We are usually bringing you stories about animals that are on the brink of extinction, like mountain lions, for instance. But today we are talking about the overpopulation of a certain species of cute, adorable animal.
California burros, otherwise known as donkeys, fit that bill. According to my colleague Mariana Dale’s reporting, California has more donkeys in the desert than it needs…more than seven times.
Why?
They don’t have many predators, herds grow quickly and desert vegetation is a fantastic snack as far they’re concerned. But they are in danger themselves and can also be a danger to the environment in large numbers, which is why the Bureau of Land Management and other groups are trying to figure out how to control their population.
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This drought is impacting them. During the last long dry spell in the spring of 2010, 56 burros died because of the extremely hot weather and the lack of immediate access to water. Experts said they’ve had an impact on our vegetation, native species. They’ve also been known to create havoc on desert military bases.
According to Mariana’s story, not everyone is in agreement with how to safely solve the issue to make it sustainable. Burros have been herded around to different places, birth control has been attempted and there’s even opportunities to adopt them.
But while I’m sure two of my nieces and a little cousin would LOVE for me to bring some burros home from the desert to play with, I think I have to leave that to others.
These animals do need help though. To understand the history of how the burro came to California and what’s being done to care for them and control their population, check out Mariana’s latest story.
As always, stay happy and healthy, folks. There’s more news below — just keep reading.
(After you stop hitting snooze)
*At LAist we will always bring you the news freely, but occasionally we do include links to other publications that may be behind a paywall. Thank you for understanding!
Sometimes, it’s just nice to just get outside and enjoy a good sunset. Whether you're sitting in traffic, going to the beach or hanging out outside ANYWHERE, there’s something special about L.A.’s beautiful sunsets.
We asked folks on social media for their favorite moments watching the sun wind down in LA. We got several responses and some wonderful stories. Listen to the How to LA podcast for three unique sunset experiences. Take Mallory Carra for instance.
Carra said she loved watching the sunset at the Yamashiro Night Market on Franklin Avenue in Hollywood Heights. There was the liveliness of the atmosphere. The sizzling of the food. Live music in the tents. And the sunset.
“I feel like when I walked in there, all of the troubles of the earlier week melted away. Because I was here. I was going to try something new. I was going to eat some good food. I was going to watch a great sunset. You can always tell because the colors start to eliminate from the sky. The pinkish and blue hues just start to move across the sky and get brighter and brighter.” - Mallory Carra
The Night Market is no longer — yet another victim of the pandemic. But the Yamashiro restaurant, and the gorgeous view, are still there.
If you’re craving a soothing episode all about the joy of watching a sunset, listen to the latest How To LA podcast episode. Bonus points if you’re listening outside while watching the sun go down.
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