It’s common in rural Riverside County to see a wild burro eating a treat out of a car window.
"They are cute. They’re beautiful animals," says John Welsh, spokesman for the Riverside County's Department of Animal Services.
But he hopes to see this a lot less from now on. An ordinance "prohibiting the harassment and feeding of undomesticated burros" took effect Thursday; it imposes a fine of up to $500 for feeding or even interacting with the animals. County supervisors approved the law last month in response to an increase in traffic accidents that have injured or killed burros.
Welsh says the wild burros aren’t native to the area; he estimates their population has swelled into the hundreds.
Officials say the animals live in the Reche Canyon and Pigeon Pass area in Moreno Valley, but use roadways and railroad tracks to enter more populated areas. They migrate down from the hills looking for people who will toss them a snack.
Riverside Animal Services says it receives frequent calls from activists about people approaching the burros.
Welsh recounted reports of an entire local church congregation that regularly feeds a group of wild burros after Sunday services.
Because people are feeding them, the burros are "not afraid of humans," Welsh explained. Not having an instinctual fear of people is putting the animals in greater danger of being hit by cars, officials say.
Donkeyland, a local rescue group, rehabilitates wild burros struck by vehicles and makes them available for adoption.
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According to the ordinance, first-time violators will be charged $100 for interacting with the burros. A second offense brings a $200 fine. More than three violations within a year increases the penalty to $500.
Welsh says Animal Services won’t be out with binoculars looking for violators, but he hopes people abide by the new law.
"Even though they're not natural to this area, they deserve to be treated with respect," Welsh says. "We really want people to understand, you can't keep feeding these burros without recognizing the dangers you're putting them in."