Burro Management Options Discussed at Mohave County Meeting

Mohave County is addressing the overpopulation of burros in the Black Mountains management area, with a workshop scheduled to explore potential solutions. The meeting will include presentations from the Arizona Game and Fish Department and public comments, focusing on humane and effective management strategies.

Workshop Details

The Mohave County Board of Supervisors will hold a workshop at 10 a.m. on Monday at the County Administrative Building, 700 W. Beale St. Attendees wishing to speak must sign in before the meeting begins.

Presentations and Public Input

Pat Barber from the Arizona Game and Fish Department will present on the burro situation, followed by public comments and input from the Board of Supervisors. A representative from the U.S. Bureau of Land Management is also expected to attend.

Proposed Solutions

In January, the county supervisors considered seeking legislative authority for Arizona Game and Fish to issue hunting licenses for the burros. This proposal aimed to pressure the BLM to manage the population according to the Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act of 1971. The burro population in Mohave County is estimated at 1,800, far exceeding the recommended limit of 478.

Outdoor groups argue that the burros, introduced by miners in the 1800s, disrupt the desert's ecosystem by consuming plants and depriving other wildlife of resources.

Alternative Approaches

Supervisor Steve Moss, who initiated the discussion, emphasized that the intention was never to harm the burros, which are a tourist attraction in Oatman and along Route 66. Instead, the goal is to collaborate with the BLM to find effective solutions. Moss stated, "No one is advocating that we go out and shoot the burros, but that is a potential solution. We need legislation for the BLM to work with local governments. We are not partners in this. We are being dictated, or more importantly, we are being ignored."

Animal activists from Phoenix, Tempe, and the Salt River Wild Horse Group highlighted the burros' value and rightful place in the desert. The supervisors considered alternatives like contraception, sterilization, capture, and adoption. However, they noted that the BLM currently holds around 30,000 wild horses and burros in adoption pens, costing taxpayers over $49 million in 2015.

Originally posted by The Daily Miner