The Wild Burro Project

Marissa Robertson from Western University

Donkeys were brought to North America in the 1500s and were a valuable asset to American settlers.  They are very smart, strong, and incredibly hardy animals. Since their introduction to North America, donkeys that were released or escaped from captivity adapted very well to the desert terrain of Southern California.  These feral donkeys are called burros.  On the first weekend of November 2019, about 130 burros were rounded up from the desert landscape surrounding Fort Irwin in Southern California.  From the corrals, the shuffling of hooves created dust clouds and the occasional bray disturbed the otherwise quiet morning. 

Peaceful Valley Donkey Rescue (PVDR), a privately funded non-profit organization that has been around for 19 years, captured these burros as part of their Wild Burro Project.  The Wild Burro Project is an ongoing multi-year operation aimed at managing burro populations within National Parks. Because donkeys have adapted so well to the environment, they are very successful at reproducing and their growing herd sizes cannot be sustained on the sensitive ecosystems within the National Parks.  Because burros are not a native species, they out-competing endemic species and damage the delicate desert ecosystem. Furthermore, when resources become scarce burros will begin to migrate into nearby residential areas where they can damage communities and put people and themselves in danger. 

PVDR works in cooperation with a variety of government agencies, and Western University veterinary students have been assisting at the Fort Irwin round-up in February of 2019. On this particular weekend, the burros had been removed from the Mojave National Preserve and were being prepared for transport to PVDR’s donkey sanctuaries in Arizona and Texas.  From there, some of the donkeys will be made available for adoption while others will live out their lives protected and cared for on the sanctuary. Western University’s veterinarian Dr. Halland invited a group of veterinary students to join her and her colleague, Dr. Crawford, to help collect blood samples, vaccinate, and deworm the captured burros. The blood samples were submitted for a Coggins test to detect any antibodies to the disease Equine Infectious Anemia (EIA). EIA is a contagious virus that can affect both donkeys and horses.  All captured burros must be given health clearance before they can cross state borders. 

The weekend was a great success for everyone involved.  For many of the students, this event was their first time working with donkeys and for others, it was a chance to improve their skills.  Each of the students had multiple opportunities to practice each of the skills mentioned above. The weekend was a prime example of Western’s hands-on approach to teaching, and the exceptional teamwork between the rescue organization, the veterinarians, and the students made for a fun and productive weekend.

On behalf of the Western University veterinary students that were invited to participate in the event, I would like to thank PVDR, Dr. Crawford, and Dr. Halland for allowing us to learn, practice our skills, and help improve the welfare of the local environment and the burros of Southern California. 

For more information on Peaceful Valley Dokey Rescue please visit https://donkeyrescue.org/

The Bond

Jill Dentel - Ohio State

This is me and my Wolfdog Aurora. She was a rescue I took in last summer. She had lived on a chain her whole life, was suffering from starvation, being beaten, fleas, and ticks. When I brought her home she weighed 41lbs and today she weighs 63 lbs. When I first got her no one could touch her. She was just too afraid. 8 months later, lots of good food, and proper veterinary care she is a gorgeous girl. Her past has left her terrified of people, but she has found it in her heart to trust me. This is a picture of us together. I don't know if she will ever let anyone else touch her or if she can trust another person, but no matter what she is my girl and will always have a home with me.