On this episode of “Illustrated Daily,” Should the Ass Range at Will? “These odd-toed, furry-tufted creatures known as burros are roaming the 32,000-acre Bandelier National Monument. This has National Park Service officials worried. They claim the burros are responsible for damage to archaeological ruins, disruption of wildlife, and soil erosion. Introduced by man in the 1930s, the burros have reproduced rapidly. Estimates have it that 80 or so now forage the canyons of Bandelier National Monument. The domesticated burro has been a beast of burden for over 5000 years. Legend has it that the burro was offered as a token of goodwill on peaceful journeys, in contrast with the horse, which in ancient times, was a symbol of war. Today however, the national park service has declared war on the burro.”
