Arizona
Over 70 wild burros were gathered from along the Colorado River north of
Lake Havasu City this week by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Colorado River District. In recent years the population of burros in the area has increased as well as traffic accidents as the burros roam the area near
State Highway 95 south of Interstate 40.
On Monday, July 21, BLM-contracted crew of several wranglers on horseback
and a helicopter worked with BLM wild horse and burro specialists to round
up burros. Among the burros gathered were 44 from the Blankenship Wash
area between the River and Highway 95. On Wednesday, the crew moved to the backcountry area south of Interstate 40 near the Arizona port of entry,
where an additional 31 burros were gathered.
To ensure that herd sizes are in balance with other public rangeland
resources and uses, BLM performs gathers on herd management areas, to
remove wild horses and burros where the public lands can no longer keep the
populations healthy or if public safety is in danger. The gather in Lake
Havasu City was from an area over populated with burros at the Havasu
National Wildlife Refuge, and presented danger to vehicle traffic along the
highway.
The “Havasu Burros” were taken to the BLM Wild Horse and Burro facility in
Ridgecrest, California, where they will be given equine testing and
vaccinations by veterinarians, and other preparations, and then they will
be offered for adoption to citizens.
BLM manages the nation’s public lands for multiple uses, in accordance with
the 1976 Federal Land Policy and Management Act. The Bureau manages wild
horses and burros as part of this multiple-use mandate. Under the
authority of the 1971 Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act (as amended
by Congress in 1976, 1978, and 2004), BLM manages, protects, and controls
wild horses and burros. This law authorizes the BLM to remove excess wild
horses and burros from the range to sustain the health and productivity of
the public lands.
BLM has six adoption events scheduled in Arizona where individuals may
adopt a wild horse or burro. These events will take place in: Show Low,
August 8-10; Kingman at the Mohave County Fair, September 12-14; Camp
Verde, October 10-12; Apache Junction, February 2009; Yuma, March 2009; and Tucson, April 2009. For more information about the adoption program call toll-free: 1-866-4MUSTANGS (1-866-468-7826), or visit the BLM website: www.blm.gov
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