After the Legion Lake fire devastated Custer State Park, burning more than 54,000 acres in December, the family of donkeys living in the park are finally released back into the wild.

At the time of the fire there were only nine burros remaining in the park and all of them were caught in the flames. They suffered severe burns, smoke inhalation, and dehydration. Ultimately, three of the nine were euthanized after their organs began to fail.

On Thursday, April, 26, four of the remaining six were released back into Custer State Park along side four other donkeys donated by Brad Beavers of the Beaver Creek Buffalo Company.

The burros were nursed back to health by the husband-wife veterinarian team of Dustin and Kayla Brown at the Fall River Veterinary Clinic.

The pair have been working with the burros since the fire to make sure they are healthy and happy. They hope to release the other two in the near future.