Greeting Committee (Tap to Enlarge)~

On By cindy knokeIn Conservation, MY PHOTOGRAPHS, REVERIES, TRAVEL REVIEWS, Wild Life

We are here at Death Valley National Park because the snow and precipitation in California for the past two years has been unprecedented and we wanted to see the wildflower super bloom in the hottest place on earth. We also wanted to see Lake Manly, the ancient lake in Death Valley that only rarely fills during strong El Nino events. We are seeing both of these amazing wonders, but before I show you, we have to acknowledge and thank, ‘The Official Death Valley Greeting Committe.’ (Members are wild and all volunteer, I should add!)

Here is one wild burro diligently performing her greeting duties. No food was exchanged in any of these interactions. Pats and pets, yes, but not by me.

The wild burros are just very friendly critters. I try to keep safe distance from wild creatures, no matter how friendly, which was hard because they kept coming towards me for a pat.

Last time we were here we searched forever to find the wild burros and almost gave up, until we finally found them. I had never seen them before. Here is the post I did about them:

Death Valley’s Wild Burros~

This time, they seemed to be waiting by the roadside to say, “Hello!”

Wild burros,

are winsome creatures.

Playful and affectionate with each other,

and welcoming to humans,

who are respectful towards them.

Cheers to you from Death Valley’s beautiful wild burros~

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224 thoughts on “Greeting Committee (Tap to Enlarge)~”

  1. Anonymous

    I love them! If I would be there I would stay the whole day watching them, patting them and softly scratching their fur!
    Have a fine weekend, dear Cindy!

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  2. We literally drove across the country – from south Florida – in 2011 to see the wildflower bloom that year. We were told it was one of the best but with all the rain, this year’s bloom must have been a once-in-a-lifetime event. We didn’t have any burros that trip.

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    1. We went to the harshest and harsh places, Death Valley, to see the fields of dreams. It is amazing to see such delicate beauty in such a forbidding landscape, with snow still capping the desert mountains. Amazing 🫏🫏

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    1. Good question. I don’t know. I do know they can sleep standing up or lying down and they take cat naps during the day. In the desert, in winter, they forage at night. I would guess at night in winter, they would sleep in a group like wild horses, and in summer they would find shade and sleep during the day. But these are all guesses….. 🫏🫏

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    1. It is The National Park that wants to get rid of them because they are a non-native species (like most all Americans). Burros were brought into the deserts by Gold Miners during the Gold Rush starting in 1849 on. Many escaped or were let go. Because they are smart and resilient, they survived, even in such a harsh and daunting climate. The Park Service doesn’t like this and rounds them up and ships them off. The burros know this now and stay out of the park. Rarely you may find them on the perimeters of the park. US environmental policy is much like our politics. It makes absolutely no sense whatsoever 🫏🫏

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    1. YES! They did! We just visited where the 20 mule team extracted the borax and I took photos of the old signs which I wish I could share with you! I was so intrigued 🫏🫏

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  9. Who wouldn’t love this welcoming committee? They are so sweet. Thank you for the wonderful photos, Cindy.🙂 Looking forward to the wildflowers and Lake Manly!

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    1. They are incredibly sweet. Lake Manly knocks my socks off! I have been coming Death Valley since I was a kid. I had no idea the lake was so HUGE and this is the second year in a row it has lasted. Amazing! The water is so clear and SO Salty! 🫏🫏

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  12. As usual, I’m batting cleanup near the end of comments! But I can still enjoy the cute wild burros and their respectful visitors. I agree with you on keeping a distance. I’m befuddled by the people I see who try to approach, pet, feed wild animals, even large predators like bison, moose, bear, etc. Thanks for all the beauty you share Cindy. 😍

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    1. It takes a step or to back from one’s own reality to realize that if you really love wild animals, you need to observe them from a respectful distance in order to keep them safe. Although, I admit, this was not possible Antarctica. Those critters had never heard the term ‘boundary!’ 😉 Stay safe & well Brad 🫏🫏

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  15. They are such cuties. Someone has been feeding them, alas. Probably junk not good for them either. And I can’t think about the chance of one being hit by a vehicle. 😫 Oh, the shortsightedness of humans, it’s so distressing.

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    1. That almost happened when someone roared by. We haven’t treated burros well, but they still trust and our friendly towards us. We are running out of time to learn to do better დ

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  17. Lucky you! I’ve always had a soft heart for burrows. I think because I always cheer for the underdog. I follow a few IG accounts that have rescue farms and the burrows are always the cutest.

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  20. Cindy, I absolutely LOVE these beautiful photographs. The donkey’s look adorable and so sweet. Many years ago I was I saw a donkey when we were on vacation and I got out of the car with food and soon I couldn’t move, I was pressed against the car surrounded by them. I wasn’t afraid, but I also didn’t know what to do. My husband dragged me inside and the the donkey’s just watched us leave. I learned a good lesson, but I got in a lot of pets and snuffles.

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    1. What an amazing story and experience! Thankfully these guys had lots of fresh greenery to gorge on! Take good care dear Gigi and thank you for the story 🫏🫏

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  23. Eileen Norman

    How delightful. I enjoyed it with you. Thank you for all the beauty and grace you photograph so well and share.

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  27. Death Valley is one place in California I still have not ever visited! Your post with donkeys and the landscape behind them makes me resolve more than ever to get down there. My parents married in Yosemite Valley in December and honeymooned in southern California, including at Death Valley, so the place has history for me.

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  29. They are cute, Cindy. All the times I have been in Death Valley over the years, I can’t remember seeing any burros. We did, however encounter them in Oatman, Arizona, where they seem to rule.

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  30. This is great! I never really thought of the cuteness of burros until now! And they really are so sweet! Wonder what has led them to be so sociable with visitors recently? What a great trip to see these things! Hopefully there might be a few more pictures in the future? 🌺🌻🌼🌸👀

    Happy Weekend! 🫶🏻

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    1. Very pleased you enjoyed them! They know they will face hostility within The National Park, but they are quite gregarious outside of it, since there seems to be a “live and let live,” attitude towards them outside park parameters 🫏🫏

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  35. What a fabulous welcoming committee — they’re so cute! I know I’d have had to give them a few pats. My late grandpa had a donkey when we were kids, and I have fond memories of that docile critter!

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  41. These little darlings didn’t want you to have to search this time! They are so adorable. You are probably wise to keep some distance, though.

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