In the remote expanse of Mineral County, Nevada, the Marietta Wild Burro Range stands as the nation’s first formally recognized range managed principally for wild burros. Spanning 68,000 acres, the range has an Appropriate Management Level (AML) of 78 to 104 burros, as designated by the BLM. According to BLM’s estimations, 387 burros currently reside in the Herd Management Area (HMA); the vast majority, 75% of the population, are to be rounded up and removed starting later this month. For now, these burros roam freely among the remnants of the historic mining town of Marietta and the shifting landscapes of Teels Marsh. Established in 1991, on the 20th anniversary of the Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act, the range's designation allows it to be managed primarily, though not exclusively, for these resilient animals.

Last week,  AWHC observers arrived on the Marietta Range and shared their experience:

Observers started their search for burros at 6 a.m.. Small groups, often of three to five, were spotted throughout the range. The largest group included numerous young burros, including foals, engaging in curious and tender interactions. A young burro sniffed the sagebrush, watched the birds, and nestled close to its mother, while the “vigilant” father kept a watchful eye on any approach. Three bachelor males lingered nearby, as the group grazed on the abundant grass and drank from pockets of water.

The thought of removing these burros, particularly through the use of helicopters to round up the young, raises concerns. Such actions could be devastating for these family units. If relocation is deemed necessary, more humane methods like bait trapping would be a preferable alternative, especially given the number of vulnerable foals in the herd. 

Read AWHC's full roundup report here.