The Bureau of Land Management will offer three halter-gentled wild horses and two untrained wild burros for adoption Saturday, March 18, at the Humboldt County Fairgrounds in Ferndale, Calif.
Anyone interested can preview the animals when they arrive at the fairgrounds at 3 p.m., Friday, March 17. The adoption gates open at 8 a.m. Saturday, and a silent auction runs for an hour beginning at 9 a.m. Animals not taken during the auction will be available for BLM’s standard adoption fee of $125.
To qualify, adopters must be at least 18 years old and have facilities that meet the BLM’s requirements. Title to the animals remains with the federal government for a year, after which adopters can apply for title. Detailed information about adopter qualifications and facility requirements can be found here: https://www.blm.gov/programs/wild-horse-and-burro/adoption-and-sales/how-to-adopt.
The adoption event is being held in conjunction with the Back Country Horsemen of California Trail Obstacle Challenge, a free event open to public spectators. The event includes demonstrations on back country horse and burro packing topics including Dutch oven cooking, predator encounters, trail etiquette and correctly packing gear.
The BLM is responsible under the Wild Free Roaming Horses and Burro Act for protecting and managing wild horses and burros on public lands. The agency periodically removes animals from the range when populations exceed levels established to allow wild horse and burro herds to thrive in balance with other range users, including wildlife and permitted livestock. These animals are then available for adoption at events throughout the country.
To learn more about the BLM's Wild Horse and Burro program, please visit: https://www.blm.gov/whb
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