Holly and the Wild Burros

[Richard Crowe]

We spent a week in a lovely RV park, River Lodge, on the California side of the Colorado River, just below Lake Havasu. As I was walking Holly after dark one evening, she began growling and barking and got quite agitated. I was a little concerned when I saw several shapes moving at the river's edge. I thought at first that they might be coyotes but the shapes were too large. As Holly barked, I took out my flashlight and shined it at the mysterious invaders.

It turned out that they were wild burros and the herd had come through the RV park to drink at the river. Holly let them know in no uncertain way that she didn't appreciate these strangers but, her agitation didn't bother the burros.

Apparently, there are large numbers of wild burros roaming the desert in this area. They either escaped or were abandoned by miners in the late 1800's and have thrived in this terrain which is very much like their native North African homeland. They are wild animals but, have no fear of humans.

Here is a short video on the burros who have become a tourist attraction in the nearby town of Oatman, AZ.

http://www.desertusa.com/oatman/du_oatman.html