The Bureau of Land Management will host a wild horse and placement event June 10-11 at Shale Knoll Arena at 126 Sherk’s Church Road, Annville.
Approximately 60 excess animals gathered from western rangelands will be available for adoption. The animals were gathered from overpopulated herd management areas in the western states to help improve rangeland health.
They are available for adoption to save taxpayers the costs for holding the animals in federal facilities. The program includes strict guidelines for individuals wishing to adopt an animal, including restrictions around facilities and background checks.
Adoptions are available by appointment only. Appointments will be held from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday, June 10, and from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, June 11. Five appointments will be available per hour. To book an appointment, email BLM_ES_NSDO_WHB@blm.gov with your top three preferred time slots. The adoption fee is $125.
Adopted wild horses and burros will remain owned by the federal government for at least a year, at which the BLM will send a Title Eligibility Letter that requires a signed statement from a qualified person (such as a veterinarian, county extension agent, or humane official) confirming that you have provided humane care for the animal. After that process has completed, a Certificate of Title will be sent for the animal.
Qualified adopters will be eligible to receive a $1,000 distribution after one year of issuance of the certificate of title for an untrained wild horse or available.
“The BLM placed more than 240,000 wild horses and burros into private care since 1971,” Northeastern States District manager Stephanie Carman said in a press release. “Many of those animals have become excellent pleasure, show, or work horses.”
For more information on the BLM’s wild horse and burro program, visit their website. For more information about adoption specifically, visit the FAQ page here.
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