BY SARAH WOMER – SUN STAFF WRITER
“The intense heat and sun of the Arizona desert can be lethal”
Baby Wild Burros Captured and Imprisoned by the BLM ~ photo by Terry Fitch
The U.S. Bureau of Land Management began rounding up burros Wednesday to maintain a healthy population of wild burros on public lands, despite opposition from a congressional representative and animal experts.
The BLM’s Yuma Field Office launched what is being called the largest burro roundup of 2012 in hopes of collecting a target group of 350 burros from the Cibola-Trigo Herd Management Area north of Yuma. The roundup took place amid letters from Congressman Raul Grijalva, D-Ariz., in addition to an Arizona equine veterinarian and other experts, who were urging the BLM to postpone the operation until the fall because of the heat.
“I ask that the BLM postpone the Cibola-Trigo roundup at this time,” stated Grijalva in a letter to Ken Salazar, secretary of the U.S. Department of the Interior. “When the temperature surpasses 90 degrees Fahrenheit, roundups of wild horses and burros should be suspended. The intense heat and sun of the Arizona desert can be lethal. It can be equally hard on BLM staff, contractors and the viewing public.”
Michael D. Hutchison, a practicing equine veterinarian in Tucson, echoed Grijalva’s sentiments.
“As an established practicing southern Arizona equine veterinarian who serves on the board of the Arizona Coalition for Equines dedicated to abolishing animal cruelty, I am compelled to raise an objection to the round-up under these extreme weather conditions.”
BLM officials said they have revised their plan to round up the animals in temperatures as high as 105 degrees Fahrenheit and reduced it to a 95-degree maximum instead.
They also stated that all animals gathered will be examined and, if needed, treated by an on-site veterinarian.
Wednesday, the BLM gathered 62 burros in the local area, said Lori Cook with the BLM, noting that the number was their target for the day. “We finished the gather operations around 10:30 a.m. and the temperature was 87 degrees.”
Cook added that the burro roundup is not expected to last the expected two weeks as previously estimated. It is open to the public for viewing, she said, noting that they are meeting at 6:30 a.m. at Fisher’s Landing Store at Martinez Lake for the next week.
“All attendees must drive their own four-wheel-drive or high-clearance vehicle,” stated BLM officials. “Also, observers should dress in accordance with weather conditions and bring plenty of food and water.”
Click (HERE) to visit the Yuma Sun and to Comment
Related articles
- Experts Urge BLM to Halt Massive Arizona Burro Roundup in High Desert Heat (rtfitchauthor.com)
- No Baby Burros in Two Years? (wdneoh.wordpress.com)
Categories: Horse News, Wild Burros
Straight from the Horse's Heart 
I hope they will continue to stop early before temperatures reach a dangerous level.
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Where is there any common sense from BLM!!! Evidently they only care about their own egos. The major factor should be the safety of the animals. PLEASE cease these roundups!!
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What happens to the Burros after these creeps round them up?
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T- You asked what happens to these burros after they are rounded up?
BLM in their Cibalo-Trigo EA said there was a “high adoption demand for wild burros”. Does 20% sound like a high adoption rate to you?
Not too many HMAs even have burros but northern California’s Twin Peaks HMA does and per the BLM data (FOIA dated 11/10/2011) 162 burros were captured in September of 2010 and 13 months later, out of those captured:
20% were adopted.
9% died within the 13 months from pneumonia and other complications including 2 who died during foaling within a month of being captured (do you think that the trauma of the capture had anything to do with that?)
30% were still at the Litchfield holding facility (there is no long term holding “green pastures” for burros … they spend the remainder of their lives standing in a corral at a BLM holding facility – I have seen it myself)
32% were trucked around the country to other BLM holding facilities to stand around for the remainder of their lives.
One was released (“word” has it that he was too ornery to handle?)
One was sent to the Carson City prison and what do we think happened to that young burro?
And perhaps worst of all 9% were sold to an unknown and questionable buyer from Colorado (and I know what I think happened to those burros).
So when BLM published a legal document (the EA) that said that the burros had a “high adoption demand” … I personally know they were not telling the truth and they have no facts to back up their bogus “high adoption demand” statement… and now YOU know too. (FOIA data available upon request)
Bottom line is … their lives are over.
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Thank you grandma gregg for the truth and the documentation of the facts.
I have no delusion of happy endings.
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Yes, thanks Grandma Gregg. You have been keeping records and investigating for all of us!
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So, the average human can conclude from this article and BLMs behavior 2 things:
(1) they are there to remove the animals (no matter what) and clear that land at all costs AND “management” is not FOR the burros (or any wildlife there)….it is for the BLM and the special interests that rape the land for human profit. So they are not there for the welfare of the wildlife. and,
(2) 62 burros? And remove how many? Shorten the massacre? Hmmmm……….this proves the BLM does not do scientific census, can’t verify their very own specious EAs, population numbers and is essentially throwing inflated numbers around to keep the wild equine eating machine alive.
What will happen to them? They get adopted (almost given away) to some that think they are a great Southwestern bar-b-que maincourse.
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I’m afraid you hit it right on the head, Denise. This so-called management of our American wild horses and burros has been an absolute failure, at least when it comes to the welfare and protection of our wild ones. It’s obvious they’ve had an agenda…isn’t it sad their unwillingness to work with those who could be very instrumental in helping to eliminate so much suffering. We are destroying one of America’s greatest treasures and symbols of freedom. Allowing this to happen is beyond reasoning.
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jean,
This reminds me of all the US court cases (fed and state) that ignored or either sanctioned the human abuse called slavery prior to the Civil War (and we know how long it has taken those victims to attain any standing or justice in the states and courts…and we are still trying to right the wrongs in 2012).
Congress and the White House, with the courts are ignoring TRUTH and the mandate of the 1971 Act (among other injustices and putrefied laws via riders and amendments), to include the populist opinion on HCHS.
They are the problem and DOI/USDA know they have the green light.
Sad commentary on this so called DEMOCRACY and light of freedom for the world called the United States of America.
Lying sacks of special interest pieces of $hit.
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Denise said;
“Congress and the White House, with the courts are ignoring TRUTH and the mandate of the
1971 Act (among other injustices and putrefied laws via riders and amendments), to include the populist opinion on HCHS.
They are the problem and DOI/USDA know they have the green light.”
Totally agree Denise!! Couldn’t have said it better. We have a law that sits on the back burner while the amendments make the policy and break the law. How twisted!
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The Honorable Kenneth L. Salazar
Secretary of the Interior
U.S. Department of the Interior
1849 C Street NW
Washington, DC 20240
Dear Secretary Salazar,
I am writing to express my deep concern for the welfare of the Cibola-Trigo wild burros that
Bureau of Land Management (BLM) officials intend to round up by helicopter beginning June 4.
I am particularly concerned about the extreme heat of the Yuma desert during this time of year.
Humane care during BLM roundups has been a major point of concern. On July 13, the Humane
Society of the United States submitted a report to the agency with recommendations on how to
conduct humane roundups. Refraining from “helicopter drive trapping gathers in temperatures
above 90 [degrees Fahrenheit]” was one of the key recommendations.
The Cibola-Trigo Environmental Assessment — DOI-BLM-AZ-C020-2012-001 lEA — permits
burros to be rounded up with helicopters in temperatures up to 105 Fahrenheit. Many
veterinarians have submitted letters to BLM leadership demonstrating that burros cannot tolerate
extreme heat — a full 15 degrees more than would allowable for horses — under stressful
conditions. I agree with their conclusions.
I ask that the BLM postpone the Cibola-Trigo roundup at this time. When the temperature
surpasses 90 degrees Fahrenheit, roundups of wild horses and burros should be suspended. The
intense heat and sun of the Arizona desert can be lethal. It can be equally hard on BLM staff,
contractors and the viewing public.
Thank you for your attention to this matter and your stewardship of America’s public lands.
Very sincerely,
–
Raul M. Grijalva I
Ranking member, House Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Public Lands
Cc: Bob Abbey, Director, Bureau of Land Management
Roxie Trost, District Manager, Yuma Field Office, Bureau of Land Management
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80% of these burros, by Grandma Gregg’s figures need our help!! Burros are great watch dogs and are known for chasing off coyotes and dogs and maybe more… If you have horses and you can keep another life going, please consider adopting one or more of these wild burros.
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Our government has kind of a puny record with the Native Americans too! Seems any minority population, whether its humans or animals, has to go thru a hell of a long haul, before (or if) they ever get what they deserve. Would be kind of nice (to put it mildly) if the wild horses & burros finally had someone in power stand up for them, wouldnt it? Its time our government actually DID listen to the people before its too late for these animals.
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As each of these precious souls lose their freedom forever, we the American people lose something too. These animals are a part of our national psyche. They are integrated into our collective souls, and losing them is like carving out a part of our hearts. I believe that the roundups of our national treasures are causing a type of trauma for millions of people. Perhaps we need to have a class action law suit addressing the harm done to all of us who love these animals and what their freedom means to us.
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My best hope at this point (I know you won’t agree with me and that s fine) is that Gov. Romney will be elected President, and he will use some of his skills to shut down under-performing or failing organizations to close the BLM. Close it forever. After a year or two, the President can create a new agency to manage the wild horses and burros on the range.
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I am only 11 years old ,but i have a stronger heart for horess than anyone on this god made earth!Horses are my best friends and I will not accept anyone that EATS horess AS my friend, Im sorry but thats just the way i am !!! I am a western rider and i have 2 horess, my mare,Rimbo and my gelding,Leo .I am in rodeo 6 times a month , at lightning p ranch in rasaka Georgia doing events Barrels,pole bending, and team roping. I don’t no much about all that government stuff but i no that eating horess isn’t ment to be!!!!!!!!!!!! -Chloe litton
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NEWS COVERAGE AND VIDEO:
http://www.wildhorsepreservation.org/news/2012/06/08/arizona-burro-roundup-begins-updates-and-news-coverage-here/
Arizona Burro Roundup Begins: Updates and News Coverage Here
June 8, 2012 by
The BLM’s Cibola-Trigo burro roundup in southwestern Arizona began at 7:30 a.m. on June 6,2012. On the first day, the BLM captured 62 burros in 4 helicopter runs. Included were a number of foals. On day 2, the BLM captured 12 additional burros before calling the roundup in the late morning.
The capture operation aims to remove 350 wild burros living in this remote region of the southern Sonora desert. Although BLM claims that burros are overgrazing, burro experts have stated that these animals regulate their population numbers in accordance with water availability. One wild burro population studied in the Mojave Desert showed a 7 percent reproduction rate — a far cry from the 15-25 percent rate of increase claimed by the BLM.
Media Coverage of Arizona Burro Roundup
Animal advocates outraged over burro roundup, Tucson News Now
VIDEO
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