The sparse vegetation and scant water of the high desert proved to be no problem for the escaped burros, who can live as far as ten miles away from water, and can lose up to 30% of their weight from dehydration before trouble sets in. Since there is so little forage in this part of the world, however, ranchers and some forest managers consider the burro a threat to the survival of cattle as well as native grazers like bighorn sheep.

By order of the 1971 Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros act, the Bureau of Land Management is responsible for the protection and management of the roughly 40,000 wild horses and burros in the West, including the 1,500 burros and 250 horses in Arizona. When the population of any particular herd exceeds the limit of animals that its territory can support, the BLM conducts roundups of excess animals and offers them to the public for adoption.

Until the 1980s, a couple hundred wild burros lived in the Grand Canyon, but were removed because they were putting too much pressure on the supply of forage needed by the native bighorn sheep. If you're looking for a close encounter with these endearing creatures, try checking out the old mining town of Oatman, Arizona, between Kingman and the Arizona/Nevada border. Fairly large herds of burros roam the hills around the town, and every day the same small herd of about a dozen comes into town to coax carrots and ear scratches from the delighted tourists. 

It's this inquisitive and amiable nature that's made the burro popular as a pet, now that they're no longer needed for work in the developed world.

An average of 80 burros per year have been adopted from Arizona herds, and there are several groups of owners and activists dedicated to promoting the good care and humane treatment of both the wild burro and those adopted from the wild.

For more about horse and burro adoption, see the BLM's website: www.wildhorseandburro.blm.gov. 

Article by Sarah Horton

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