2020 Selenite Wild Burro Gather

Purpose of Gather:

The purpose of the gather is to prevent safety concerns regarding motorists on Highway 447 as wild burros have been documented on the highway and adjacent private lands consistent with the provisions of Section 1333(b) of the 1971 Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act.

The BLM last conducted a gather of wild burros from the Selenite Range HA in June 2019; at that time, the BLM removed 56 burros. This current gather is classified as a gate cut removal targeting 200 wild burros. The work area is located in Pershing County in northwest Nevada, southeast of Gerlach. The gather includes helicopter-drive trapping/roping, capture, and transportation of wild horses and burros from trap sites to a central temporary holding facility. 

The Selenite Range HA is not managed for wild horse or burro populations as it does not meet the criteria for vegetation or water. By returning the HA to zero wild burros the extremely limited water sources and sparse vegetation progress toward achieving land health standards.

Selenite HA encompasses over 125,300 acres of public and private lands and is not managed for wild burros (AML: 0). Based on the ground observations, approximately 200 wild burros are within the HA. These population estimates do include the 2020 foal crop.

Details of Gather:

The gather will begin on or about November 29, 2020 and will be conducted by drive-trap method. The BLM plans to gather and remove approximately 200 wild burros.

The burros will be transported to Palomino Valley Off Range Corrals, in Reno, NV. Once animals arrive at the holding facilities, they will be checked by a veterinarian and prepared for the BLM’s adoption and sale program or long-term pastures or sanctuaries.

Public Observation:

Members of the public are welcome to view the gather operations, provided that doing so does not jeopardize the safety of the animals, staff and observers, or disrupt gather operations. The BLM will escort the public to gather observation sites located on public lands. Please RSVP by Nov. 25 by emailing hohanlon@blm.gov. 

Once gather operations have begun, those wanting to view gather operations must call the gather hotline nightly at (775) 861-6700 to receive specific instructions on each days’ meeting location and time.

Adoption Information:

For information on how to adopt or purchase a wild horse or burro, visit www.blm.gov/whb.