University of California, Riverside warned students to steer clear of 500-pound wild burros on campus after repeated sightings near dorms, roads, and parking lots.
Story Highlights
- UC Riverside told students: do not approach, touch, or feed wild burros; slow down near them.
- Reports describe 500-pound animals that can charge or kick when threatened, posing safety risks.
- Burros have appeared near residence halls, parking lots, and campus roads in recent years.
- County rules and federal protections make interference illegal, with fines for violations.
UC Riverside Issues Direct Safety Rules For Student Encounters
University of California, Riverside officials told students and staff to give wild burros space, never feed them, and report injured animals. The guidance also urges drivers to slow down near the animals on campus roads. The university presented behavior-based rules, not vague alerts. It explained that the animals are territorial and can kick or charge if they feel threatened. The warning aims to prevent injuries to people and animals, and to cut down on dangerous collisions.
University materials stress that feeding the burros harms safety and the animals. Feeding reduces natural foraging and weakens fear of people and cars. That change can draw the animals toward sidewalks, lawns, and traffic, which raises the odds of a bad outcome. The university asks students to admire the animals from a distance and leave them alone. It also asks the campus to call in any injured animals so trained responders can handle the situation properly.
Where And How The Animals Are Reaching Students
Campus sightings have not been rare or limited to one corner. Reports place the burros near residence halls, parking lots, student housing, and on or near campus roads. A 2021 university account noted appearances in parking areas and by Watkins Road. A 2026 report described two burros by the Lothian Residence Hall and said visits had grown common by 2023. These locations put students, cyclists, and drivers within close range of large, unpredictable animals.
Officials and local reporting describe the animals as about 500 pounds, with the power to kick or charge if they feel boxed in. That size alone raises risk near parked cars, crosswalks, and narrow lanes. The university’s slow-down advice for drivers reflects a clear hazard. A collision with a large animal can be deadly for both the animal and the person behind the wheel. The point of the warning is to change behavior before an incident happens.
Legal Protections And What Students Must Not Do
The university says the burros are protected by federal law and by county rules. Riverside County Ordinance No. 934 makes interaction with untamed donkeys unlawful and allows fines from one hundred to five hundred dollars. That framework explains why the campus stresses distance and reporting rather than crowd control or removal. Students and visitors are told not to feed, not to touch, and not to try to move the animals, even if they block a path.
Officials also frame the donkeys as a local icon. That image has made them a draw for photos and social media. But the same appeal can lead people to walk too close or offer food. The university’s guidance tries to undo that impulse. It reminds students that wild animals react to pressure and protect their young. A calm scene can turn risky in a moment if a person crowds them for a selfie or a snack.
Why The Warning Came Now: Real Risks On Nearby Roads
Recent regional events show what can go wrong when large animals meet traffic. In 2020, five burros died and a driver was hurt after a herd entered the 215 Freeway. In 2021, a train hit and killed six donkeys in San Timoteo Canyon. These events did not occur on the campus. But they prove that fast-moving cars and large, skittish animals create deadly situations. That is why the university stresses distance and slow driving near any burros on or by campus roads.
The university says it has not tied the campus visits to a specific injury on school grounds. That is good news, but it does not erase the risk. Safety rules work best before an accident. The current approach asks the community to reduce temptations, like feeding and selfies, that train animals to linger near people and cars. Clear rules, steady enforcement of no-feeding policies, and prompt reporting give the best chance to protect both students and the animals.
Sources:
nypost.com, latimes.com, yahoo.com, news.ucr.edu
