A wild burro named Cupid is recovering after undergoing surgery following an arrow attack in Moreno Valley, California. The 2-year-old female was seen last week with a blue arrow lodged in her right shoulder while roaming with a herd in the foothills about 65 miles east of Los Angeles.
Animal services and the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department responded to the scene and assisted in bringing Cupid in for emergency treatment. Chad Cheatham, vice president of DonkeyLand, said the arrowhead had punctured the animal’s right lung. “Right now she’s stable and is standing, which is a huge improvement,” Cheatham said Monday. Once recovered, Cupid will join other rescued burros at DonkeyLand’s 2,000-acre sanctuary and wildlife preserve.
DonkeyLand has raised a $24,000 reward through donations for information leading to an arrest and conviction related to at least six bow attacks on burros since June. The Riverside County Department of Animal Services stated Tuesday that its investigation continues and called on the public for assistance in identifying those responsible.
Wild burros are protected under federal law and have been present in Moreno Valley for at least 75 years. Cheatham described them as an “unofficial mascot” of the area, adding that they help reduce wildfire risk by eating dry grass in remote canyons across Riverside and San Bernardino counties. “So they really do provide a benefit to the community. The firefighters love them because, they say, ‘Man, these guys can go places we can’t go,’ ” Cheatham said.
While generally docile, burros sometimes cause issues by eating residents’ plants or blocking roads when people stop to feed them from their cars.
In neighboring San Bernardino County—where wild burro populations are estimated in the thousands—the county contracted with Peaceful Valley Donkey Rescue last year to humanely capture and relocate animals to sanctuaries. According to officials there: “While the wild burros delight many residents and visitors, they also commonly encounter vehicle traffic and freight trains, resulting in tragedy for burros and humans… The burros also seriously injure themselves leading to infection and death when they become entangled in fencing or when their hooves get caught in cemetery flower vases.”
Cheatham noted that broadhead arrows—commonly used for hunting—were involved in these attacks. DonkeyLand reported that the first incident occurred around June 14 when another young burro was found injured by an arrow near where Cupid was discovered. Several more attacks followed over subsequent weeks, including two involving very young donkeys.
Healthy donkeys can live more than four decades and vary greatly in size—from small individuals weighing about 300 pounds to much larger ones known as “mammoths.”
