You’ve probably heard about the donkeys on St. John. And if you haven’t heard about them, you’re likely to see them for yourselves. There isn’t an exact number for the amount of donkeys that inhabit the island, but we can guess that there are around 60. Even though this seems like a large number for a small island, you will only usually see them in small groups of 3-5. They are most often found in Coral Bay, East End, and South. But they’ll also venture to the beaches on North Shore, so always make sure to keep your food packed up tight while you’re swimming, in case a pack of hungry donkeys show up!

Wild donkeys have been around since the 1600’s. When slavery was abolished, the donkeys from the plantations were set free. For a while, families would use donkeys for transportation, but as cars became more common, they were released again, and have been roaming the island ever since. They are one of the more friendly animals on the island. They have a habit of approaching cars and sticking their heads in the windows, looking for hand-outs. It is very tempting to pet and feed the donkeys because they are just so cute, but please don’t. Feeding only encourages them to overstep boundaries, which can end up being a real nuisance for certain businesses like restaurants. So as usual, take as many pictures as you like, but leave them be. I suggest keeping your distance from the donkeys, while taking photos, as they can sometimes get spooked and end up kicking people.