Scientific Scrutiny on San Rafael Swell’s Wild Burros

San Rafael Swell's wild burros are under scientific scrutiny to understand their population dynamics and ecological impact. This study aims to balance the burro population with the local ecosystem, ensuring sustainable coexistence with native wildlife.

Meanwhile, Utah's other burro herd, which roams east of Hanksville, has not been subject to a roundup since 1989. Its numbers have remained stable at 120, probably because the herd has found a balance with predators, Warr said.

Schoenecker said she would like to study the so-called Canyonlands herd, but probably won't get the chance since there is no need to round up these burros.

The Sinbad burros are believed to be closely related to the Poitou donkey, a rare French breed with long coats, white noses, and ringed eyes. Before the 20th century, Poitou were crossed with horses to produce draft mules.

Their herd area, bisected by I-70, covers nearly 100,000 acres of public and state lands in Emery County, and overlaps six grazing allotments, whose use was less than 70 percent of its permitted level in 2014-15.

Ranchers run 2,386 cattle here in winter and spring, according to the BLM. The burros concentrate on the herd area's southern half, crossing the interstate through tunnels.

The agency says the "appropriate" number of burros is 70 to 100. As a result of overpopulation, the forage suffers and the burros compete with native pronghorn and bighorn sheep, according to an environmental review.

BLM targeted Sinbad with gathers in 1996, 2001, and 2008. Aerial surveys conducted in 2004 counted 220, so Warr was surprised last month's gather yielded 237, particularly when the tough terrain makes it impossible to gather more than 80 percent of a herd.

"This is helping us identify issues on our aerial surveys for burros. They aren't as accurate as we would like," Warr said.

Schoenecker is also testing the use of infrared cameras to detect burros, which are hard to count because they congregate in small groups and their fur blends in with desert vegetation.

Warr figures 50 to 80 Sinbad burros evaded capture. The research team will conduct further aerial studies using infrared before releasing collared burros.

One jack died in a bait trap after it panicked and broke its neck while being loaded. The remaining 236 have been trucked to contract corrals in Axtell, where some will be selected for release and the rest prepared for adoption.

Burros are often more appealing to adopt than wild horses because they are easier to train, make for good pack animals, and can guard sheep.

Originally posted by The Salt Lake Tribune