Donkey location data and disease exposure data in southern California between 2020 and 2022

This dataset includes GPS locations of free-roaming donkeys (Equus asinus; also called burros) in southern California, USA, within Fort Irwin National Training Center and Death Valley National Park between 2020 and 2022, as well as data on the disease status of donkeys in these same areas. Data were collected by placing GPS collars on donkeys and tracking their movements. Collars provided a GPS location of donkeys every 4 hours. Disease testing was conducted at the University of California, Davis, by collecting nasal swabs from each donkey at the time it was collared (handled) and running tests for asinine herpes virus 5 (AHV-5) and Streptococcus equi zooepidemicus (SEZ). All handling of donkeys was conducted by trained staff at the Peaceful Valley Donkey Rescue, as part of their capture contract with Fort Irwin National Training Center and Death Valley National Park. Collaring of donkeys was monitored and approved by Animal Care and Use Protocol FORT IACUC 2015-10_RENEWAL_B, and by CA_DEVA.MOJA_King_Burro_2023.A2 NPS IACUC concurrence.