lands. The terrain in the area consists of north-south trending mountains separated by broad valleys. Elevations within the HMA range from 4,100 feet along the valley floor to 7,782. Burros within the HMA are the descendants of pack animals used by miners and sheep ranchers. The majority of the burros exhibit a gray color pattern, however pinto burros are also found in the area.

 

Gather Reports

Tuesday, July 2

Summary: 

Gather operations concluded today under partly sunny skies and temperatures in the upper 80s with light winds and gusts.

Animals gathered: 0 (0 Jacks, 0 Jennies, 0 Foals)

Animals shipped: 0 (0 Jacks, 0 Jennies, 0 Foals)

Total Deaths Today: 0

   Acute: 0

   Chronic/Pre-existing: 0


Monday, July 1

Summary: 

Gather operations continued under partly sunny skies and temperatures in the mid 80s with light winds.

Animals gathered: 0 (0 Jacks, 0 Jennies, 0 Foals)

Animals shipped: 0 (0 Jacks, 0 Jennies, 0 Foals)

Total Deaths Today: 0

   Acute: 0

   Chronic/Pre-existing: 0


Sunday, June 30

Summary: 

Gather operations continued under partly sunny skies and temperatures in the mid 80s with light winds.

Animals gathered: 0 (0 Jacks, 0 Jennies, 0 Foals)

Animals shipped: 8 (8 Jacks, 0 Jennies, 0 Foals)

Total Deaths Today: 0

   Acute: 0

   Chronic/Pre-existing: 0


Saturday, June 29

Summary: 

Gather operations continued under partly cloudy skies and temperatures in the mid 80s with light winds.

Animals gathered: 13 (11 Jacks, 1 Jennies, 1 Foals)

Animals shipped: 5 (3 Jacks, 1 Jennies, 1 Foals)

Total Deaths Today: 0

   Acute: 0

   Chronic/Pre-existing: 0


Friday, June 28

Summary: 

Gather operations continued under cloudy skies and temperatures in the mid 70s with light winds.

Animals gathered: 6 (6 Jacks, 0 Jennies, 0 Foals)

Animals shipped: 6 (6 Jacks, 0 Jennies, 0 Foals)

Total Deaths Today: 0

   Acute: 0

   Chronic/Pre-existing: 0


Thursday, June 27

Summary: 

Gather operations continued under partly cloudy skies and temperatures in the mid 70s.

Animals gathered: 15 (13 Jacks, 2 Jennies, 0 Foals)

Animals shipped: 15 (13 Jacks, 2 Jennies, 0 Foals)

Total Deaths Today: 0

   Acute: 0

   Chronic/Pre-existing: 0


Wednesday, June 26

Summary: 

Gather operations continued under partly cloudy skies, temperatures in the low 80s and 20-30 mph winds with strong gusts.

Animals gathered: 2 (2 Jacks, 0 Jennies, 0 Foals)

Animals shipped: 3 (3 Jacks, 0 Jennies, 0 Foals)

Total Deaths Today: 0

   Acute: 0

   Chronic/Pre-existing: 0


Tuesday, June 25

Summary: 

Gather operations resumed under partly cloudy skies, temperatures in the middle 80s and moderate to strong winds.

Animals gathered: 1 (1 Jacks, 0 Jennies, 0 Foals)

Animals shipped: 0 (0 Jacks, 0 Jennies, 0 Foals)

Total Deaths Today: 0

   Acute: 0

   Chronic/Pre-existing: 0


Friday, June 21

Summary: 

Gather operations continued  under sunny skies, temperatures in the upper 80s and strong winds.

Animals gathered: 4 (3 Jacks, 1 Jennies, 0 Foals)

Animals shipped: 4 (3 Jacks, 1 Jennies, 0 Foals)

Total Deaths Today: 0

   Acute: 0

   Chronic/Pre-existing: 0


Thursday, June 20

Summary: 

Gather operations continued  under sunny skies, temperatures in the upper 80s and strong winds.

Animals gathered: 13 (9 Jacks, 4 Jennies, 0 Foals)

Animals shipped: 23 (19 Jacks, 4 Jennies, 0 Foals)

Total Deaths Today: 0

   Acute: 0

   Chronic/Pre-existing: 0


Wednesday, June 19

Summary: 

Gather operations continued  under sunny skies, temperatures in the upper 80s and moderate winds with strong gusts.

Animals gathered: 10 (10 Jacks, 0 Jennies, 0 Foals)

Animals shipped: 20 (14 Jacks, 5 Jennies, 1 Foals)

Total Deaths Today: 0

   Acute: 0

   Chronic/Pre-existing: 0


Tuesday, June 18

Summary: 

Gather operations resumed under sunny skies, temperatures in the low 90s and light winds.

Animals gathered: 20 (14 Jacks, 5 Jennies, 1 Foals)

Animals shipped: 0 (0 Jacks, 0 Jennies, 0 Foals)

Total Deaths Today: 0

   Acute: 0

   Chronic/Pre-existing: 0


Friday, June 14

Summary: 

Gather operations are on hold and will resume on Tuesday, June 18th.

Animals gathered: 0 (0 Jacks, 0 Jennies, 0 Foals)

Animals shipped: 3 (1 Jacks, 2 Jennies, 0 Foals)

Total Deaths Today: 0

   Acute: 0

   Chronic/Pre-existing: 0


Thursday, June 13

Summary: Hot, sunny with highs reaching the 90s; afternoon thunderstorms with light rain at Porter Springs. BCS of burros averaged 4-5.

Animals gathered: 3 (1 Jacks, 2 Jennies, 0 Foals)

Animals shipped: 10 (8 Jacks, 2 Jennies, 0 Foals)

Total Deaths Today: 0

   Acute: 0

   Chronic/Pre-existing: 0


Wednesday, June 12

Summary: Cloudy and cool high in the low 80s and low in the 50s; BCS of the burros averaged 4

Animals gathered: 10 (8 Jacks, 2 Jennies, 0 Foals)

Animals shipped: 7 (7 Jacks, 0 Jennies, 0 Foals)

Total Deaths Today: 0

   Acute: 0

   Chronic/Pre-existing: 0


Tuesday, June 11

Summary: Sunny high of 96 with a low of 50; BCS of the burros averaged 4-5

Animals gathered: 7 (7 Jacks, 0 Jennies, 0 Foals)

Animals shipped: 0 (0 Jacks, 0 Jennies, 0 Foals)

Total Deaths Today: 0

   Acute: 0

   Chronic/Pre-existing: 0


Monday, June 10

Summary: There was no gather activities, only shipping

Animals gathered: 0 (0 Jacks, 0 Jennies, 0 Foals)

Animals shipped: 10 (10 Jacks, 0 Jennies, 0 Foals)

Total Deaths Today: 0

   Acute: 0

   Chronic/Pre-existing: 0


Sunday, June 9

Summary: Sunny high mid-70s low of mid-40s; BCS of the burros averaged 4

Animals gathered: 22 (22 Jacks, 0 Jennies, 0 Foals)

Animals shipped: 12 (12 Jacks, 0 Jennies, 0 Foals)

Total Deaths Today: 0

   Acute: 0

   Chronic/Pre-existing: 0


Saturday, June 8

Summary: Sunny high of 70 low of 45; BCS of the burros averaged 4

Animals gathered: 5 (5 Jacks, 0 Jennies, 0 Foals)

Animals shipped: 5 (5 Jacks, 0 Jennies, 0 Foals)

Total Deaths Today: 0

   Acute: 0

   Chronic/Pre-existing: 0


Friday, June 7

Summary: There were no gather operations today

Animals gathered: 0 

Animals shipped: 0

Total Deaths Today: 0

   Acute: 0

   Chronic/Pre-existing: 0


Thursday, June 6

Summary: There were no gather operations today

Animals gathered: 0 

Animals shipped: 0

Total Deaths Today: 0

   Acute: 0

   Chronic/Pre-existing: 0


Wednesday, June 5

Summary: Sunny with a high of 88 and low 60; BCS of the burros averaged 4

Animals gathered: 3 (1 Jack, 2 Jennies, 0 Foals)

Animals shipped: 3 (1 Jack, 2 Jennies, 0 Foals)

Total Deaths Today: 0

   Acute: 0

   Chronic/Pre-existing: 0


Tuesday, June 4

Summary: Sunny with a high of 85 and low 55; BCS of the burros averaged 4-5

Animals gathered: 54 (15 Jacks, 37 Jennies, 2 Foals)

Animals shipped: 53 (15 Jacks, 36 Jennies, 2 Foals)

Total Deaths Today: 1

   Acute: 1 -  Eight-year old grey jenny, BCS 3, broken neck

   Chronic/Pre-existing: 0