Contact: Bill Davenport (703) 440-1720

 SPECIAL EVENT COMING TO ACADIANA IN DECEMBER

On December 15-17, 2006, the Department of Interior, Bureau of Land Management–Eastern States (BLM-ES) will hold a special wild horse and burro adoption at the Acadia Rice Arena in Crowley, Louisiana just south of Interstate 10.  The facility is located at 159 Cherokee Road in Crowley, is easy to get to, and is open to the public with no admission charge.  This is your chance to get that special holiday gift that someone close to you has always wanted.

The wild horse adoption will be from 8 AM to 5 PM on Saturday, December 16, 2006.  Remaining animals will be available for adoption Sunday, December 17, 2006, from 8 AM until Noon.  Animals may be viewed by the public between 1 PM and 5 PM on Friday, December 15, 2006. 

“A special selection of animals will be available to good homes for an adoption fee starting at $125,” said BLM-ES Director Mike Nedd.  There will be about 80 horses and a few burros at this adoption including, geldings, mares, and yearling horses. “This is your chance to get the special wild horse or burro you have always wanted,” he said.

Call 1-888-274-2133 for information and applications for the Crowley adoption.  Potential adopters are asked to call early to be pre-approved to avoid waiting in line. You can also visit http://www.wildhorseandburro.blm.gov/adoption or http://www.es.blm.gov/whb/ to get requirement information and download an application to become a qualified adopter.

While the adoption process is simple and straightforward, anyone considering adoption of a wild horse or burro should remember that the animals are wild and require gentling and training. 

Since the Adopt-A-Wild Horse & Burro Program began in 1973, over 208,000 animals have been adopted nationwide, with 3050 horses and burros adopted in Louisiana

 Directions for the wild horse and burro adoptions are: From I-10 West: Take the Crowley/Eunice ... Exit 80.  Take a right and go south to the red light at McDonald's and take a left on Oddfellow Rd.  Go 1/4 mile to Cherokee Road and take a left (Cherokee road is between America's Bar and Stine Lumber.)  Pass Brammer Machine Shop and the LSU AG Center.  Before the bridge take a left to the arena.

From I-10 East:  Take the East Crowley Exit... Exit 82; At the stop sign take a left and go south; Go to the Red light and take a right on Oddfellow Road, pass Walmart and go approximately 1 mile and take a right on Cherokee road.  (Cherokee Road is between America's Bar and Stine Lumber.)  Pas Brammer Machine Shop and the LSU AG Center... Before the bridge take a left to the arena.

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The BLM manages more land – 262 million surface acres – than any other Federal agency.  Most of this public land is located in 12 Western States, including Alaska.  The Bureau, with a budget of about $1.8 billion, also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation.  The BLM’s multiple-use mission is to sustain the health and productivity of the public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations.  The Bureau accomplishes this by managing such activities as outdoor recreation, livestock grazing, mineral development, and energy production, and by conserving natural, historical, and cultural resources on the public lands.