On or around Tuesday, October 7, the Bureau of Land Management will start an emergency wild burro gather in and around the Bullfrog Herd Management Area in Nye County, located near Beatty.
The operation aims to address overpopulation issues and reduce risks to public safety and private property.
Approximately 250 excess wild burros will be gathered by baiting and trapping using temporary corrals stocked with water and hay. The BLM confirmed no helicopters will be used.
According to the agency, the Bullfrog Herd Management Area covers 157,180 acres of public and private land. The appropriate management level for wild burros in the area ranges from 58 to 91 animals. Following an aerial survey in April 2024 and calculations for population growth, the BLM estimates the current wild burro population to be about 1,197.
The gathering will focus on areas along Highway 95 and adjacent private properties, where wild burros have increasingly moved in, creating safety hazards. The action aligns with Section 1333(b) of the 1971 Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act.
"The BLM’s priority is to conduct a safe and efficient emergency wild burro gather exercising humane care and treatment for each animal," the agency stated.
Gather operations will be conducted by essential personnel only, as burros tend to avoid trap sites when there is too much activity. The BLM said it and its contractors will follow the best available science and handling practices under its Comprehensive Animal Welfare Program.
Once gathered, the wild burros will be transported to the Axtell Off-Range Corral in Axtell, Utah. There, veterinarians will check the animals before they are prepared for adoption or sale through the BLM’s Wild Horse and Burro Adoption and Sale Program.
Planning documents related to the gathering are available at the BLM National NEPA Register.
Details on adopting or purchasing a wild horse or burro are available at www.blm.gov/whb.
