Officials in San Bernardino County, California, are removing wild burros over public safety concerns. The decision has sparked pushback from some local residents. Many fear it could bring an end to the beloved community pastime of donkey watching.
“We really embrace them as a part of our community,” San Bernardino County resident Brandi Augenstein told KTLA. “It’s kind of fun sometime to watch them from your porch, just watch the donkeys roll through. I don’t believe removal is the answer.”
The county has partnered with Peaceful Valley Donkey Rescue to relocate the animals. Officials said the burros need to be moved because an unsustainable growth in the population has led to damage to private property, car accidents and traffic disruptions.
Officials warn that continued instances of people feeding and interacting with the burros have exacerbated the issue. They said the animals are now more accustomed to human contact.
So far, wildlife officials have captured 68 burros. Those animals are now waiting for relocation to sanctuaries in Arizona and Texas. The burros are now set to receive medical assessments and treatments from leading national experts.
“The plan is to reduce the burro population to a manageable level to minimize incidents of injury and death,” San Bernardino County said in a statement. “Burros are constantly threatened with being struck by vehicles or deadly encounters with other man-made objects. To address these issues, the burros will be safely relocated to sanctuaries, where they can live free from the threat of vehicle collisions and other dangers created by human activities.”
However, while this burro relocation effort is being carried out over fears for the safety of both people and the animals, there are residents who say the move will also create new environmental hazards.
Residents argue the burros play an essential role in the local ecosystem. They claim the burros help by controlling overgrown brush, which, if left unchecked, could dry out and increase wildfire risks.
A petition opposing the relocation has garnered nearly 5,000 signatures. Many residents urged the county to reconsider its decision and terminate its contract with Peaceful Valley Donkey Rescue.