Locals Team Up to Help Wild Burros
As Southern California becomes increasingly urban, wild critters of all sorts suffer in once-remote areas now rife with traffic. Such is the case with the wild burros in Riverside County. Like many critters in California, the burros were here first. The feral burros arrived about 50 years ago, though there are several stories about how they arrived. Now they reside on private land around Reche Canyon. Trouble is, Reche Canyon Road has become a shortcut between Colton and Moreno Valley. As always, the clash between wildlife and human population often ends in tragedy as deaths along the road mount on both sides of that genetic divide.
But in the true spirit of American individualism, Kim Terry--a former rodeo rider—and Rhonda Leavitt--the owner of a water truck service—have teamed with a handful of other residents to save the burros. Their method: making reflective collars and putting them on the willful animals so they are more visible to drivers, especially at night.
Leavitt mounts reflective tape on belts from a local thrift store. Terry rounds up the burros, puts the necklaces on the burros and releases them. No one knows exactly how many burros reside in Reche Canyon, but estimates range from 50 to 400. When they wander in search of water, they cross the main road to a natural spring. So Leavitt has been putting water on the other side of the road to help keep them safe. Now, some of them wait for her to deliver each morning.
The Los Angeles Times did a story about their efforts in April
http://www.latimes.com/news/science/environment/la-me-burros13apr13,1,7732431.story and the canyon residents were surprised at the response. They hadn’t thought to publicize their efforts or ask others to help, but welcomed the attention.
“Kim Terry and I just wanted to make collars and put them on as many burros as we could round up and word got out on our efforts, which started a chain reaction from readers of Press Enterprise, then LA Times and Channel 5 TV,” Leavitt said in an email. Though they’ve launched a Reche Canyon Burro Support Group, they haven’t registered it as a nonprofit yet. They were just neighbors pitching in to save the animals—one animal at a time. And doing it just because they think there’s a way for wildlife and people to co-exist.
Aside from Terry and Leavitt, another resident takes in injured burros and nurses them back to health. Another provides sacks of hay and carrots. Some of the residents want to build pens to keep both burros and humans safe. Their efforts have the support of the Riverside County Animal Control, saying the collars will likely save lives—both four-legged and two-legged.
What You Can Do: Leavitt said the group would welcome donations of portable corrals or portable chute to enable them to collar burros in more remote areas. They’re also seeking donated or low-cost veterinary assistance for injured or sick burros and their babies.
For More Information: To check on current supplies needed, get more information or arrange to donate items, call (909) 783-2626 (Rhonda’s home and her water business, Watering Angels) or email Rhonda at
rechecanyonburros@yahoo.com.
Posted by Sandi Cain, Best Friends Network Volunteer Photo courtesy of Reche Canyon Burro Support GroupLos Angeles Times story by David Kelly, April 13