I have been sorting through old photos of late, getting ride of poor quality or too similar photos. I came across some I hadn't seen for a while. Thought I might start sharing those when nothing new is happening. So, here is today's photo from Cabeza Prieta National Wildlife Refuge which is along the Mexican/Arizona border between Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument and Yuma:
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| Wild Burros |
Wild Burros roam parts of the Southwest not too far from the Colorado River (Nevada, California, Arizona). Cabeza Prieta is a bit of a stretch from the Colorado (about 70-100 miles), but that is essentially it. Maybe 3500 total in the US. They are beautiful animals, far more than I had ever imagined. Although Columbus brought a few, and George Washington a few more they lacked the size and strength necessary to be effective pack animals. Those that remain today in the Southwest were brought to the US (from Africa) in the early to mid 1800's by prospectors and miners as pack animals because they were larger and stronger, and could withstand high temperatures with little water. As prospectors and miners died or moved on the burros were left behind. It's a wonderful story of the "Old West."
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