By Patricia Farris News Review Publisher–
A busload of students from the Inyokern Elementary School were transported to the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Wild Horse and Burro Facility atop Trona Hill last Thursday. This field trip provided the students with an opportunity to visit the animals up close and personal while feeding them carrots.
/ Laura Austin Photo
According to Grant Lackie, Facility Manager, they currently have 300 burros and 224 horses at the corral. The horses are of the Mustang breed and are up for adoption. The burros are also up for adoption. Some of the animals at the local facility are from China Lake, but there are other animals from as far away as Nevada, Utah, and Oregon.
The animals are captured from the Base by a feed trap (bait) and sometimes by a low-flying helicopter that drives the animals down the canyons. According to Lackie, “The purpose of bringing the animals is two-fold. Number one is that the animals’ welfare is at stake. It is BLM’s goal to make sure the animals are protected and have an adequate amount of food and water. That is not always available on their roaming sites. Another reason is that it negatively impacts air traffic on the Base.”
Lackie said that a horse eats an average of 20 lbs of hay daily, and a burro eats an average of 7 – 7.5 lbs of hay daily.
Most wild horses and burros living today are descendants of animals released or escaped from Spanish explorers, ranchers, miners, U.S. Cavalry, and Native Americans. Prior to the Navy’s arrival, the Shoshones brought Mustangs here from other states, broke them, and sold them to area ranchers.
The local BLM facility was established in 1982. Lackie noted that visitors are always welcome, and they typically host an open house every second and fourth Friday of the month from 7 am to 9 am. To adopt an animal, email: .
