The U.S. government is now offering financial incentives to help find good homes for wild horses and burros that have been removed from public land.
The program is a part of the Bureau of Land Management’s efforts to confront a growing over-population of wild horses which costs nearly $50 million every year to maintain.
“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.”
As of March 1, the BLM believes about 81,950 wild horses and burros inhabit public lands. This number is more than triple the size the land can support.
This chronic overpopulation has increased the risk of damage to rangeland resources through overgrazing, which in turn raises the chances of starvation and thirst for animals in overpopulated herds.
Those qualified to adopt a wild horse or burro will be eligible to receive $500 within 60 days of the adoption date and an additional $500 within 60 days of titling for each animal. Titling usually happes about one year from the adoption date.
The incentive extends to all animals that are up for adoption, which includes animals at BLM facilities, off-site events or on the agency’s Online Corral website.
Those who are adopting an animal will need to pay a minimum $25 adoption fee per animal.
“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.
If you’re interested in adopting a wild horse or burro, you’ll be required to complete an application proving you can feed and provide humane care to the animals. You must also authorize the incentive to be deposited via electronic funds transfers.
For more information about adoption guidelines and requirements, click here.
