BATTLE MOUNTAIN, Nev. – In a bid to address the overpopulation of wild burros and associated risks, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) will commence a burro removal operation around April 1, 2026, in the Bullfrog Herd Management Area (HMA) near Beatty, Nye County, Nevada. The initiative aims to safeguard public safety and minimize damage to private property.
Targeting an excess of approximately 500 wild burros, the BLM plans to conduct the gather using temporary corrals baited with water and hay, abstaining from helicopter use. This method prioritizes reducing stress on the animals during the capture process.
Covering 157,180 acres of both public and private lands, the Bullfrog HMA is managed to support between 58 to 91 wild burros. However, by April 2024, the population was estimated at around 1,096 burros. An emergency operation in October previously removed 246 burros to manage the numbers.
The gather aims to curb the degradation of public lands due to the burro overpopulation and to restore ecological balance, aligning with Section 1333(b) of the 1971 Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act. The operation also seeks to enhance safety along U.S. Highway 95 and adjacent private properties.
Ensuring the humane treatment of the burros is a top priority for the BLM, which will employ the best available scientific and handling practices as outlined in the Comprehensive Animal Welfare Program.
Post-removal, the burros will be transferred to the Ridgecrest Regional Wild Horse and Burro Corrals in Trona, California. Here, they will undergo veterinary checks in preparation for the BLM’s Adoption and Sale Program.
The bait and water trap technique requires minimal disturbance to encourage the burros to approach the trap, hence only essential personnel will be present during the operations.
The BLM’s efforts are informed by the Environmental Assessment, DOI-BLM-NV-B020-2024-0046-EA, with related documents like the Decision Record and Determination of NEPA Adequacy available on the Bullfrog Herd Management Area ePlanning Site.
Updates and daily reports on the gather will be accessible on the 2026 Bullfrog HMA Gather webpage.
For further details, contact Aimee Bollinger, Battle Mountain District Wild Horse and Burro Specialist, at (775) 635-4187.
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