Diesel (donkey)

Last updated
Diesel
Species Donkey
SexMale
Bornc. 2016
Nevada
OwnerTerrie and Dave Drewry (2018–2019)
Residence Cache Creek Wilderness

Diesel (born c. 2016) is a donkey who went missing in the Cache Creek Wilderness in 2019. Born in the wild in Nevada, he was captured during a Bureau of Land Management roundup. He was then adopted by Terrie and Dave Drewry and lived on their ranch in California. During a hiking trip in 2019, he became spooked and ran off, disappearing into the wilderness. A weeks-long search for the donkey involving drones was unsuccessful.

Diesel was rediscovered living with a herd of wild elk in 2023. He was captured on video with the herd twice and a local warden suspected that the donkey was responsible for killing a mountain lion that showed evidence of being killed by a hoofed animal.

Life

Diesel was born in the wild around 2016. [1] [2] He was captured in a remote region of Nevada during a roundup by the Bureau of Land Management. Terrie and Dave Drewry adopted Diesel from the agency in 2018 [1] and took him to their ranch near Auburn, California. He lived on the ranch alongside chickens, sheep, llamas, and a miniature donkey named Jack. Diesel would respond to his name [3] [4] and enjoyed treats, including carrots, apples, unsalted peanuts, and horse cookies. [5] Terrie Drewry indicated that Diesel was not aggressive, saying "he's a lover". [6]

On April 20, 2019, Diesel accompanied Dave Drewry and a black llama on a weekend trail packing excursion in the Cache Creek Wilderness near the Judge Davis Trail by Wilson Flat. During their hike, something spooked Diesel and he bolted, dragging Drewry through the brush. Diesel's blue saddlebags were still attached when he ran off. [3] [5] Terrie speculated that a mountain lion spooked him. [7] A weeks-long search for the donkey was conducted by the Drewrys and volunteers with SWARM Search and Rescue. [5] Aerial drones and horses were deployed in the search, [3] but they were unable to locate the donkey. On May 9, Diesel was seen in an image from a trail camera near the Judge Davis Trailhead. [2] [8] Hoofprints were also discovered that were believed to have belonged to Diesel. [9]

Following Diesel's disappearance, there were no sightings of him for four years. He resurfaced in 2023 when Mikki Rhodes took a video of a donkey traveling with an elk herd. [10] [11] Another video, taken by triathlete Max Fennell in March or April of 2024, depicted the donkey as a member of an elk herd that included at least a dozen individuals. The video, taken a few miles from where Diesel had disappeared, circulated on social media sites and received widespread media coverage. A dead mountain lion that appeared to have been killed by a hoofed animal led a warden in the area to suspect that it had been killed by Diesel. Additionally, Fennell said that the donkey "might be the leader because as Diesel would move, the other [ sic ] elk would move". [12] After seeing the video, Terrie Drewry positively identified the donkey as Diesel. She said "Finally, we know he's good. He's living his best life. He's happy. He's healthy, and it was just a relief." [9] There are no plans to recapture Diesel [13] who Drewry said has "earned his freedom". [12]

Donkeys, which are considered an invasive species in California, may live up to 25 years in the wild. [14]

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References

  1. 1 2 Heinz, Mark (June 21, 2024). "Donkey Named Diesel Living With California Elk..." Cowboy State Daily. Archived from the original on June 23, 2024. Retrieved June 23, 2024.
  2. 1 2 Looker, Rachel (June 21, 2024). "Pet donkey found 'living best life' with elk, five years after escape". BBC News. Archived from the original on June 23, 2024. Retrieved June 23, 2024.
  3. 1 2 3 "Diesel The Pet Donkey Is Lost In The Wild". CBS Sacramento. April 23, 2019. Archived from the original on June 23, 2024. Retrieved June 23, 2024.
  4. ↑ Del Rey, Michelle (June 21, 2024). "Pet donkey that vanished five years ago is spotted living with a herd of elk". The Independent.
  5. 1 2 3 "Search On For 'Diesel' The Donkey That Escaped During A Training Trip West Of Yuba City". CBS Sacramento. April 23, 2019.
  6. ↑ "Diesel The Missing Donkey". CBS News. April 23, 2019 – via YouTube.
  7. ↑ Taylor, James (June 13, 2024). "Owners of pet donkey lost 5 years ago near Auburn discover where he's been". CBS Sacramento. Archived from the original on June 23, 2024. Retrieved June 23, 2024.
  8. ↑ "Game Camera Catches Glimpse Of Missing Donkey". CBS Sacramento. May 9, 2019. Archived from the original on June 23, 2024. Retrieved June 23, 2024.
  9. 1 2 Andrew, Scottie (June 20, 2024). "A pet donkey disappeared in California five years ago. He's been spotted living with a herd of wild elk". CNN. Archived from the original on June 23, 2024. Retrieved June 23, 2024.
  10. ↑ "Donkey Joins A Herd Of Elk". ViralHog. Retrieved June 23, 2024.
  11. ↑ Hanson, Hilary (June 15, 2024). "Lost Donkey Seen Living With Elk Herd 5 Years Later: 'Living His Best Life'". HuffPost. Archived from the original on June 28, 2024. Retrieved June 28, 2024.
  12. 1 2 "Lost Donkey Seen With Herd of Elk". Inside Edition. June 18, 2024. Archived from the original on June 28, 2024. Retrieved June 28, 2024.
  13. ↑ "Diesel the escaped pet donkey found living with elk after five years". The Guardian. June 21, 2024. Archived from the original on June 28, 2024. Retrieved June 23, 2024.
  14. ↑ "Invasive Burros". National Park Service. Retrieved 28 July 2024.
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