53 Wild Burros Die In Desert Heat

According to BLM officials, 56 wild burros had already died from the extreme heat -- their bodies clogged up a spring and prevented the surviving animals from reaching water in the Piute Mountain Wilderness, 35 miles west of Needles.

A local rancher saw the deadly situation and alerted officials with the Bureau of Land Management.

BLM agents organized the emergency water airlift.

By Tuesday afternoon, helicopters had brought 4,000 gallons of water to fill troughs that were set up for the animals, the agency said.