8/12/2008 10:23:00 AM Bureau gathers dozens of burros north of Lake Havasu City
Special to the Review
More than 70 wild burros were gathered from along the Colorado River north of Lake Havasu City recently 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 roundup 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, Calif., 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: Kingman at the Mohave County Fair, Sept. 12-14; Camp Verde, Oct. 10-12; Apache Junction, Feb. 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:
