BLM announces two wild horse adoptions

The Bureau of Land Management has announced they will kick-off the summer with two wild horse adoptions in Wyoming in June. Untrained horses will be offered to qualified adopters on a first-come, first-served basis for a $25 fee.

According to the BLM, the federal agency manages and protects wild horses and burros on 26.9 million acres of public lands across 10 Western states as part of its mission to administer public lands for a variety of uses. The Wild Horse and Burro Program’s goal is to manage healthy wild horses and burros on healthy public rangelands.

Wild horses that are available for adoption have been removed from overpopulated herds roaming Western public rangelands. BLM Wyoming State Office Deputy State Director for Communications Brad Purdy, told Sheridan Media News that once the horse population of a particular herd management area has exceeded a manageable level the horses are gathered together through the use of helicopters. 

While some HMAs in the US have the terrain to allow the use of bait gathering, the use of helicopters has been determined to be the most humane manner in which to gather the horses together on Wyoming’s HMAs, according to Purdy. 

As part of the BLM’s efforts to find every horse and burro a good home, the agency offers up to $1,000 to adopt an untrained animal. The BLM reports that this adoption incentive will be offered for all horses at these two events. 

The sales themselves are the best manner in which to deal with Wyoming’s wild horse population, according to Purdy. 

On June 4, Wind River Wild Horse Ranch Public Off-Range Pasture: approximately 20 wild horses will be available from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the public off-range pasture near Lander. Potential buyers can take a free wagon tour to view the wild horses until 2 p.m.

On June 11, Deerwood Ranch Public Off-Range Pasture: approximately 20 wild horses will be available from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the public off-range pasture near Laramie.

In addition, the Rock Springs Wild Horse Holding Facility offers untrained horses for adoption by appointment only. Contact the facility at 307-352-0292.

For more information about the events and locations, visit blm.gov/whb or contact the national information center at 866-468-7826 or wildhorse@blm.gov.