Reche Canyon, a rural corridor straddling San Bernardino and Riverside counties in Southern California, has long been home to a herd of wild donkeys—descendants of pack animals once used in mining camps. Over the years, they’ve become a regular sight for locals, even earning nicknames and Instagram fan pages.
But in early 2024, the peace was broken. Following growing complaints from residents about traffic hazards, chewed-up landscaping, and donkeys wandering into backyards, San Bernardino County hired Peaceful Valley Donkey Rescue, a Texas-based nonprofit, to round them up. Over several weeks, 256 donkeys were corralled using temporary fencing, trailers, and tranquilizer darts.
What was supposed to be a quiet wildlife management operation turned into a full-blown public controversy.
Community Divided Over Donkey Removal
The roundup struck a nerve with locals. While some residents expressed relief—citing near-miss car accidents and property damage—others were furious at what they described as a “kidnapping” of animals they considered part of the neighborhood…