There is currently a great amount of hard work being done in Texas, with regards to the rounding up of burros, wild donkeys. Organizations such as the ISPMB are on the offensive with this mission, and there are some very important, conservational reasons why they are having to focus on the burros. Let’s take a look then at these lovely little creatures, the problems they are unfortunately causing and why it is so important that we work hard on rounding up the burros and removing them from Texas.
Some Facts About The Burro
Burro is the Spanish word for donkey, but in the English language we borrow that word and have used it to only refer to wild donkeys. Burros do differ slightly from donkeys because they are not domesticated, and this impacts their size and their weight. A burro weighs on average, around 551lbs and they grow to about 125cm. Burros eat mainly grass and some shrubs, consuming an impressive 6,000lbs of grass throughout the year.
The Problem With Burros in Texas
The biggest issue which the Texan government are having with the burro is that they are not native to these lands. More often than not these animals have roamed from Mexico, having been released or escaped the ranches where they should stay. The result of this is that they begin to disrupt the natural environment here. Photos have been released of rivers which are packed with burro droppings, and this is in areas where water is scarce. The chemical makeup of the burro faeces actually contaminates the water supply. This has a huge impact on many other animals who rely on the river’s cleanliness in order to live.
Level of Protection
Not only are burros not native to Texas, they are do not have protected status either. Additionally the impact which they are having on the local eco-system means that they are causing problems for many species which are protected, hence why the state government have been forced to get involved. We should remember that although this seems an extreme step, it is certainly the best option for both the species which are natural to Texas and for the burros themselves.
Relocation First
In terms of combatting this ever-growing problem, groups are aiming to support the state government by rounding up the burros and aiming to relocate them. Different measures may have to be considered further down the line, but for now relocation is top of the list for the local government.
How Can You Help?
If you wish to help out with this problem then the best way that you can go about doing that is to donate some money each month to the wildlife charities which are involved in this project. If you live in the area then you could opt to volunteer and help them out, either would be a great way of supporting this challenge which faces the Texan ranches which are becoming overrun with burros.
