Page 15 - Ft. Irwin High Desert Warrior August 2016

www.aerotechnews.com/ntcfortirwin High Desert Warrior

15August 5, 2016
Be Alert!

Watch out, stay away from Burros on Fort Irwin

Summer, when temperatures soar and the desert landscape has dried to a crisp, the burros This burro herd recently wandered onto the central part of the Fort Irwin cantonment
abound, seeking refuge on the garrison, the oasis of the National Training Center. ese furry, area. They are more likely to be spotted during early morning or late afternoon hours,
wild, and seemingly shy animals arouse in us a sense of wonder and curiosity, but they pose a when they forage and look for water.
real safety concern, for us as well as them. e desert of Fort Irwin is home to approximately a
thousand heads of hungry and thirsty burros who cannot resist the relative safety and comfort
a orded by the garrison’s green grass and shade, as their natural desert resources diminish in
the searing heat.

In past years, Fort Irwin has worked with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to round
up a portion of these animals about every two years. However, there are not enough homes in
which to place animals removed from the wild range, so the BLM is not presently supporting
removal services. erefore, along with the increasing burro population, our level of awareness
and caution must increase as well.

If you see burros on the cantonment area that may be potentially hazardous, call (760)
380-4444. If no one answers, a recorded message with tell you who to contact to provide
your information.

Wild, free-ranging burros usually roam in the restricted training areas of NTC. They are If you are on foot and spot a burro along your way, adjust your route so you are not
large, powerful animals, unpredictable and dangerous to humans and pets if they feel approaching or crowding the burro. Burros dislike, distrust dogs and will attack a dog
threatened. Keeping your distance from them is the best way to avoid a dangerous if they feel threatened, so take great care in walking your dogs in the vicinity of burros
encounter. They normally don’t roam into the cantonment area, but do so in the summer, – turn around and head the other way to avoid an encounter. Be very cautious on
in search of water and green foliage. roadways in burro country at all times of the year.

Burros are often dark colored and impossible to see at night – until they are directly in front Fort Irwin Directorate of Public Works, Environmental Division is working hard to develop
of your moving vehicle. Slow down and be constantly aware of the potential for burros to methods to manage burro herds where they pose a nuisance and are a safety hazard to
appear suddenly in the road. These burros were photographed at night, grazing next to humans as well as themselves, and when they interrupt military training activities. Burros
Langford Lake Road. that equipped with collars and a numbered brand on their hips are part of a large, multi-
agency research project involving state and federal wildlife agencies.
If you can read their brand number from a distance, feel free to report your sightings by
providing the brand number, date, time and location of sighting to DPW biologists at
(760) 380-2681.

For more information go to www.irwin.army.mil