Feral Burro Terrain

Here is an example of a "5" Star Photo that shows the kind of topography Feral Burros often live in: rugged barren mountainous desert. They can survive on little water and little in the way of vegetation  -- yet, they look healthy.

Feral Burro

Feral Burro Family

Continuing with my "5" Star Photos in general and Feral Burros in particular, we come to one of my favorite photos. This little colt looked like a stuffed toy from FAO Schwartz in NYC. And, since I am a sucker for stuffed animals the photo is endearing to me.

Feral Burros at Imperial National Wildlife Refuge

More Feral Burros from the Trigos

Here is another "5" Star Photo of Feral Burros from the Trigo Mountains. I love how the Burros are walking together with three looking straight ahead and the front one with his head turned to look at me.

Feral Burros

Feral Burros in the Trigo Mountains

From Cabeza Prieta we move to the Trigo Mountains. The Trigo Mountains are north of Imperial National Wildlife Refuge along the Colorado River separating Arizona from California. (on the Arizona side). This is where I go to find Burros and Desert Bighorn Sheep. I love the terrain, and it is usually quite and peaceful. A 4x4 is absolutely required to get into the area. I am always thrilled when I come across these beautiful animals. Here's one of my "5" Star Photos from the Trigos:

Feral Burros

Feral Burro - The Desert Calls

Another "5" Star Feral Burro photo from Cabeza Prieta in Southeastern Arizona. I guess the saguaro in the background is the "give-away." It was just as the sun was setting so there is some sunset light shinning on the mountain behind the Burros.

Feral Burro

Feral Burro -- II

It was dusk at Cabeza Prieta National Wildlife Refuge which is adjacent to Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument in Southwestern Arizona. I have talked about Cabeza Prieta before. It is a wonderful -- if not, hostile environment. But it provided me several "5" Star Photos. This was my first group of Feral Burros I had ever seen. There were seven of them altogether. They were a little cautious, always keeping an eye on me. If I got too close (30 feet) they would "hee-haw". So, I tried to stay 31 feet away. This seems to be a favorite photo of others as well. 

Feral Burros at Cabeza Prieta National Wildlife Refuge

Feral -- Wild -- BurrosFeral

Continuing with my "5" Star Photos we come to the Feral Burro.  Burros have an interesting history here in the United States -- but, now sort of a sad one. Burros were brought to the US from the deserts of Africa in the early to mid 1800's to be used as "pack" animals. This was because they were strong and could withstand intense desert heat and little water. 

As explorers and miners died or moved on, their Burros were left behind. Over the generations Burros became wild -- acting like any other wild animal i.e. running away when they see humans. There are about 5,000 in the wild, mostly in Western Arizona, Southeastern California, and Nevada. 

Like Wolves and Coyotes, Burros don't get a fair treatment in Hollywood movies or cartoons and thus aren't seen by many as some of nature's most beautiful animals. I was literally stunned by their beauty the first time I saw them in the wild. Over the next few days I will show several of the "5" Star Burro photos I have taken. Most of the photos come from Cabeza Prieta National Wildlife Refuge, Imperial National Wildlife Refuge, and the Trigo Mountains (just north of Imperial).

Feral Burro at Cabeza Prieta National Wildlife Refuge.