What are wild burros?

Wild Burros are outdoor, unowned, free-roaming animals living within our community. These burros can be friendly, feral, adults, foals, healthy, sick, castrated and/or uncastrated. They are part of the domestic donkey species and live and breed without direct human care. Wild burro herds in the county continue to grow, and sick or diseased burros can spread illnesses throughout herds and to local livestock. Donkey herds typically double in size every four years. As the wild burro population increases, so does the destruction of private property in affected neighborhoods and the risk of traffic hazards for both residents and the burros. The wild burros are constantly threatened with being struck by vehicles or deadly encounters with other man-made objects.

Who are we partnering with?

San Bernardino County Public Health has partnered with the Peaceful Valley Donkey Rescue (PVDR) to provide wild burro rescue services for residents in the unincorporated Reche Canyon area of San Bernardino County. A non-financial contract for these services was recently executed for a three-year term, effective December 1, 2024. Under the terms of this contract, PVDR will conduct humane capture and rescue of wild burros in coordination with the County Animal Care division. PVDR is the largest organization of its kind in the United States, with over two decades of experience and facilities across the country. Their mission is to provide a safe and loving environment for donkeys and wild burros. With a nationwide network of ranch facilities and satellite adoption centers, PVDR is a leader in rescue, sanctuary, adoption, and education for donkeys and burros.

What is the wild burro program?

The Wild Burro program is an initiative managed by a partnership between the San Bernardino County Department of Public Health Animal Care and PVDR to protect and manage wild burros living in the community. PVDR is poised to begin this project with its very best and most experienced wild burro capture experts, with veterinarians standing by for medical examinations and care.

  1. The donkeys will be safely captured by PVDR using self-catching, baited traps placed at water sources.
  2. All burros will be given an RFID chip with a 15-digit number for identification purposes. 
  3. The donkeys will be temporarily sheltered at a county property where they will have their blood drawn and tested for common equine diseases. 
  4. Once cleared they will be safely transported to one of PVDR’s sanctuary locations for medical assessment.
  5. PVDR takes every precaution to ensure the smooth transportation of the burros, providing essential food, water, and care, while regularly monitoring their well-being throughout the journey to ensure a comfortable experience.
  6. Burros determined to be cleared for adoption will be available through PVDR’s nationwide adoption network.
  7. Any burros with medical conditions will be placed at PVDR’s main sanctuary location in San Angelo, Texas and will receive medical care for life.
  8. Any burros deemed too wild or aggressive for adoption will be placed in one of PVDR’s sanctuaries in Arizona or Texas, where they will have the sense of freedom while still receiving the same medical care as those on their main facility.

PVDR anticipates capturing approximately 200 burros within the first few weeks of the project, bringing immediate relief to the affected neighborhoods and the roadways in this area of the county.

FAQ

Why do the burros need to be removed?

Burros are rapidly overpopulating in the community, leading to the destruction of private property in affected neighborhoods and creating traffic hazards for both residents and the burros. Additionally, burros are constantly threatened with being struck by vehicles or deadly encounters with other man-made objects.

Will all the burros be removed in the unincorporated areas of San Bernardino County?

No, the goal is not to remove all the burros from the unincorporated areas of San Bernardino County. Instead, the plan is to reduce the burro population to a manageable level to minimize incidents of injury and death. The growing wild burro population has led to property damage in affected neighborhoods and increased traffic hazards for both residents and the animals. To address these issues, the burros will be safely relocated to sanctuaries, where they can live free from the threat of vehicle collisions and other dangers created by human activities.

Will PVDR receive any monetary funds?

PVDR does not take money from any government agency, including the County, as it is funded solely by people who care about burros and know that PDVR always puts the well-being of the burros first. PVDR also works with:

  • National Park Service
  • U.S. Military
  • NASA
  • Bureau of Land Management
  • U.S. Fish and Wildlife
  • U.S. Forestry Service
  • Texas, California, and other State Law Enforcement agencies
How are the burros caught?

PVDR uses self-catching baited traps at water sources, so burros are never chased, roped, or dragged.

Will foals be separated from their mother?

Foals will not be separated from their mother.

Will the burros be shipped out of the country?

No, the burros will not be shipped out of the country.

What measures does PVDR take to ensure the comfortable transportation of burros to their sanctuaries?

PVDR takes every precaution to ensure the smooth transportation of the burros, providing essential food, water, and care, while regularly monitoring their well-being throughout the journey to ensure a comfortable experience. Frequent stops are made throughout the transportation process to check on the animals, further ensuring their comfort and well-being.

Will the burros be slaughtered under PVDR’s care?

No, burros under PVDR’s care will not be slaughtered. Captured burros undergo a thorough medical examination, and once cleared, they are transported to a PVDR-owned facility. Depending on their needs, they will either be placed in permanent sanctuaries in Texas or Arizona, or made available for private adoption.

Will PVDR be trespassing onto private property?

No, PVDR will not trespass on private property. PVDR will request permission for the use of any private property necessary for safe baiting and capture activities. If you notice anything unusual, please contact Animal Care at 800-472-5609.

How can I help?

If you or someone you know is willing to provide PVDR access to private land for setting up feed and water stations for safe capture, please contact PVDR’s main office at 866-366-5731.

How can I adopt one of these burros?

To request adoption information, please visit donkeyadoption.org.

Does PVDR accept owner surrenders if the adopter can no longer care for the burro? 

PVDR has a nation-wide adoption program, which includes a stipulation that adopted burros are returned to PVDR if the adopter can no longer care for them.

Additional resources

Media Highlights

San Bernardino County entered into a non-financial agreement with Peaceful Valley Donkey Rescue (PVDR) to humanely capture many of the wild burros, provide needed medical assessments and treatment, and safely relocate them to sanctuaries.

Thanks to PVDR’s dedication and expertise, these wild burros are being provided with a second chance to live safe and healthy life’s.