BLM herding hundreds of wild burros near Lake Pleasant to put them up for adoption

PHOENIX — If you’re traveling near Lake Pleasant, you may start seeing fewer wild burros in the area.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) plans to gather up to 1,500 wild burros from the herd management area near Lake Pleasant.

This gathering will take place over roughly 103,000 acres of federal, state and private land near New River, Anthem, northern Peoria and northern Phoenix.

Officials say they are focusing on taking burros that have moved outside the designated management area, where the animals can damage property and create public safety risks.

According to the BLM, the roundup is necessary to protect natural resources, maintain public health and keep the herd healthy.

Where will the BLM take all the wild burros?

BLM contractors will set up temporary fenced enclosures with food and/or water inside. These attract the animals so they can be gathered safely.

Once the burros wander into the enclosures, they’ll be humanely transported to the Arizona Wild Horse and Burro Training Facility in Florence.

There, the wild animals will be prepared for the bureau’s adoption and sales program.

Made a cute lil friend today… but AZ Game and Fish says DON’T FEED WILD BURROS FROM YOUR CAR. They’re not afraid of cars or people because visitors do this, increasing their chances of becoming road kill. @KTAR923 pic.twitter.com/dE5aLkSbJt

— Heidi Hommel (@heidi_hommel) May 22, 2025

All of this is part of the BLM’s recently updated herd management plan. The approved environmental assessment sets an appropriate management level of 140 to 250 burros for the area.

With an estimated 2,300 animals in and around the region, officials say action is urgent. In addition to putting the excess burros in the Florence training facility so they can be bought or adopted, the agency is also using fertility control to help keep the population at a sustainable level.

More details about how to adopt a wild burro are on the BLM’s website.

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