2021 Outside Cibola-Trigo HMA Wild Burro Gather (Cibola National Wildlife Refuge)
Purpose of Gather:
The purpose of this gather is to remove nuisance burros that are damaging wildlife refuge and private property and creating a public safety hazard for motorists along roadways. The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has received complaints of natural resource loss, infrastructure damage and destruction, and concerns about human health and safety by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in the Cibola National Wildlife Refuge and adjacent private property owners.
Details of Gather:
The BLM plans to remove 200 nuisance burros from the Cibola National Wildlife Refuge including adjacent private land outside the Cibola-Trigo Herd Management Area (HMA) in 2021, via bait trapping, water trapping, or both. A contractor and BLM staff will set temporary traps on refuge and private lands, and will remove the panels, hay and manure once the trapping is complete. For the purpose of this gather no burros will be treated with fertility control. All trapping operations will be overseen by the Yuma Field Office.
Public Observation:
There will be no public viewing opportunities for this gather due to the nature of the gather.
Adoption Information:
Animals removed from outside the Cibola-Trigo HMA will be made available for adoption at the Florence Wild Horse and Burro Training and Off-Range Corral in Florence, Arizona, through the Wild Horse and Burro Adoption Program. Those that are not adopted will be cared for in off-range pastures, where they retain their “wild” status and protection under the 1971 Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burro Act.
Background:
The Cibola-Trigo HMA is in southwestern Arizona, north of Yuma. The area parallels the eastern shoreline of the Colorado River for approximately 60 miles from Yuma to Ehrenberg. The estimated population for this HMA as of March 2020 is approximately 616 wild burros and 275 wild horses based on various analytical population count data and reports. The Appropriate Management Level (AML) for the HMA is 165 burros and 150 horses.
- Daily Gather Reports
July 4, 2021
16 burros (7 males and 9 females)July 5, 2021
13 burros (8 males and 5 females)July 6, 2021
24 burros (18 males and 6 females)July 7, 2021
50 burros (22 males,19 females, and 9 foals)July 8, 2021
6 burros (1 male and 5 females)July 9, 2021
22 burros (2 males, 13 females, and 7 foals)July 10, 2021
7 burros (4 males, 2 females, 1 foal)July 11, 2021
0 burrosJuly 12, 2021
48 burros (22 males, 19 females, 7 foals)July 13, 2021
6 burros (2 males and 4 females)July 14, 2021
0 burrosJuly 15, 2021
36 burros (3 males, 28 females, 5 foals)
Gather Status
Total Gathered: 230
Animals Removed Cumulative Total (#): 230
Total Deaths Cumulative (#): 1
- Acute (#): 0
- Chronic/Pre-existing (#): 1
List animal’s age, color, gender and cause(s) of death:
- Undetermined age, male, light grey. Pre-existing leg issues. Predominant front right leg. Extreme bowing towards left front leg. Other legs showed same issues. Could put light weight, however, leg would bend unnaturally. Body score of 2.
Facility Destination: Florence facility
July 8: Shipped 66 burros to Florence.
July 9: Shipped 66 burros to Florence.
July 13: Shipped 61 burros to Florence.
July 15: Shipped 36 burros to Florence.
Total Released Cumulative (#): 0
Scroll to the bottom of this gather page for detailed “Daily Gather Reports"