The future of the beloved Reche Canyon donkey community has residents at odds over how the situation is being handled, and where the animals may actually end up.
“We think what they do for us, for the community, is far greater than the issues they might cause,” said Chase Miller, who lives with his wife Mandy just off Reche Canyon Road.
Their home is one of many close to the area where hundreds of wild burros wander and, like the Millers say, eat everything they can which in turn helps protect against wildfires.
“We’re in a Class 10 fire zone here. We’re worried about our houses, our kids and our families,” said the Millers. “Our house has been saved by what the burros have cleared off.”
This is just part of the reason that they organized a Change.org petition in hopes of keeping the donkeys where they are after San Bernardino County officials entered an agreement with a non-profit called Peaceful Valley Donkey Rescue in order to manage the population.