Phoenix District Office
| Contacts: | Pamela Mathis 602.402.7690 / 623.580.5500 | |||
| Rem Hawes: 623.580.5500 |
BLM Seeking Information on Wild Burros Killed
Reward of up to $6,000 Offered for Information Leading to Conviction
(PHOENIX, AZ. Thursday, March 15, 2012) — Federal law enforcement rangers today seek the public’s assistance in the investigation of wild burro shootings north of Phoenix, Arizona.
Rangers found on March 13, 2012, six dead burros. Five adult animals were shot, one foal died when the jenny (mother) was killed. The evidence collected indicates other animals may have been shot. The investigation is ongoing.
The incident occurred within the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) Lake Pleasant Herd Management Area, located northwest of Phoenix in Maricopa County and southern Yavapai County. “The BLM is actively working this crime scene and gathering evidence of this offensive act. We are committed to the protection and management of wild burros and horses, and take this kind of criminal violation seriously. This is why we are asking for the public’s assistance,” affirms Rem Hawes, manager of the BLM Hassayampa Field Office.
People who have any information may call: 1-800-637-9152. All calls are confidential and a reward of up to $6,000 is offered for information leading to a conviction. If convicted, the Wild Free Roaming Horse and Burro Act of 1971, as amended, allows that the perpetrator(s) may be subject to a fine of up to $2,000 and/or imprisonment for up to one year for each violation. The incident occurred within the last week on public lands north of the metro area. Wild burros and horses on public lands are protected by law under the Wild Free Roaming Horses and Burros Act of 1971.
The BLM manages more than 245 million acres of public land, the most of any Federal agency. This land, known as the National System of Public Lands, is primarily located in 12 Western states, including Alaska. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. In Fiscal Year (FY) 2011, recreational and other activities on BLM-managed land contributed more than $130 billion to the U.S. economy and supported more than 600,000 American jobs. The Bureau is also one of a handful of agencies that collects more revenue than it spends. In FY 2012, nearly $5.7 billion will be generated on lands managed by the BLM, which operates on a $1.1 billion budget. The BLM's multiple-use mission is to sustain the health and productivity of the public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations. The Bureau accomplishes this by managing such activities as outdoor recreation, livestock grazing, mineral development, and energy production, and by conserving natural, historical, cultural, and other resources on public lands.