The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) will gather approximately 75 wild burros starting Dec. 19 on private land in Pahrump, Nevada, due to public safety concerns.

The gather operation, which could last several weeks, is being conducted by the BLM’s Southern Nevada District’s Pahrump Field Office.

The BLM said the gather, which will take place on a portion of the Johnnie Herd Management Area (HMA), is being conducted in response to concerns of public safety. The burros are crossing Nevada State Route 160 and travelling into the northwest portion of the town of Pahrump, where they have entered private properties and caused damage to fencing, water lines, and vegetation. Several burros have also been hit by vehicles along the highway.

The Johnnie HMA can traditionally support up to 108 burros. The current estimated population is 311 burros. The BLM plans to gather and remove approximately 75 burros using the water- and bait-trap method, consisting of a series of corral panels stocked with hay and water; no helicopters will be used. Because of the nature of the bait and water gather method, wild burros are reluctant to approach the trap site when there is too much activity. Therefore, only essential gather operation personnel will be allowed at the trap site during operations