South Dakota's Custer State Park is brimming with wildlife. From bison to prairie dogs, you'll see all kinds of animals in their natural habitat. If you take the Wildlife Loop Road, you'll see another kind of wild animal and it's both quirky and charming. Here's more on how you can get up-close-and-personal with the Custer State Park begging burros.
Custer State Park is the crown jewel of South Dakota's park system. Encompassing more than 100 square miles, it's home to some of the state's most beautiful scenery.
Wildlife Loop Road winds its way through the park for 18 miles. It's a beautiful, scenic drive, and you're certain to see wildlife along the way.
In fact, it's unlikely that you'll travel Wildlife Loop Road without coming to a wildlife jam. Often, a pack of feral burros is to blame. These goofy, long-eared burros love to beg for food and visitors are often happy to indulge them.
If your car window is unrolled, you're likely to have a burro with puppy-dog eyes and the sweetest nose you ever saw begging for a treat.
One might even pop his head through your window for a kiss. Pucker up!
Is there anything more adorable than a baby begging burro? We think not.
These burros are cute, but make no mistake: they're wild animals. Today's herd originated from pack mules used to climb the Harney Peak summit. Now they're feral, and even though they look goofy and precious, they can still be unpredictable.
While it's fun to feed the begging burros, you'll also want to have your camera ready. These pack-animals-gone-wild are both brilliant and beautiful.
Have you seen the Custer State Park begging burros? If so, we would love to see your photos!
While you're at Custer State Park, you'll definitely want to get a peek at this lake that was just named one of the most beautiful in America.
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