New Year's Babies: Feral (Wild) Burro

Now we come to one of my favorite animals in the wild. I think Feral Burros are one of nature's most beautiful wild animals. Burros were brought to the US from the deserts of Africa in the 1830 -1850 time frame specifically for use in the Southwest by prospectors. Eventually, after mines played out or prospectors died, the Burros were released into the wild. So they have been "native" for 175 years or more.

Here a family of Feral Burros: 

One of my favorite photos of all time.

It's hard to pick my favorites, so here are several other photos:

My Favorite Wildlife Photos of 2017 -9

For the remainder of the year I thought I'd share my favorite wildlife photos taken in 2017.

So here they are (in alphabetical order):

Feral Burro

If I had to choose, this would probably be my "Very Best Favorite" photo of 2017. I took this photo at Imperial National Wildlife Refuge along the Colorado River. He was very inquisitive; actually started walking toward me until he heard from his mom. Then he walked back to her. But, I can't help it, I think Wild Burros are beautiful!!

The Last of the Feral Burros

The last of my "5" Star Feral Burro photos is a mother and colt taken at Imperial National Wildlife Refuge. I have to repeat myself, these really are beautiful wild animals. I is so exciting to see them in the wild  --- and to develop a momentary relationship with them.

Feral Burro

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.

Pairs of Two: Five

More mom's with baby:

Feral Burro with Colt (Imperial National Wildlife Refuge, Arizona)

Spotted Owl with her Owlet (Miller Canyon, Arizona)

Photo Trip: Imperial National Wildlife Refuge - VIII

On to Feral Burros. Feral Burros were brought to this country in the mid 1800's from the deserts of central Africa to be used as "pack animals" for explorers, miners, and prospectors in the desert southwest. As those people died or mining dried up, the Burros were left on their own. So they have been wild and free for over 150 years. 

I have had some wonderful experiences and gotten some wonderful photos of Feral Burros. I always found small herds of up to 14 or so. On this trip to Imperial National Wildlife Refuge, however, I only found six, and all were by themselves.

Feral Burros are beautiful. A bold dark strip down their shoulder, thinner black stripes on their legs, and black "lightning bolts" through their ears. Unfortunately, the public's perception is quite the opposite. (The expression "jack ass" doesn't conjure up anything very beautiful and is normally not an expression of love and admiration). Two years ago I was looking for Feral Burros in Cabeza Prieta National Wildlife Refuge and was stopped by a Border Patrol Agent. When I told him I was there looking for Feral Burros to photograph his reply was "why would you want to do that?"  There has been much written over the past few years about Feral Burros -- all negative. Articles talk about the destruction of habitat. And so, authors call out for the removal of Burros (which for the most part means killing them). There are about 5,000 Feral Burros in the US, but over 20 million deer, 93 million cattle, and 7 million sheep. Yet, it is the Feral Burro that destroys habitat  -- with little concern for deer, cattle, or sheep.

Anyway, after returning home from my trip I found an article saying that earlier this month 353 Feral Burros were rounded up at Imperial and shipped off to California. And, for this I am really sad.............. I can't think about that anymore, so ... 

Here are a few of the Feral Burro photos from this trip:

National Wildlife Refuges

Imperial National Wildlife Refuge, Arizona, 1941

The Colorado River and associated backwater lakes and wetlands of Imperial National Wildlife Refuge are a green oasis, contrasting with the surrounding desert mountains. Consisting of over 26,000 acres, Imperial National Wildlife Refuge protects wildlife habitat along 30 miles of the lower Colorado River in Arizona and California, including the last unchannelized section before the river enters Mexico.

Imperial National Wildlife Refuge also contains more than 15,000 acres of federally designated wilderness. Wilderness is protected to ensure that nature, not people is the primary influence on this quiet, scenic place.

In addition to the Visitor Center, Imperial National Wildlife Refuge provides opportunities to hike, fish, hunt, and watch wildlife. While the bird species list has 271 species, it is the Desert Bighorn Sheep and Feral Burros that keep me coming back. There is one road that runs through the Refuge which soon becomes 4x4 only as it enters a corner of the Yuma Proving Ground, and then 4x4 high clearance only when it enters private land, and finally 4x4 high clearance nerves of steel only as it approaches the moon. (Okay slight exaggeration). You do have to drive through some very sandy washes as well as steep rocky hills and cliffs.

Below are a few of the photos I've taken there: 

Ash Throated Flycatcher

Black Tail Jackrabbit

Desert Bighorn Sheep on Mountain Top

Desert Bighorn Sheep 

Desert Bighorn Rams

Feral Burros

Feral Burro Family

Feral Burro with a look of the terrain

Western Diamondback Rattlesnake

National Wildlife Refuges

Cabeza Prieta National Wildlife Refuge, Arizona, 1939

The Cabeza Prieta National Wildlife Refuge is located in the Sonoran Desert in southwestern Arizona. The refuge, established in 1939 to protect Desert Bighorn Sheep, is located along 56 miles of the US/Mexican border and covers 860,010 acres — the third largest NWR in the lower 48 States -- and larger than the state of Rhode Island. 

Spanish for "dark head," the refuge's name comes from the Cabeza Prieta Mountains in the refuge's northwest part. Author Edward Abbey, a frequent visitor, described the Cabeza Prieta as "the best desert wilderness left in the USA."  This is one of the "hottest" and "driest" places in the US (if not the most). There is but one 4x4 only road through the refuge. Typically, the Desert Bighorn Sheep stay five or more miles away from that road and in the heart of the mountain areas, so they are seldom seen. Desert Bighorn Sheep are physiologically different than other Bighorn Sheep in that they have adapted to the hot and dry climate. They can go three weeks without water.  It is also home to the endangered Sonoran Pronghorn, of which less than 400 remain in the US. Much of the Refuge is closed from mid March to mid July to protect breeding Pronghorn. The Pronghorn are seldom seen as well. 

Summer ground temperatures easily reach 130 degrees. Before entering, you must watch a 25 minute video on the hazards of Cabeza Prieta and then fill out a two page form verifying that you understand those hazards. Once signed, you are given a six month permit to visit the Refuge. However, you must call the Refuge's "Hotline" upon entry and exit each time you visit.

Among other mammals living here are Feral (Wild) Burros. Although they too, are not easily found I have had success finding them. I also came across a Wild Horse on one visit. And, I did get a quick glimpse of a Badger once, but he disappeared before I could get the camera out.

The occasional abnormality creates a very unusual looking Saguaro.

Young Wild Burro Running

Three very curious Wild Burros

Wild Burros with Saguaros in background.

Gorgeous looking Coyote

Regal Horned Lizard

Wild Horse

Badger Tracks

Mountain Lion Track

Sunset at Cabeza Prieta

Hoofed Animal Babies - II

I love finding and photographing wild animal families. The first photo was taken near Cameron Pass (10,000+ feet) in Northwestern Colorado. The young Moose was the smallest -- youngest Moose I have ever seen. If the mother and father weren't around, I am not sure I would have even known what it was. The Feral (wild) Burro family was taken at Imperial National Wildlife Refuge on the Arizona side of the Colorado River 50 miles north of Yuma.  The young Burro Colt didn't look real; looked more like a "stuffed animal" from FAO Schwartz. 

Moose Family

Feral Burro Family

Mothers with Babies (or sometimes dads): Feral Burro

Feral Burro. While mating occurs year round it peaks in the May, June, July timeframe. Jennies (females) are normally pregnant for about 12 months, though the gestation period varies from 11 to almost 14 months. Therefore most births also occur in the May, June, July timeframe. Jennies usually give birth to a single foal. Twins are very rare: only about 1.7 percent of donkey pregnancies result in twins, and both twins survive in only about 14 percent of case.

Feral Burro with Colt

Imperial National Wildlife Refuge: Part IV

I ended up taking 450 photos on my trip to Imperial NWR. Out of those I saved about 30. I will show you a few more of the Feral Burros today, then tomorrow start with the Desert Bighorn Sheep. 

In this first photo, I came across a Burro that was walking down the wash on its way out to one of the ledges and beyond to the Colorado River. The wash was very thick with vegetation so taking another path wasn't what he wanted to do. He stared at me for a while and then did three (maybe four) "he-haws". I took that to mean he wanted to pass and I was preventing him from doing so. Out of respect,  I continued on my way. But, as I mentioned yesterday, he didn't move until I was out of sight. Well, I assume he moved. Don't know for sure because I was out of sight.

The next photo is another female Burro with her young colt. The colt was about 20 feet away from its mother and decided that was too far so began walking closer. In fact, it ended up directly behind the mom. This, I believe, is typical behavior of the young ones. They seem to need the protection of their mom. But, it makes photographing them a little more difficult.

This last photo gives you a little idea of the terrain. Here, about 15 Burros are on one of the ledges. Behind them you see the green vegetation surrounding the ponds. Behind that is the Colorado River (which you can't really see), then the mountains on the California side of the river.

Imperial National Wildlife Refuge: Part III

I thought I would share a couple more Feral Burro photos from my trip to Imperial NWR. I love how they never took their eye off of me -- no matter what they were doing. The first photo is fun because three are going in one direction while the fourth is going in the other direction. The second photo shows some Palo Verde trees in the background which make for a nice color contrast. (again click on the photo to enlarge).

Imperial National Wildlife Refuge: Part II

Imperial National Wildlife Refuge is along the Colorado River. There are mountains on the California side, then the river, small ponds, and wetlands, then several large flat "overlooks" of volcanic rock and ash. Then comes a single dirt 4x4 road, then scrub desert, and finally baron wasteland that would make the moon seem bare. (There are huge rounded mud pits that have long since hardened into rock).  I arrived at Imperial at 5:00 AM (as planned) to catch the early morning animals. Desert animals and birds take cover during the heat of midday. But, I stayed all day getting wonderful photos of Feral Burros, Desert Bighorn Sheep, and a few other little animals and birds that "popped out" occasionally.

At the end of the dirt road (about 15 miles out from the visitor's center) is the Red Cloud Mine, which was a Silver Mine that opened in 1870 but played out by 1890. The mine has had several owners since and is famous for lustrous orange-red, bladed crystals of wulfenite. But, it was very small scale and only got occasional visitors. I think it has been abandoned since 2003. It is about an hour and a half drive one way from the visitor's center to Red Cloud Mine.  I had been all the way out to the mine (three times) and was just finishing up the last trip back. It was now sunset, and I thought I had enough photos for the day, but decided to go out on the last overlook: the Palo Verde Overlook. Although I was getting pretty hungry at this point, I thought, "what the heck" it's only a couple more minutes, maybe there will be something special. Special indeed! 15 Feral Burros with some very young colts. Here is my favorite of the them all:

Mom, Dad, and Baby

The first thing I did when I got home was to email this photo to our grandchildren, Noah and Ruby. This little colt looked like a stuffed toy, just not even real. Please click to enlarge. A sweeter wild animal I have never seen -- well, right up there with the Bobcat kittens anyway.

But, what a delight!!!! My intuition about wildlife was "spot on."