Wild Burros to Wild Horses

Horses are the perfect example of the difference between a wild animal and a domesticated animal. As you walk or drive by (or through) a ranch or farm where there are horses, the horses will pay little or no attention to you. And, if they move at all they will move toward you in hopes of food. Not so with Wild  (Feral) Horses. Wild Horses will run away as quickly as possible. This is so with dogs for example. A domestic dog will run at you, a wild dog (wolf, coyote, fox) will run away from you.

My first encounter with Feral Horses was nearly 50 years ago on Assateague Island in Maryland in 1964 before it became a National Landmark. Christine and I took a small "people only" ferry (that ran twice a day) over to the Island. We were the only ones on the island as I recall. As we walked toward the opposite shoreline we saw a heard of Feral Horses. As they saw us they started running away. It was one of those incredible ... Hollywood Movie type .... sights. I can't speak for the way it is today, but my experiences with Feral Horses in other locations in the US and Canada are similar.

In South Central Oregon (Hart Mountain) I came across six Feral Horses at a distance of a quarter mile. Even then, when they saw me they took off running away. It was wide open land so I got to see those Horses run full speed for at least a mile until they were out of sight.

In Northwestern Alberta I was driving a 100 mile dirt road and came across four Feral Horses in a wooded area. Again, as soon as they saw me they disappeared into the woods. Here's the only photo I got (before they disappeared):

Feral Horses

About two hours after that incident I came across two Feral Horses fighting. These were the days before digital so I only managed a few photos. But, one of those photos I thought good enough to rate "5" Stars:

Feral Horses

I had a similar experience of a Feral Horse running away at Cabeza Prieta National Wildlife Refuge in Arizona.

It certainly is different than seeing a domestic horse.

Pairs of Two: Seven

And, sometimes it's a pair fighting:

Bald Eagles about to lock talons and go into a free fall (Northern California)

Feral Horses fighting (60 miles north of Hinton, Alberta, Canada)

From Feral Burros to Feral Horses

I was born in Washington D. C. and had much fun going to Maryland's Eastern Shore. It was probably --- wow --- 47 years ago that as high school sweethearts Christine and I went to Assateague Island to see the wild ponies.  Of course, the idea of owning a camera at the time would never have occurred to me, so no photos. Assateague was an uninhabited island. The only way to get there was via a very small pedestrian ferry. The day we went was cold and dreary. We saw no other human on the island. But, we did see those amazing Feral Ponies running along the ocean's shore.

Wild Horses are easily differentiated from domestic horses. When a Feral (or wild) Horse sees you it runs, just like most other wild animals. In the first photo, taken on Hart Mountain in Southcentral Oregon, as soon as those six horses saw me they ran (galloped away). It was an amazing sight to watch these wild horses run for at least a mile until they were out of sight:

Feral Horses on Hart Mountain, Oregon

A couple years later I went looking for Feral Horses in Northern Alberta, Canada, north of Hinton. After several hours of searching I found three adults and one colt, but again, as soon as they saw me they ran into the woods and out of sight. I was able to get one photo before they disappeared:

Feral Horses in Northern Alberta, Canada

Maybe an hour later, I came across two Feral Horses that were fighting. This time they didn't run, they were too busy fighting. In retrospect, I wish I had stayed and continued to photograph them. But, by this time it was late in the day and I was at least two hours from my campsite.  I was tired and anxious to get back and so only stayed for a minute or two. Experiences like this happen once in a lifetime --- and I left.   There is a tendency to be "too focused" on getting that photo; and that once you get it you move on to the next photo without stopping to enjoy the experience.  There's a lesson there that I hope I don't forget. Here's one of those photos: 

Feral Horses fighting in Northern Alberta, Canada

Finally, two years ago I came across a Feral Horse in Cabeza Prieta National Wildliffe Refuge in Arizona (along the US/Mexican border). He ran when he saw me but in the same direction I was going.  The problem was that he became "boxed" in with no place to go.  So, I took a quick couple of photos and then got out of his way. As soon as I got by him, he took off running again, this time in the opposite direction. Here's the photo of him stopped and looking at me:

Feral Horse in Cabeza Prieta National Wildlife Refuge, Arizona

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

Feral Horses

I have come across Feral Horses a few times in my photo journeys. The first time I remember I was looking for Pronghorn at Hart Mountain in Southeastern Oregon along the Nevada Border. Hart Mountain is rolling mountainous terrain without much vegetation so you can see for miles. HM  is not on the way to anywhere, so if you see any people at all they are they for the same reason you are. But, out of the half dozen or so times I've been I only seen someone else once. I was driving on one of the 4x4 roads and came across -- maybe ten or twelve Feral Horses at a distance of at least 1/2 mile. But when they saw me they took off running in the opposite direction. Because it was so open I watched these beautiful animals running at full speed for another 1/2 mile until they were out of sight. This was an eerie, yet special happening. I had never seen horses run away. I realized that wild animals, whether bear, coyotes, wolves, ---- or horses are not interested in people and don't want to be around them. I took a photo (although not very good) and over the years must have trashed it. It is still a fond memory, though. The photo above is of Feral Horses I came upon in Alberta Canada. There is a 100 mile stretch north of Hinton called Wildhorse Provincial Park, where, yes, wild horses exist.  I had been searching for them for about five hours when I came across these two fighting. I took a couple of photos and took off. It was back in the film days and I wanted to conserve my film. In retrospect: "Oh, how I wished I had stayed -- even to simply watch them." A mistake I hope I learned from. I was so focused on finding wildlife to photograph, I forgot to enjoy the wildlife when I found it. Besides, with digital now, there is no excuse for passing up a photo op.