Jackson the Jackass, or Jackson the Burro as some prefer, was a wild burro that roamed along roads in Red Rock Canyon hoping for handouts. Unfortunately, when people feed burros along roads, they walk onto the pavement hoping for more. When that happens, especially at night, large dark animals and fast cars don't mix. Almost always, the burro dies, and sometimes the humans die too.

As a result of feeding burros and the resulting human deaths, most of the wild burros were captured and removed from Red Rocks. From 2012 to 2023, Jackson was kept as an animal ambassador so people can meet a wild-born burro without running the risk of killing them.

While it might be sad to see Jackson in jail, burros and horses are not native to North America and they really do cause considerable environmental harm to Desert Bighorn Sheep and other species dependent on water holes.

Jackson used to live at the Cowboy Trail Rides Stables, but he has retired to a sanctuary in South Carolina (if I recall correctly). Jackson was an ambassador for the Feral Burro Program and will be missed by many.