Imperial National Wildlife Refuge: Wild Burros

I had a couple of free days so decided to head over to Imperial National Wildlife Refuge and see if I could find some Wild Burros and Desert Bighorn Sheep.

About 30 miles north of Yuma, Arizona sits Imperial National Wildlife Refuge, which is a 26,000 acre refuge stretching 30 miles along the Colorado River.

What makes the refuge special is that the land close to the river is lush luring birds from all of North America. However, as you head east from that lush terrain you find land which more resembles the moon than anything else -- much of it volcanic ash. This is where Wild (feral) Burros call "home."

As you continue north on the dirt 4 x 4 road (high clearance vehicles only) it becomes mountainous (Trigo Mountains) and home to Desert Bighorn Sheep. 

This road (Red Cloud Mine Road) is mostly dirt, rock, and or sand. It goes beyond the NWR and into a section of the Yuma Proving Ground, then into land once owned by the Red Cloud Mine dating back to before 1881. (The road hasn't been improved since then either).

The drive from the Visitor's Center at INWR to the old mine site and back takes a good two and a half hours. I got there the first day around noon. I went out and back twice not seeing either Desert Bighorn Sheep or Feral Burros. 

I got to the refuge the following morning just at dawn and came across one Feral Burro almost immediately. I continued out to the mine and back, then out to the mine and back again coming across five Feral Burros just before leaving the refuge. 

A note about the Burros. I happen to think Burros are beautiful. I've had the pleasure of seeing them in the wild several times, here at Imperial, also Cabeza Prieta NWR along the US/Mexico border, and in Northern Nevada. I have wonderful stories and memories of each time. However, there is another point of view -- sadly. Many people think the Wild Burros are destructive. Of course they are no more destructive than domestic cattle, sheep, goats, etc. But those people have convinced Fish and Game to collect and destroy the Burros. Part of their reasoning is that they are not native. Of course, cattle, sheep, goats, etc. aren't native either.  Burros were brought to America from the deserts of Africa by prospectors and explorers because they could survive in the southwest desert heat. Once mines played out or explorers left the area they left the Burros behind. Such is likely the case with the Red Cloud Mine. That was 150 to 175 years ago. Obviously many Burro generations have passed since then. The last time I was at Imperial was in June of 2012 and they were rounding up 325 Burros for slaughter. This is probably the reason I didn't find many this trip.

As for the Desert Bighorn Sheep, I did not see a one for the first time in eight trips to this area.

Here are a few photos though of the Burros:

Eeyore and the Blustery Day

Our daughter called this morning from her home in Flagstaff where they have several feet of snow and more coming. Here in Tucson, it's not cold enough for snow but it is a storming blustery day. Our grandson Noah, like many kids his age, loves "Winnie the Pooh". And, when he visits we watch Winnie and the Blustery Day and a Day for Eeyore. Eeyore is a burro and one of Winnie's friends. So, it made me think of one of my burro photos from Cabeza Prieta National Wildlife Refuge that I took in January of last year. They are such beautiful animals. I never would have thought that until I saw them in the wild. As for now, it's hoping the wind won't do too much damage. "Oh, Bother!"

Hart Mountain

One more pronghorn story: This takes place on Hart Mountain in the extreme southeast corner of Oregon. I had read that pronghorn gather on Hart Mountain for the winter. On the way there I stopped at Sheldon National Wildlife Refuge in Nevada where I found this wild burro nursing her colt. Then into Oregon where I spotted a small group of mule deer on the right side of the road in open terrain. As I approached it seemed evident that they would cross the road and hop this fence to escape into the mountain. So, I was ready with camera in hand, pulled close enough for a photo -- and, there they went and here is the photo. I thought this is going to be an outstanding photo trip: wild burros, mule deer hoping fences, surely there will be pronghorn at Hart Mountain. The rest of the day and early mountain proved me wrong -- temporarily. Then, in a moment I drive over a small hill, and to my pounding heart's (Hart's) surprise maybe six or seven hundred pronghorn divided on each side of the road. I drive slowly at first, trying not to disturb so I can get photos. But, soon they are on the move, each side running parallel to the road. I speed up driving with one hand on the wheel and one hand with camera taking photos - such as the one above. I am going 55 miles an hour on a dirt road with pronghorn passing me on both sides when the pronghorn on the right decide they want to join those on the left. Now it is a game of chicken. I stop, quickly get out and get my last photos of them crossing the road in front of me. I'm thinking, why go to Africa?