There were 4 when we spotted them in mid-July. Wonder what became of the 4th.
Burros need help.
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russellweight
Active Member
I'm sure it was there too, we didn't spend too much time looking around. One looked like it had just recently died, and the other that we saw looked to have been dead for quite a bit longer, but who knows with the heat and dry up there. The odd thing was there was no smell that you would normally get from a dead carcass. I mentioned it and my bro-in-law who's an avid hunter said that because it's so hot and dry they probably aren't bloating like an animal left for dead in the woods. Instead they are basically just baking out there in the sun...
The day we were there, the wind was crazy and there wasn't a good place to park the boat on that rocky island. We drove around the island, trying to find a "shallow" path that we could try to push the donkey's toward, but any option we found would have required they swim through at least a few yards that were 10-15 feet deep. I wasn't feeling too good about being in the water, trying to herd wild animals in 10-15 feet of water.
Joy
Active Member
I understand...truly, I do...and you at least posted trying to get them some help. I seriously thought they'd swim to shore & am surprised they didn't.
Now we all know that if this happens again we need to do something...so, there is that. I could hardly sleep last night after reading the update.
russellweight
Active Member
It's truly interesting and this time sad how many animals won't even attempt to swim unless forced too.
We have done a lot of fishing at a lake down in Mexico over the years, which has numerous islands named after the different animals that have inhabited them while we've been there on fishing trips. (i.e. Horse island, Pig island, etc...) We've watched as the locals herd / swim their livestock (Horses, Cattle, Sheep, Goats, etc...) out to these islands. Sometimes as far as half a mile or more. Then they leave them to fill their bellies. Once they have eaten the island clean they go get them and swim them back to shore.
It's quite the smart idea if you think about it. Good food supply, unlimited water, and the perfect fence. It keeps them in and predators don't even think about swimming out to bother them.
Unfortunately in the case of "Burro island" no one ever came to push them back off as they ran out of food.
We have done a lot of fishing at a lake down in Mexico over the years, which has numerous islands named after the different animals that have inhabited them while we've been there on fishing trips. (i.e. Horse island, Pig island, etc...) We've watched as the locals herd / swim their livestock (Horses, Cattle, Sheep, Goats, etc...) out to these islands. Sometimes as far as half a mile or more. Then they leave them to fill their bellies. Once they have eaten the island clean they go get them and swim them back to shore.
It's quite the smart idea if you think about it. Good food supply, unlimited water, and the perfect fence. It keeps them in and predators don't even think about swimming out to bother them.
Unfortunately in the case of "Burro island" no one ever came to push them back off as they ran out of food.
This situation could have had a good outcome. When we were there in August we came up on them. They were so hungry they were eating baby carrots out of my hand. There was nothing left for them to eat. We cut grass from the hillsides with filet knives and fed them twice a day. They were far past the ability to swim and just plain stuck. We called Park Rangers and they and didn’t seem to care. We posted on Facebok and Instagram. I called the DWR. I called the BLM. I called the Navajo Nation in Arizona dispatch. I notified TV stations. I called the Friends of Animals in Kanab. Someone with authority could have done something more than nothing .I own my own horse and I am fully aware that nature happens but this is shameful.
John P Funk
Escalante-Class Member
I'm honestly not trying to be a "troll" but I'm not sure what part of this situation is shameful. These were wild animals that weren't owned by anyone, and are therefore no one's responsibility. I appreciate the fact that at least you "did something", but it merely prolonged the inevitable. Likely the DWR would have simply shot the animals to end their ordeal. Nature may seem cruel, but that is the nature of nature. Thousands of fish die every day on the lake and no one bats an eye. "Fish lives Matter".
ps Okay, the "Fish Lives Matter" thing may have been troll-like.
You are allowed to have your opinion. My point is they were there for months starving daily and could easily have been helped across to dry land by those equipped to do so. If I’d have been equipped I’d have done it. They were scared of the muck around the island and not smart enough to help themselves. Boaters passed by every day and they literally starved to death in plain site. I know nature is cruel but this was unnecessary suffering. And yes...a bullet to the head would have been more humane.
Actually they are an invasive species and I will leave it at that
Meatwagon
Keeper of San Juan Secrets
It's hard to watch or accept, but I was faced with a similar situation last week while on my archery hunt. While checking water tanks for available water and usage I came across a black Angus bull at a tank that was very ill, I watched for an hour while it stuggled to get to it's feet thinking it was to far gone to even stand. When it finally got to it's feet staggered around for about five minutes and laid back down to weak to stay on it's feet. I felt like I would be doing it favor by shooting it and putting it out of its misery but not being a vet. I could only hope it would recover. When I returned to that tank a week later, I found that someone else had dispatched the animal only 120 yds. From where I seen him . It was a sad end for him and I know it had to of suffered that entire week before someone finally put it down, but it would have been illegal for me to have took matters into my own hands when I found him in such poor condition. I will add it was in a very remote place and I had noway to report it to anyone. I guess my point is mother nature is not as human as we would like to have things be and is hard to accept when faced with it sometimes, but nature takes its course regardless.
TropicalPaige
New Member
Update: We arrived to the San Juan on Saturday, August 31st, and beached our house boat across from the island. We noticed one donkey alive while two lie there dead. Each time we approached the island with our wake boat, she immediately came towards us with much curiosity. After much debate for the next 24 hours with the crew, we decided to save the last one standing! On September 1st, 2019, we were able to tie a rope around her and get her to the swim deck of our boat. After getting her to lie down on her side onto the swim deck, we drove her over to the main land and she was fed apples and lettuce with much joy. She was then reunited with the rest of the herd!
HOORAY! Oh, and her name is Sarah.. Feel free to bash us for "tampering" with wild life or not letting the circle of life take its course... but we couldn't sit there and watch this poor animal starve to death knowing we could help.
Thank you and just know that Sarah is now living her best life! #OperationSaveSarah
HOORAY! Oh, and her name is Sarah.. Feel free to bash us for "tampering" with wild life or not letting the circle of life take its course... but we couldn't sit there and watch this poor animal starve to death knowing we could help.
Thank you and just know that Sarah is now living her best life! #OperationSaveSarah
What a kind work project. Thank you for your service. That is awesome. What do you think would have happened if Sarah had been forced to swim to shore. Is there anyway she could have made it? Too weak or perhaps strong enough?
Ryan
Keeper of San Juan Secrets
Nice work! I would have never thought a wild Burro would have laid down on the swim deck.
Did you take photos of your adventure?
TropicalPaige
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