Donkey Island - Augusta, Georgia

Cole Watkins of Cole Watkins Tours has been taking visitors out to Stallings Island (Donkey Island) since 2011. He brings out groups to the island via kayak, teaching people the history of the area and pointing out wildlife as they make the short journey to Stallings Island.
Stallings Island is an archeological site on the Savannah River, just outside Augusta, Georgia, which is home to the oldest pottery ever found in North America, including Canada and Mexico. The island was occupied from about 2600 B.C.E. to about 2000 B.C.E., and again from about 1800 B.C.E. to 1400 B.C.E.
Goats were brought out to the island to control the vegetation for when researchers come to the island. Donkeys made the trip to protect the goats from coyotes. The goats are no longer on the island, as donkeys don’t make suitable watchdogs, but four donkeys remain: Hercules, Abigail, Buster Jr, and their mama Jenny. Buster Sr was a larger breed of donkey and didn’t mix well with the smaller donkeys on the island, so he was transported to an animal sanctuary, where he is reportedly having the time of his life.
Cole and a group of good samaritans look after the medical needs of the donkeys, including facilitating the annual visit from a veterinarian, who must also make the trip by kayak. Note that you must stay in your boat as it’s against the law to set foot on this island without permission.
The donkeys eat a wide array of vegetables, drink the water around the island, and grow a winter coat of fur for Augusta’s short and mild winter. The male donkeys are fixed, so there are not likely going to be any new donkeys in the future.
The kayak trip to Stallings Island is part of the Serene 18 Paddle Trail a guide to navigable waterways around Savannah. With each completed journey, you can get a stamp! If you finish all of the journeys, you get a t-shirt!
Cole was an incredible guide! Drop into his DM’s or get in touch with Cole Watkins Tours!
www.colewatkin...
serene18.com
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