San Bernardino County partners with Donkey Rescue to relocate wild burros to Texas

RECHE CANYON, San Bernardino County — Wild burros, a longstanding feature of the hills between San Bernardino and Riverside counties, are being relocated to sanctuaries in an effort to protect both the animals and the public.

San Bernardino County announced a partnership with Peaceful Valley Donkey Rescue in Texas to humanely capture, treat and rehome the animals that have roamed the area since the 1800s.

Why it matters: The burros, descendants of domesticated donkeys released by miners and farmers, now number in the thousands. While beloved by many locals, their interactions with vehicle traffic, freight trains, and fencing have led to injuries and fatalities, according to San Bernardino County officials.

Details: The county entered a non-financial agreement with Peaceful Valley this month. The organization has already rounded up 68 burros on county property, where veterinarians are assessing their health in preparation for transport to sanctuaries.

Peaceful Valley employs a low-stress capture method, slowly acclimating the burros to alfalfa bait and their handlers over several days. Once captured, the animals receive medical care from a specialist veterinarian before relocation to one of the organization’s sanctuaries or private adopters. In rare cases, humane euthanasia is considered under veterinary guidance and in compliance with state laws.

What they're saying: “Our preference would be to contract with a local nonprofit rescue and sanctuary organization,” said George Harding, the county’s animal care chief. “But Peaceful Valley is the only rescue organization willing to meet the requirements of Senate Bill 371 and capable of protecting our burros.”

Board of Supervisors Chairman Dawn Rowe expressed mixed feelings about the program.

“We are not happy that this will likely result in our burros being relocated to other states,” Rowe said. “But our contract guarantees they will be well-cared for, treated humanely, and live out their natural lives in a safe environment. The county must act now to mitigate the suffering, mitigate the danger, and ensure our wild burros have an opportunity to live their best lives.”

Peaceful Valley operates multiple sanctuaries nationwide and is equipped to provide long-term care for burros.

The county encourages residents to learn more about their wild burro program here.