WHEATLAND, Wyo. - The Bureau of Land Management Wheatland Off-Range Corral has postponed its scheduled April 1 wild horse and burro adoption event because some horses at the facility have an upper respiratory illness.
The facility is temporarily closed and animals quarantined until a veterinarian determines them to no longer be showing signs of illness. Postponing the event will reduce stress on the animals, allowing them to recover while avoiding transmission outside the facility. No public tours or adoptions will occur during the closure.
Through testing, the horses were determined to have Streptococcus equi, or strangles, a bacterial infection similar to strep throat in humans that commonly affects younger horses. The BLM and a contracted veterinarian continue to assess the condition of the animals. Additionally, the BLM conducts daily health checks on the animals at the facility to ensure a healthy herd environment.
The next adoption event at the Wheatland Off-Range Corral is scheduled for Friday, May 6. The Rock Springs Wild Horse Facility in Rock Springs, Wyoming, will also hold an event on April 30.
For the latest information on wild horse events, follow BLM Wyoming on Facebook and Twitter or visit https://www.blm.gov/programs/wild-horse-and-burro/adoption-and-sales/events.
Source: U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management
