Pink Donkeys?

There is a unique vernacular that tells the story about donkeys -- special words that let donkey-lovers converse on a deeper level. The museum's donkey mascot Nugget asked me to inform his good friends that we've been mistaking his color. He told me that the color of his coat is not gray, or even silver, but pink. "Pink," I said?

"That's right," he brayed: "Pink!"

There are two primary indicators of Nugget's pink color. The first is easier to see in the summertime, so now is a good time to start your observations. Beginning in the autumn the donkey's coat starts to grow thicker and longer hair providing a warm and cozy covering when winter rolls around. When spring arrives, he begins to shed (lose his hair) and with grooming, he will maintain a short, sleek, and shiny coat during the summer. During these warm months, look closely at Nugget's shoulders and haunches (rear end), and you will see an apricot color. The second indicator that establishes Nugget's color as pink is the chestnut color of his dorsal (back) and shoulder stripes.

I assured my little buddy Nugget (all 450 pounds of him) that I'd pass along this message. Oro, whose color is bay (don't get me started!), also said to say "hi"! All is well with the herd, and we look forward to seeing you around the corral this spring!

Brad Poulson,
Special Programs & Site Coordinator

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