BOISE, Idaho — The Bureau of Land Management is now offering new financial incentives to encourage people to adopt wild horses and burros removed from public lands.
Through the new incentive program, qualified adopters are eligible to receive $500 within 60 days of the adoption date and an additional $500 within 60 days of titling for each animal, which normally occurs one year from the adoption date. The incentive is available for all animals that are eligible for adoption.
“We understand that adopting a wild horse or burro represents a commitment. The incentive is designed to help with the adopter’s initial training and humane care,” said BLM Deputy Director of Programs and Policy Brian Steed. “I encourage anyone who has considered adopting a wild horse or burro to join the thousands of owners who have provided good homes to more than 245,000 wild horses or burros since 1971.”
The program is part of the BLM’s effort to confront over-population of wild horses and burros on fragile rangelands and in off-range holding facilities, which costs taxpayers $50 million per year.
The latest estimate puts the wild horse and burro population at around 82,000 animals. That’s three times more than the land can support. Chronic overpopulation increases the risk of damage to rangelands and raises the possibility of starvation and thirst among the herds.
“Finding good homes for excess animals and reducing overpopulation on the range are top priorities for the BLM as we strive to protect the health of these animals while balancing other legal uses of our public rangelands, including allowing for other traditional land uses such as wildlife conservation and grazing,” Steed added.
Potential adopters are required to complete an application proving they can feed and provide humane care to the animals and that they will adhere to the prohibited acts and titling requirements. Go to the BLM website or call (866) 468-7826 to learn more about the guidelines and requirements for adopting a wild horse or burro.
