Wednesday, 05 May 2010 04:04

BLM Announces Wild Horse and Burro Adoption Program

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slide4-blm_announces_wild_horse_and_burro_adoption_program.pngAmador County - Residents of Grass Valley and the surrounding region will have the opportunity to add a horse or burro to their families when the Bureau of Land Management brings its Wild Horse and Burro Adoption Program to the Nevada County Fairgrounds on Saturday, May 8th. The BLM will offer 40 horses, mostly yearlings, and 10 burros for public adoption. Anyone interested can preview the animals when they arrive at about 3 p.m. on Friday, May 7. “With spring and summer days ahead, this is a good time to begin training an adopted mustang or burro,” said Doug Satica, manager of BLM’s Litchfield Wild Horse and Burro Facility. The horses are from herd management areas in Northeast California and Northwest Nevada. Burros came from Southern California deserts. All available animals have received de-worming treatments and vaccinations for West Nile virus, rabies and common equine diseases. Adopters receive complete health records for their animals. To qualify, adopters must be at least 18 years old and have no convictions for inhumane treatment of animals. BLM staff members will interview all prospective adopters to be sure they meet the BLM adoption requirements. At the adoption event, Adopters must provide a halter and lead rope. Title to adopted wild horses and burros remains with the federal government for one year. “Wild horses are strong, loyal, intelligent and very trainable,” Satica said. Wild horses and burros are protected by a federal law, the Wild and Free Roaming Horses and Burros Act. The law recognizes the animals as “living symbols of the historic and pioneer spirit of the west,” and requires the BLM to manage the wild herds. There are about 37,000 wild horses and burros roaming on public rangelands in the western states. The BLM periodically gathers horses and burros to control herd populations on ranges shared with wildlife and domestic livestock. The adoption takes place May 8th from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m at the Nevada County Fairgrounds. For additional information, contact the BLM at 1-866-4MUSTANGS or the Litchfield Corrals at (530) 254-6575. Information is also available online at www.wildhorseandburro.blm.gov. Almost 225,000 animals have been placed in private care since the BLM’s Adopt-a-Horse-or-Burro Program began in the early 1970s. This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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