2022 Piute Mountain Wild Burro Emergency Gather

The Bureau of Land Management’s Needles Field Office plans to begin the wild horse and burro gather on or about August 19, 2022.

Purpose of Gather:

BLM California Desert District, Needles Field Office is conducting an emergency bait-trap gather to capture and remove up to 60 excess wild burros within the Piute Mountain Herd Area due to lack of water. This herd area is not managed to support wild burros and a gather is necessary due to extreme temperatures and insufficient water availability at Fenner Spring, the sole water source in the area.

Details of Gather:

The BLM will conduct the gather using temporary water and bait traps consisting of a series of corral panels stocked with water.

Public Observation:

There is no public viewing to minimize disturbances to the animals and allow the BLM to safely perform gather operations. Only essential gather operation personnel are allowed at the trap site during operations.

Adoption Information:

Burros removed from the Piute Herd Area will be made available for adoption at the Ridgecrest Regional Wild Horse and Burro Holding and Adoption Facility through the Wild Horse and Burro Adoption / Sales Program.

More information on the availability of these burros can be obtained from the Ridgecrest Regional Wild Horse and Burro Holding and Adoption Facility at BLM_CA_RidgecrestCorrals@blm.gov or visit www.blm.gov/whb.

For information on how to adopt a burro, visit http://www.blm.gov/whb or contact the BLM at wildhorse@blm.gov or 866-468-7826.

Background:

On July 6, 2022, BLM staff conducted a field survey and counted 38 wild burros at Fenner Spring, the only perennial water source in the Piute Mountains. The spring is currently unable to support a growing population of burros and wildlife which depend on it for their survival. A burro may drink between 5-10 gallons of water daily. To support the known population of burros in the area, a minimum of 190 gallons of water would be required daily.
On July 11, 2022, BLM staff placed a temporary 700-gallon water trough to provide wild burros and wildlife alternative water sources and reduce the impact on Fenner Spring. The Needles Field Office staff is currently monitoring and filling the troughs.

On August 2, 2022, BLM staff reported wild burros were starting to reflect a poor body condition.
The Piute Mountain Herd Area is not managed as a herd management area due to the recovery of the desert tortoise and cultural and bighorn sheep concerns. The BLM does not actively manage for populations of wild horses and burros in herd areas. The Northern and Eastern Colorado Desert Coordinated Management Plan (2002) amending the California Desert Conservation Area (CDCA) Plan (1980) addressed the Piute Mountain HA and did not change the management objectives from the CDCA Plan.

Daily Gather Reports

Friday, September 30

Animals Gathered:  3 (2 Jacks, 1 Jenny)

Animals Shipped: 3 (2 Jacks, 1 Jenny)

Deaths: 0

- Sudden / Acute: 0