5 burros found fatally shot in California’s Death Valley National Park, officials say

Park officials were investigating after five burros were found shot and killed at Death Valley National Park in California, officials said Thursday.

National Park Service officials said the five animals were found in the Lower Wildrose area last week and are asking visitors to submit tips to help the investigation, park officials said in a news release.

Park officials said it is illegal to fire a gun at a national park because it “poses a threat to public safety” and the “abandoned carcasses also endanger native wildlife who inadvertently ingest toxic lead shot when feeding on the dead animals,” park officials said in the release.

Burros, which are not native to North America, are often called donkeys and descended from the African wild ass, according to the park service.

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Officials are working to remove burros from the desert

Land managers are working to remove burros from the desert, but the five dead animals were not part of the removal efforts, park officials said. 

In 2022, the park service estimated there were more than 4,000 burros in the park.