Prospecting for gold in Colorado was a rough life for both prospectors and burros in the 1800s.  During the harsh mountain winters when mining operations ceased prospectors often abandoned their hardworking burros.  By the 1900s the free-roaming burros would wonder into town begging for biscuits and flapjacks knowing they could get an easy handout especially by the children.   To this day it is not uncommon to see wild friendly curious burros lined up, heading to town to beg for a handout.