By Rene Ray De La Cruz as published on The Daily Press

The reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for the deaths of wild burros has risen to more than $100,000

Captured Wild Burros ~ photo by Terry Fitch of Wild Horse Freedom Federation

The Bureau of Land Management reported this week that the award increase was made possible by new pledges made by Roy Dunlap Spay & Neuter Foundation ($32,000), the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals ($5,000) and the National Mustang Association ($5,000).

Since May, a total of 46 wild burro carcasses with gunshot wounds have been found along Interstate 15 between Halloran Springs, California, and Primm, Nevada, in various states of decomposition.

Authorities continue to investigate the death of the burros from the Clark Mountain Herd Area in San Bernardino County, managed by the BLM’s Needles Field Office.

Since August, the BLM discovered an additional four burro carcasses—adding four more dead burros to the previously reported figure.

“BLM Law Enforcement continues to aggressively investigate these brutal killings in conjunction with local law enforcement authorities,” said BLM Deputy Director for Policy and Programs William Perry Pendley in a news release. “We’re grateful to each of these new donors for their generosity, and for joining us in working to solve these crimes and bring the perpetrators to justice,”

The foundation hopes that the $32,000 pledge will help draw enough attention to bring the killer or killers to justice, said a spokesperson with The Roy Dunlap Spay and Neuter Foundation in a written statement.

The foundation made its pledge in cooperation with Return to Freedom Wild Horse Conservation, a national nonprofit wild horse and burro advocacy organization.

The Roy Dunlap Spay and Neuter Foundation is a private non-profit animal welfare organization dedicated to the ethical treatment of all animals.

• • The Platero Project: $32,500

• • Return To Freedom: $5,000

• • American Wild Horse Campaign: $2,500

• • The Humane Society of the United States: $2,500

• • Lifesavers Wild Horse Rescue: $2,500

• • The Cloud Foundation: $1,000

The BLM’s law enforcement is leading the rapidly expanding investigation into the illegal killings in coordination with the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department, California Highway Patrol and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.

The animals are federally protected under the Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act of 1971. The Act protects wild, free-roaming horses and burros from capture, branding, harassment, or death; and considers them an integral part of the natural system of public lands managed by the BLM.

Anyone arrested and found guilty of willfully violating a regulation issued pursuant to this Act, shall be subject to a fine of not more than $2,000, or imprisonment for not more than one year, or both. These penalties can apply to each count charged.

Anyone with information about this investigation is asked to call the WeTip hotline at 800-78CRIME (800-782-7463) or visit http://www.wetip.com.

Callers may remain anonymous and be eligible for a reward for information leading to the arrest(s) and conviction(s) of any person(s) responsible for the deaths of these protected animals. More information on the rewards offered by the conservation and animal welfare organizations can be found on the organizations’ websites.

Reporter Rene Ray De La Cruz may be reached at 760-951-6227, RDeLaCruz@VVDailyPress.com, Instagram@renegadereporter, Twitter @DP_ReneDeLaCruz.