WASHINGTON - The Bureau of Land Management Eastern States (BLM ES) announced today that from July-September 2017, 280 wild horses or burros have been placed into private homes; 74 of these animals were adopted or purchased through the internet adopt a horse program located at https://www.blm.gov/adoptahorse/. The current internet adoption began October 31 and will close Nov. 14, 2017. Applications to adopt during this internet auction must be received by Nov. 10, 2017.
The BLM ES plans to launch a new wild horse and burro internet adoption site called “Wild Horse and Burro Online Corral," which may be accessed at any time during the year after the prospective adopter’s or buyer’s application has been approved. Mitch Leverette, Acting BLM ES Director, said, “Increased access to this new site will enable greater numbers of horses and burros to be adopted or purchased into good homes throughout the year." The current internet adoption site is available only during specified timeframes. The new site is expected to launch in December 2017.
The BLM estimates that as of March 2017, about 73,000 wild horses and burros roam Western public lands, almost three times the number that is sustainable and healthy for the public rangelands and the animals. With the public’s input, the BLM determines the number of animals the public rangelands can sustain and works to adopt or purchase gathered wild horses and burros.
The wild horse and burro program serves American families by providing opportunities in their local communities to adopt or purchase one of America’s Living Legends gathered from the Western rangelands. Since 1971, when the adoption program began, the BLM ES has placed over 80,000 animals into private care in the East. For more information on the wild horse and burro program, including requirements for adopting or purchasing a horse or burro and where to find an event location near you, visit https://www.blm.gov/programs/wild-horse-and-burro. Read great adoption success stories in Flickr at https://www.flickr.com/photos/mypubliclands/sets/72157674369054370.
Source: U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management
