With the changing of the season and Daylight Saving Time taking place this weekend, motorists are urged to take extra caution while on the road.
The Bureau of Land Management Southern Nevada District Office explained with daylight ending an hour earlier, coupled with lower visibility, that keeping an eye out for wild horses and burros on area roadways is especially important over the fall and winter months.
The past has seen a number of wild horses and burros being hit and killed or sustaining injuries leading to euthanization after incidents with vehicles. The animals can wander onto the road creating a safety hazard to themselves and for those traveling the highways, including State Route 159, State Route 160, Lee Canyon, Kyle Canyon and Cold Creek roads.
“One of the biggest problems is people stopping to see the wild horses and burros and feeding them,” said Krystal Johnson, BLM wild horse and burro specialist. “Now some of the wild horses and burros stay alongside the road waiting for food.”
Those feeding and interacting with the wild horses and burros contribute to them losing parts of their wild character, leading them to associate vehicles with food. It is illegal to feed, pet, or harass a wild horse or burro and individuals will be cited for those activities, which includes a fine.
The numbers of animals hit by vehicles varies by year; however, two burros have been struck and killed in the past month on Southern Nevada roads.
If you hit a wild burro or horse with your vehicle, drivers are urged to call 911.
For more information about the Southern Nevada District Wild Horse and Burro program, please contact Krystal Johnson at 702-515-5171 or by email at krystal_johnson@blm.gov. Updates can also be found on the BLM Nevada twitter @BLMNV and Facebook site https://www.facebook.com/BLMNevada.
Contact reporter Mick Akers at makers@pvtimes.com. Find him on Twitter: @mickakers.