Burros as Guard Dogs on the Farm (1/2)

A burro is a small donkey. Donkeys are related to horses; both are part of the equine family. Another way people say it is BOOR-oh. The name comes from Spanish and, before that, from a Latin term for small horse.

Burros reach an average height of over a meter and can weigh more than 225 kilograms. The long-eared animals are often gray with white noses, jaws and undersides. But they can also have coats of red or blue.

Burros are known for their sure footing on mountains while carrying heavy loads. In the United States, they are best known for their history as pack animals in the desert Southwest. In fact, burros in the wild are related to pack animals that ran away or were freed by gold miners and others.

But burros are not only good pack animals. They can also help calm and control nervous horses and guard sheep and goats on farms. Robin Rivello works with the New Jersey chapter of the American Mustang and Burro Association. She says burros have protected farm animals even against bears.

农场看护好手——小驴(1)

参考译文：

Burro是一种小驴。驴和马是不分家的，它们都是马科动物的一种。人们给它的另一种称呼是BOOR-oh。这名字来自西班牙语，在此之前是拉丁语里的一种小马（的称呼）。

驴平均身高1米多，体重超过225千克。这种长耳动物通常是灰色的，而鼻子、口和下腹是白色的。但是他们也可能有较为深色的毛皮。

驴因它们在山路上载重时的沉稳步伐而广为人知。在美国，它们最出名的是在西南那片不毛之地作为驮畜的历史。事实上，那些逃跑的或是被金矿主和其他人放生的驮畜（有些）就成了野驴。

但是驴不仅仅是优秀的驮畜。它们也可以控制并帮助使紧张的马平静，同时还可以在农场里看守山羊和绵羊。Robin Rivello在美国野马和驴联合会的新泽西分部工作。她说驴子保护了农场的牲畜甚至还能抵抗熊。