November 22, 2006

Contact:  Kirsten Cannon                                             (702) 515-5057

Nuisance Burros to be Removed from Private Property

            Las Vegas - The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Las Vegas Field Office is planning to remove between 20 and 40 wild burros from private property early next week to address safety concerns for the public and the burros.

            In the last two months, calls have increased about wild burros entering private property on the north end of Pahrump.  In the last two weeks, two wild burros died after being hit by vehicles on roads.

            A private homeowner has agreed to allow BLM and Nye County Animal Control to bait trap the burros (place feed in a corral and close the gate once the animals enter) that have encroached on his private property.  Once the trapping has been successful, BLM will remove the burros and take them to the closest long-term holding facility in Kingman, Arizona for adoption.

            When wild horses or burros leave public land that is designated as a Herd Management Area and linger on private lands, they are considered nuisance animals and may be removed by BLM and placed into the adoption program.

            The nuisance burros that will be removed are part of the Johnnie Herd Management Area which is managed as part of the Spring Mountains Herd Management Complex (SMHMC).  A preliminary environmental assessment on the SMHMC is currently available for public comment until December 7, 2006.         

The current population of burros in the Johnnie Herd Management Area is estimated at approximately 367 animals. 

For more information on the SMHMC’s preliminary environmental assessment, please visit http://www.nv.blm.gov/vegas/Environmental/Spring_Mountains/Spring_Mountains_EA.pdf Adoption applications can be found at www.wildhorseandburro.blm.gov or through the Las Vegas Field Office at 702-515-5000.

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