The Oatman Burros

Walk down the main street of Oatman and you'll almost certainly meet a burro. They stand in the shade of the boardwalks, stroll down the middle of the old highway and occasionally poke their heads into shop doorways. For many visitors, they're the reason to make the trip.

They're also wild animals with a long history in these mountains. This guide explains where they come from, how to see them without causing harm, and how to plan your visit.

Where the burros come from

According to the Bureau of Land Management, the burros of this region are descended from animals brought in by miners and prospectors, starting in the early 1860s. Burros were ideal pack animals for desert mining: hardy, sure-footed and able to survive on very little water. As mines closed and prospectors moved on, many of the animals were left behind or released, and they adapted to life in the desert.

Today they're part of the Black Mountain Herd Management Area, the largest such area in Arizona. It covers roughly 1.1 million acres and runs along the eastern side of the river from near Hoover Dam south to the area around Needles. Oatman sits near the center of its southern half, which is why burros so often wander into town.

Wild and protected

The burros are wild, free-roaming animals, not pets or town mascots, and wild horses and burros on public land are protected under federal law. The Bureau of Land Management manages the herd, which includes monitoring numbers and, at times, gathering animals to keep the population in balance with the land.

They may seem tame on the main street, but these are wild animals with a long memory for the desert.

That status matters for visitors. A burro that seems calm can still kick, bite or push, especially if it's startled, crowded or protecting a foal. Treat them with the same respect you'd give any wild animal.

How to watch them respectfully

• Give them space. Let burros approach you rather than walking up to them. Never surround one or block its path.
• Stay away from their hindquarters. Don't walk directly behind a burro, where a startled kick is most likely.
• Be extra careful around foals. Mothers (jennies) can be protective. Admire young burros from a distance and never step between a mother and her foal.
• Don't ride, chase or pull on them. It's dangerous for you and stressful for them.
• Watch children closely. Keep little ones beside you, and teach them to move slowly and quietly.
• Mind the traffic. Burros often stand in the road. If you're driving, slow right down and wait for them to move on their own.
• Step away if they squabble. Burros sometimes fight among themselves, and bystanders who get too close can be hurt.

About feeding

Feeding is the part of a visit that causes the most confusion. Reporting on the herd has described how feeding by visitors can make the burros sick, and local shopkeepers have pointed out that carrots and other treats contribute to health problems in the animals that frequent town.

Here's the simple approach:

• Never feed human food. No bread, chips, sweets, fruit, carrots or anything from your own bag.
• Follow posted guidance in town. Rules and advice about feeding can change. Read the signs, and if feeding isn't allowed where you are, don't do it.
• If feeding is permitted, use only feed sold specifically for the burros, offer it on a flat open palm, and never tease an animal with food.
• Don't feed burros on the open range or near roads. Food teaches them to approach vehicles, which puts them at risk.

Watching the burros without feeding them is always a perfectly good choice, and it's the one that's kindest to the animals.

It also tends to give you better encounters. Burros that aren't being offered food behave more naturally: grazing, dozing in the shade, ambling along the boardwalk. Those quiet moments make for some of the most memorable photos of the day.

When to visit

The burros move in and out of town on their own schedule, so sightings are likely but never guaranteed. Mornings in the cooler months are pleasant for both you and the animals, and the main street tends to be calmer on weekdays than on weekends and holidays. In summer, visit early in the day; by midafternoon the heat is intense, and many animals seek shade.

Combining the burros with the rest of Oatman is easy, since they're right on the main street. Our Oatman, Arizona guide covers the town's history, what to see and how to get there from Laughlin.

Photo tips

• Use a longer lens or zoom. You'll get natural photos without crowding the animals.
• Get low. Crouching to eye level (at a safe distance) makes for a more personal portrait.
• Look for context. A burro on the boardwalk or against the mountains tells more of a story than a close-up.
• Skip the flash. Sudden light can startle animals.
• No selfies with your back turned. Keep an eye on the burro at all times.

Questions