Save Our Asses
July update
Since beginning slowly around the first of the year, this project has really taken off.
​
Working with “Loco for Longears” of Arizona, we have designed informational posters about “Feeding Kills Burros” and directing visitors to the “Ridgecrest Regional Wild Horse & Burro Corrals” as an alternative. We have printed and distributed over 60 copies to Visitor Centers from Jawbone Station to Mono Lake (10 so far) and many businesses in Trona, Randsburg & Inyo County. BLM and USFS like the designs, the BLM state office shared it on social media. We are working with Death Valley National Park on a new poster one for their use.
Maturango Museum suggested bookmarks, so we did that too. We printed, cut, and laminated over 1000. So far, they are available free at Red Rock Books, Maturango Museum, the Ridgecrest & Trona Libraries, and are in the mail to Tonopah.
We also received reports and photos of a resident in Trona providing food and water to the burros. We forwarded the information to the right people at BLM, had quick action taken, and it should now be resolved.
The Save Our Asses Project
Feeding wild burros has unfortunately become an attraction for visitors to the desert in California. Oatman, Arizona and other communities have actively promoted this activity to the detriment of the burros, motorists, and community residents. The BLM, counties, and other agencies are left with the problem which at best is removing burros or worse road kill and accidents. Locally, 15 were killed on the highway north of Trona last year.
We have been approached by residents of Trona and Inyo County road crews to help find solutions. At first, we thought of highway caution signs, but those already go largely unnoticed or become shooting targets. We contacted other burro organizations in Arizona and found their experience is that public education through posters and fliers works best. We discussed several approaches and where to reach out to visitors.
Ridgecrest is a unique community with a love for burros, including the high school mascot. The Regional Wild Horse and Burro Corrals are also unique with 24/7 access around the perimeter to see formerly wild horses and burros. Many from the community visit regularly to view, feed, and interact with the animals. The majority however do not understand what the facility is, why burros are gathered, or how the animals are processed and sent elsewhere for adoption. It is also an opportunity for signage and displays emphasizing to the public why not to feed the wild burros.
The local Ridgecrest California Welcome Center is a major visitor center for tourists visiting the area and Death Valley. We met with them and they will host a display about wild horses & burros, direct visitors to the BLM corrals as a place to reliably see them, and of course not to feed them. The Visitor Centers in Lone Pine, Bishop, Mammoth, and Furnace Creek should be receptive as well.
1) Posters & fliers about not feeding wild burros for display and distribution at Visitor Centers & businesses.
2) Displays about the Wild Horse & Burro program to go at the visitor centers and to direct visitors to the Ridgecrest Corrals.
3) Signage and displays at the Ridgecrest Corrals (inside & on the perimeter drive) Purpose, what to feed at corrals, safety, never feed the wild ones, …
4) If successful, expand to the East side of Death Valley, Tonopah, and the Bullfrog HMA where feeding burros is a very serious problem.
Where is it Ok to feed Burro's ?
Downloadable Save Our Asses
Bookmarks
