Arizona trooper rescues burro whose mother was killed by car

A day-old burro was rescued by an Arizona Department of Public Safety (DPS) trooper after his mom was struck and killed on a highway.

The department said on Facebook everything unfolded Sept. 5 on State Route 74 near Lake Pleasant.

The newborn burro was saved by DPS Sgt. Roger Hansen, along with other troopers and Arizona Department of Transportation officials who responded to the scene. They knew the animal could not survive in the wild alone after being found near where his mom was killed.

Hansen and the others reached out to Stacie Thomas of One Step Wild Burros and Mustang Rescue, who agreed to take in the foal. Hansen managed to get the burro into the back of his vehicle and brought him over.

ARIZONA DOG RETURNS TO FAMILY AFTER GOING MISSING FOR 12 YEARS: 'WAS LIKE A NEW PUPPY AGAIN'

The burro, affectionately named "Roger" after his rescuer, sits in the back of an Arizona Dept. of Public Safety patrol vehicle. (Arizona Department of Public Safety)

"Once he arrived at the rescue, Ms. Thomas was able to match the foal with a nursing mother burro. The little guy quickly settled in and adjusted to his adoptive mom, and has been eating, running and playing just like a little burro should," Arizona DPS said.

WASHINGTON DEPUTY CRAWLS INTO PIPE TO RESCUE INJURED DOG

The rescued burro was matched with a nursing mother. (Arizona Department of Public Safety)



"Roger" was just a day old when his mother was struck, killed by a car on an Arizona highway. (Arizona Department of Public Safety)



An Arizona DPS trooper plans to adopt the burro once he's old enough to leave the rescue. (Arizona Department of Public Safety)



Arizona DPS Sergeant Roger Hansen was among the troopers and ADOT personnel who responded to the scene. (Arizona Department of Public Safety)

Thomas's grandson even named the small donkey "Roger" after Hansen.

A DPS trooper intends to wait for Roger to be old enough to leave the rescue, and then adopt him.