I wanted to show you a few examples of donkey action from my donkey Norma Jean, and my friend’s donkey. Both exhibiting the guarding instinct of donkeys.
I tell everyone I know who have coyote or any kind of wild animal issues – Get a donkey (or two – they need companionship).
First, my Norma Jean…
NORMA JEAN
I was in Norma’s paddock, grooming Dodger yesterday. One of my kitties came in to beg for attention. Norma hates any interlopers in their paddock. She will chase out anything – dog, cat, coyote, deer, skunk, rabbit, crow…, it doesn’t matter. If you don’t belong, you are O-U-T.
Anyway, at first, it looked like NJ was just sniffing the cat… but I knew better. As I yelled at him to “Get out now!”, I also readied my camera.
It was tough to take photos while making sure the kitty GOT OUT – shooing him with my foot. Norma would have coaxed him into submission and then stomped him. No question.
You can see in the end photo frame just how upset the kitty was when he figured out that he was in danger.
Here she is sniffing the kitty. All seems fine.
Yup, kitties are soft.
Uh huh, here the ears go back… kitties may be soft but I don’t want them in my paddock.
Kitty thinks he senses something but isn’t quite sure… so he moves away.
Yikes! She seems friendly but… something is wrong here. Norma puts her ears forward to coax him into submission.
A second later, Norma Jean is on the move, trying to stomp the kitty who takes off running for the fence.
Kitty makes it out just in time.
MY FRIEND’S DONKEY AND HER DOG…
My friend has a mini donkey who is very territorial, especially over her area and her toys. My friend’s dog is oblivious – which is probably why he is not frightened. But this donk is definitely trying to get her point across.
Angry donkey.
Very angry donkey
Young dog oblivious…
Really, really angry donkey.
Furious donkey, baby dog still wants to play ball with the furious donkey. Luckily, this donkey doesn’t stomp like Norma Jean.
MORAL OF THE STORY – get a protection donkey (or two)
Donkeys cannot live alone. They are herd animals even more than horses. They need someone else.
But, they are great protection animals and don’t need much food – if the food is nutritious. Just add good food, fresh water and another soul to nurture a donkey… and they will do a great job for you.
Plenty donkeys need rescue. The BLM has many. Also, check donkey rescues in your area. Also, Peaceful Valley Donkey Rescue has many for adoption!
Click to go to website
I find it quite upsetting that you would even state that donkeys can be used as guard animals. The fact that they stand their ground versus fleeing like a horse would, only subjects them to more harm. Have you personally seen a donkey that has been mauled ? What a couple of coyotes and even a couple of domestic dogs can inflect on donkeys. Granted donkeys need other donkey companions but that does NOT make them indestructible! They are protective of their territory yes, but they are not immune to injury. I would never subject any of my donkeys to a possible threat.
I’m so sorry that my post today offended you.
I was writing from my experience of having a donkey for 23 years…
She chases anything out of her pasture. And I am certain this is a donkey trait.
Many donkey experts will say that one difference between donkeys and horses is that horses
are flight animals whereas donkey will stand and face danger.
That was all I was saying.
I didn’t promote anything ‘bloody’ and my donkey has never actually hurt anything.
Having spent many years with mules (our neighbor runs a huge mule pack team, does Bishop Mule Days
and they only ride mules), I know them to be different than both horses and donkeys.
I’m very upset about the new fad of donkey hides in Asia – and would like to get donkeys off of that pipeline. As I’ve written numerous posts about why everyone should adopt a donkey, how wonderful they are and I write daily for Norma Jean on FB to promote
awareness of donkeys… I thought adding that they are good for protection would help promote adoptions as well.
Again, I was not promoting blood. I’ve never seen anything bloody with my donkey nor any other donkey I know.
I was merely pointing out that they face danger and chase it away. Another good reason to adopt.
So sorry to have let you down.
I was shocked to see you recommending protection donkeys. Have you seen all of the bloody messes that have come from this? I know of a large Arabian ranch who always kept a mule with a small herd of yearlings and the mule was like an alarm system to let them know if something was around. They did not depend on it to fight. A donkey or two are fairly defenseless against a pack of coyotes. There is a lot out there now on why donkeys should not be recommended for protection. My friend Rachel Karneffel in Wellinton, Colorado, who works with her Mammoth donkeys daily with Hearts and Horses is a good source of solid information on donkeys.