Most of you know the Salt River wild horses aren’t managed by the BLM—but the Lake Pleasant Burros ARE. If you are like us, you care about their humane treatment—especially if you’ve ever seen them while enjoying a day at Lake Pleasant.

Did you know these fluffy equines are a living remnant of Arizona’s mining days?

Right now, the BLM is planning actions that could remove thousands of these burros, who are so well adapted to the harsh desert environment. BLM is setting the population limit (AML) far too low and failing to consider humane alternatives like fertility control (PZP). But you can make a real difference—your public comment is very important!

Here’s why it matters:

The BLM must read and respond to public comments. Ignoring them can make their plan legally invalid. That means every thoughtful, informed comment you submit, becomes part of the official record and can influence how the burros are managed! So please take action right now!

⚠️ Timing is critical

The BLM ePlanning system will be offline Jan 15–19, 2026, so submit your comment before Jan 15 (tomorrow) to ensure it’s counted, please do it right now, instead of scrolling on!!

Read the EA & submit your comment here

https://eplanning.blm.gov/eplanning-ui/project/2038119/570

✍️ How to comment:

Use our sample comment below or write your own in your own words.

Highlight concerns like:

• Leave more burros: AML is set too low without transparent data.
• Unfair analysis: Exclusion of shrubs & trees from forage analysis (Burros eat shrubs and trees)
• Too many cows: There is a lack of consideration for livestock alternatives
• Cruelty: Oppose helicopter roundups
• Humane methods: Support PZP fertility control as a primary tool

Sample comment:

Re: DOI-BLM-AZ-P010-2025-0019-EA

Draft Lake Pleasant Herd Management Area Plan and Population Control Plan.

I submit this comment for inclusion in the administrative record under NEPA. I am concerned that the Draft EA adopts an Appropriate Management Level (AML) of 140–250 burros without transparent, quantitative disclosure of total available forage expressed in Animal Unit Months (AUMs) or a clear explanation of how forage is allocated among burros, livestock, and wildlife. BLM acknowledges that the original AML was not data-driven, yet the revised AML is described as “based on available forage” without disclosing the underlying data, methodology, or assumptions. In addition, the EA excludes shrubs and trees from burro forage analysis despite BLM diet data showing these are a significant component of burro diets, undermining the accuracy of the forage analysis. The EA also improperly dismisses reasonable alternatives involving livestock grazing reductions, fencing modifications, and water distribution changes, even though these factors may contribute to burros moving outside the HMA. Finally, I oppose the use of helicopter roundups due to the well-documented risk of capture myopathy and request that humane fertility control, including PZP, be analyzed as the primary management tool, consistent with Congressional funding and public support. Until these deficiencies are corrected and a full range of reasonable alternatives is analyzed, the proposed AML and management actions are inconsistent with NEPA and should not be finalized.

Take a few minutes TODAY to submit your comment—and share this post so others can too. The Lake Pleasant burros are counting on you! Thank you for doing something for them!

Photo by GP Walsh Photography.