Five years after escaping from his owners in Auburn, California, Diesel the donkey has been found thriving, not just surviving, but living his best life among a herd of wild elk. Terrie and Dave Drewry, Diesel’s owners, confirmed that footage captured by a hiker in early June shows their long-lost pet, instantly recognizable despite his years in the wild.
Diesel’s adventure began during a hiking trip near Clear Lake, California, in 2019 when he was spooked and bolted from Mr. Drewry. Despite exhaustive searches by volunteers in the weeks following his disappearance, Diesel seemed to have vanished without a trace. A single trail camera image captured months later offered a glimmer of hope, but then silence. “We finally kind of gave up,” Mrs. Drewry admitted to CBS, a BBC news partner, highlighting the despair of losing their beloved pet donkey. “Just no signs of him.”
Earlier this month, hiker Max Fennell stumbled upon an elk herd and noticed a surprising addition – a donkey, clearly integrated and at ease amongst the elk. Fennell’s footage, shared widely on social media, brought incredible news to the Drewrys. “It was amazing,” Mrs. Drewry recounted. “It was like, oh my gosh. Finally, we saw him. Finally, we know he’s good. He’s living his best life. He’s happy. He’s healthy, and it was just a relief.” The elk herd’s location, just miles from where Diesel initially went missing, is notably devoid of wild donkeys, making Diesel’s integration even more extraordinary.
“Two completely different creatures, but they learn to get along and be each other’s family,” Mrs. Drewry reflected, marveling at the unlikely interspecies bond. Having since adopted new donkeys, the Drewrys have made the heartfelt decision not to recapture Diesel. They recognize that after five years of freedom, attempting to bring him back would be incredibly difficult and potentially disruptive to his well-being. “To catch him would be next to impossible,” Mrs. Drewry stated. “He is truly a wild burro now. He’s out there doing what he’s raised to do,” acknowledging Diesel’s transformation into a truly wild donkey.
At approximately eight years old, with donkeys known to live up to 40 years, Diesel has many years of his wild elk life ahead. His story is a testament to the resilience and adaptability of animals, and a heartwarming reminder that sometimes, the greatest adventures lead us to the most unexpected families.
