Habitat Use and Fecal Analysis of Feral Burros (Equus asinus), Chemehuevi Mountains, California, 1974

Abstract

Between January and March burros spent from 60 to 78.7% of their time on the interfluves. In April, habitat use was predominantly in washes, with a high of 58.5% in July. During the summer months, when daily maximum ambient temperature approached 48°C, much of their time was spent in densely shaded pockets of vegetation along the Colorado River. Thirty-nine plant species comprised the diet in 1974, desert Indian-wheat (Plantago insularis) and palo verde (Cercidium floridum) being the most common. These two species, combined with mesquite (Prosopis spp.) and arrowweed (Pluchea sericea) formed over 50% of the annual diet. The 1974 diet consisted of 3.9% grasses, 30.1% forbes, and 61.1% browse. Population increases of 20-25% every 13-18 months and little predation bespeaks the need for unceasing management and possible control to prevent deterioration of the native flora and fauna.