$10,000 reward offered to find wild burro killers

UPDATE Sept. 1, 2019

The original reward was $10,000 but, thanks to new donations from conservation and animal welfare organizations, the reward has now risen to nearly $60,000, states the U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM) in California.

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Have you been watching the news unfold about the numerous wild burros being shot and killed in California and Nevada?

Seems these horrific crimes have been going on for some time. We are not sure why a reward is being offered at this late date, but that’s what the BLM (Bureau of Land Management) are doing.

What happened? Did they arrive at a magic number or something, where they suddenly decided that this had gotten out of hand, and guess they should be seen to be doing something about it?

Here’s what the The Mercury News reports via the Associated Press:

By John Rogers | Associated Press | August 23, 2019

LOS ANGELES — Someone has been killing the wild burros of California’s Mojave Desert, and the Bureau of Land Management is offering up to $10,000 to anyone who can help catch the culprit or culprits.

Over the past three months, 42 burro carcasses containing gunshot wounds have been found scattered along a 60-mile stretch of Interstate 15, the main highway linking Los Angeles to Las Vegas.

The animals, like wild horses, are protected under federal law. Anyone found guilty of harassing, branding or killing one faces a fine of up to $2,000 and a year in jail.

More than that, burros are an enduring symbol of the American Southwest. With their pointy ears and distinctive “Hee-Haw” voices, they evoke a time when their sure-footedness in rocky terrain and ability to carry heavy loads long distances without complaint made them perfect pack animals for prospectors and others.

“Wild horses and burros are an iconic part of the American West and part of our national heritage,” William Perry Pendley, BLM’s deputy director for policy and programs, said in a statement Friday. “We will pursue every lead until we’ve arrested and prosecuted those responsible for these cruel, savage deaths, and we welcome the public’s help to bring the perpetrator or perpetrators to justice.”

Okay. That’s enough of that. Read full article here »