Wild burros being removed from Route 160 in Pahrump Valley
Burros in the northern Pahrump Valley are being gathered and moved to prevent roadside hazards along state Route 160, according to the Bureau of Land Management.
About 30 to 40 burros will be corralled on private land where they’ve been causing property damage, drawn there by hay and water. At least five burros were killed or euthanized because of vehicle collisions since October 2010, according to the BLM.
Depending on the burros’ movements in the area, gather corrals will remain in place for up to several months. “We are waiting for them to walk in and close the gate,” said BLM spokeswoman Kristen Cannon.
The burros have been seen near the Johnnie Herd Management Area and are being relocated because “they pose a safety hazard,” the BLM said in a prepared statement. Since November, six people have complained to the BLM about issues with wild burros in the Pahrump Valley.
No injuries or fatalities related to these incidents have been reported, the BLM said.
“These particular burros … have lost their normal wild characteristics and have become public safety hazards and are causing issues on private land,” wild horse and burro specialist Krystal Johnson said.
Burro-related vehicle accidents and private land owner issues usually increase as the weather cools off, making the gathering timely, the BLM said.
The burros caught will be available for adoption.
Contact Kimberly De La Cruz at kdelacruz@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0381. Find her on Twitter: @KimberlyinLV.