Wild Burros From Big Bear to Oatman: Where They Roam

Wild burros in our region live mainly on federal land: the Black Mountain Herd Management Area around Oatman, Arizona, the Chemehuevi area south of Needles, and a Forest Service territory east of Big Bear Lake. They descend from pack animals left behind by miners. On BLM and Forest Service land they are protected by federal law, so look from a distance, never feed them, and slow down where they cross the road.

Where did the High Desert's wild burros come from?

The BLM says the Black Mountain burros descend from animals that miners and prospectors brought in starting in the early 1860s. Across the river, the BLM traces the Chemehuevi herd to 1800s mines, where miners often turned animals loose once the railroad arrived.

The mountain herd has a different story. The Forest Service says burros escaped mines, ranches and movie sets between 1900 and 1940. Today's Big Bear herd likely came from animals used in Big Bear City burro races that began in 1955.

What does the 1971 burro law protect, and what doesn't it?

The Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act of 1971 directs the BLM to manage burros in balance with other wildlife and plants, according to BLM Arizona's brochure. The law covers unbranded, unclaimed burros on "public lands," which it defines as land run by the BLM or the Forest Service.

National parks are different. The National Park Service says it is not directed by the act to keep a burro herd. In 2018 it partnered with Peaceful Valley Donkey Rescue to move about 2,500 burros out of Death Valley, with plans to include Mojave National Preserve and Fort Irwin.

County land is different again. San Bernardino County runs a Wild Burro Program for free-roaming burros in Reche and San Timoteo canyons, citing California law (Senate Bill 371 and Fish and Game Code section 4600) rather than the federal act.

Where do wild burros live near the High Desert and Mohave County?

The main herds near us are on these federal areas. Estimates are BLM's national figures as of March 1, 2026, the most recent published.

Black Mountain covers about 1.1 million acres along the Colorado River from Hoover Dam to the Needles bridge, with Oatman near its southern center. Chemehuevi covers 138,333 acres in eastern San Bernardino County.

The Chicago Valley HMA, also in California, shows no burros and no burro target in the 2026 estimate. In 2018 the BLM also moved burros out of the Piute Mountain Herd Area in San Bernardino County when their only spring, Fenner Spring, was at risk of drying up.

Are there wild burros in the San Bernardino Mountains or around Lake Arrowhead?

Yes, east of Big Bear. The Forest Service's 35,000-acre territory sits about 10 miles east of Big Bear Lake. It names Broom Flats, Arrastre Creek and Round Valley, off Forest Roads 2N01 and 2N02, as common viewing spots. See our mountain day trips guide for the drive up.

We found no official herd area around Lake Arrowhead, Crestline, Running Springs, Summit Valley or Cajon Pass. Locals report seeing loose donkeys around Lake Arrowhead, but those animals may be strays or someone's pets rather than federally managed burros. San Bernardino County lists who to call near Big Bear: Animal Care at (800) 472-5609 for injured or dead burros, 911 if one is blocking a road, and the Forest Service at (909) 866-3437 for other questions.

Why are burros part of Oatman's identity?

Burros wander Oatman's Main Street on old Route 66, and the town builds its tourism around them. A BLM wild horse and burro manager told the Arizona Republic that "that town's basically all about burros." See our Oatman guide and desert Route 66 day trips.

Can you feed the burros in Oatman?

The BLM's guidance is simple: don't. Its Arizona brochure says feeding pulls burros onto roads, where many are hurt or killed. The BLM's May 2026 blog adds that people's food teaches burros to depend on humans. We found no current BLM page that approves pellets or hay cubes as an exception.

You will still see hay cubes sold in town. A BLM spokesperson told the Arizona Republic in January 2024 that feeding can make the animals sick. Mohave County approved NO FEEDING IN ROADWAY signs for the Route 66 approaches to Oatman in 2020.

How should you act around wild burros?

Burros kick and bite, and adult males average about 400 pounds, per the BLM brochure. Its advice is to "Observe these animals from a distance."

• Don't touch, pet or crowd them, and never step between a mother and foal.
• Don't pick up a foal that looks alone. Mothers often leave young hidden and come back.
• Most foals are born February through May, so be extra careful in spring.
• Report an injured or trapped burro to the BLM Kingman Field Office at (928) 718-3700. The BLM's after-hours line is (800) 637-9152.

What should drivers do when burros are on the road?

The BLM brochure says burros, livestock and wildlife may step out without warning, and it tells drivers not to pull off the roadway to watch them. An Army wildlife biologist in a July 2026 article about burros on US-95 near Yuma urged drivers to slow down, especially at night.

• Keep to posted speeds, 20 to 45 mph on the Oatman byway.
• Stop and wait if burros are on the pavement. Don't honk, chase or feed them.

Collisions are real. One burro caught in the 2026 gather was euthanized for old injuries consistent with being hit by a vehicle. Near Bullhead City, Fort Mohave or Kingman, you may meet burros on rural roads.

How does the BLM manage burro numbers?

The BLM announced a Black Mountain gather in March 2026, citing public safety, property damage and range health. Crews used bait and water traps from early April to May 18, 2026. They gathered 495 burros, shipped 486 to the Axtell Off-Range Corral in Utah for adoption and sale, and released 6.

How do you adopt a wild burro?

The BLM adoption FAQ lists the basics:

• Be 18 or older, with no convictions for inhumane treatment of animals.
• Provide at least 400 square feet of corral per animal, with fences 4.5 feet high for burros.
• In California, provide a roofed two-sided shelter. Arrange a stock trailer with a covered top and rear swing gate.
• Pay the $125 base fee, or bid at some events. Title passes after one year of humane care.

In Arizona, the BLM brochure says you can see burros or adopt one at the Florence Wild Horse and Burro Training and Off-Range Corral.

What does the law say about harassing or taking a burro?

Federal law makes it a federal offense to willfully remove a wild burro from public land, maliciously harass or kill one, or sell one. The penalty is a fine of up to $2,000, up to a year in jail, or both, under 16 U.S.C. 1338. BLM rules also ban careless harassment, cruelty and branding under 43 CFR 4770.1. After 19 burros were found shot along I-15 in 2019, BLM agents offered a $10,000 reward.

How Pleasant Hill can help

If you are looking at land or homes near Oatman, Golden Valley or Big Bear, we can help you check road access and what is around a parcel. Search homes, get a free home valuation, or reach Lana Stephens in Kingman or Dustin Bynum. You can also contact us.

General information, not legal, tax or lending advice. Rules, fees and rates change; confirm with the agency linked above or ask us. Pleasant Hill Real Estate Group · CA DRE Corp. #01997374 · AZ Entity Lic. #LC694532000 · Equal Housing Opportunity.