Mustangs and Burros Available for Adoption in San Jose

Wild horses and burros from the ranges of northern California and Nevada will be offered to the public for adoption, when the Bureau of Land Management brings them to the Santa Clara County Horsemen’s Association arena in San Jose on Saturday, April 17.

“We will offer 40 mustangs ranging in age from yearlings to five year olds, and 10 burros of all ages,” said Pardee Bardwell of the BLM’s Wild Horse and Burro Program.  “They have been de-wormed and vaccinated against diseases including West Nile virus. They are ready to train.”
 
Gates at the arena, 20350 McKean Rd., open at 8 a.m., and an hour of silent bidding begins at 9.  Animals not taken during bidding will be available for a $125 adoption fee through the rest of the day.
 
Interested adopters can preview the animals when they arrive at the arena at about 3 p.m. Friday, April 16.
 
To qualify, adopters must be at least 18 years old and residents of the United States.  Adopted animals must be kept in corrals that offer at least 400 square feet per animal and are surrounded by six-foot pipe or board fences (five and a half-foot fences are allowed for horses under 2 years old;  four-foot fences are allowed for burros).  Two-sided roofed shelters are required.
 
Title to adopted animals initially remains with the U. S. government, but after providing a year of good care, adopters can receive title.
 
Horses and burros coming to San Jose were captured from wild herds whose populations exceeded the carrying capacity of their ranges.
 
Wild horses and burros are protected by a federal law, the Wild and Free Roaming Horses and Burros Act.  The law requires the BLM to maintain wild populations in balance with other range users, including wildlife and domestic livestock, so that food and water sources are sustained.
 
More information on wild horse management can be found online at www.wildhorseandburro.blm.gov.  Adoption information is available by calling 866-4MUSTANGS.

Northern California District   355 Hemsted Drive, Redding, CA 96002