National Wild Horse and Burro Program

"The Bureau of Land Management’s top priority is to ensure the health of the public lands so that the species depending on them – including the nation’s wild horses and burros – can thrive.   To achieve that end, the BLM’s wild horse and burro program must be put on a sustainable course that benefits the animals, the land, and the American taxpayer." BLM Director Bob Abbey Click here for full message

The BLM protects, manages, and controls wild horses and burros under the authority of the Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act of 1971 to ensure that healthy herds thrive on healthy rangelands. The BLM manages these living symbols of the Western spirit as part of its multiple-use mission under the 1976 Federal Land Policy and Management Act .

	About the Program The BLM estimates that nearly 37,000 wild horses and burros are roaming on BLM-managed rangelands in 10 Western states. Wild horse herd sizes can double about every four years. As a result, the agency must remove thousands of animals from the range each year to control population. New research on and stepped-up application of fertility-control measures will help bring herd sizes down to appropriate management levels. Quick Facts Myths and Facts Statistics and Maps About Fertility Control
	Secretary Salazar's Initiative Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar has proposed a national solution to restore the health of America’s wild horse herds and the rangelands that support them by creating a cost-efficient, sustainable management program that includes the possible creation of wild horse preserves on the productive grasslands of the Midwest and East. The initiative has received wide support from local and state agencies as well as advocacy groups.  News Release Letters of Support Fiscal Year 2011 Budget Proposal
	The Calico Gather In December 2009, the BLM began a gather in the Calico Mountains of northern Nevada, with the goal of keeping 600 to 900 horses in the complex. To reach that number, about 1,900 excess wild horses were removed through early February 2010.  General Information Daily Gather Updates Veterinarian Reports News Release on Conclusion of the Gather
	In the News Secretary Salazar's Initiative and the Calico (Nevada) gather have generated a considerable amount of publicity about the wild horse program. Local as well as national news organizations have commented on the program.  State wildlife agencies have joined wilderness and wildlife groups, such as the National Wildlife Federation, in support of the initiative and/or gather. Recent Editorials and Op-Ed Contributions News Articles and News Releases Letters of Support
	What Can I Do? Providing a home for a wild horse or burro is a challenging and rewarding experience. For qualified individuals, this is a unique opportunity to care for, then own, a "Living Legend" of the American West. If you can't adopt but still want to help, the program encourages people to volunteer, serve on advisory committees, and make donations. Adoption Information Volunteer Information The Wild Horse and Burro Advisory Board Donations
	More Information about the Wild Horse and Burro Program During the 1950s in Nevada, Velma B. Johnston, later known as Wild Horse Annie, worked to stop the ruthless manner in which wild horses on Western rangelands were being treated by "mustangers." Today, nearly 40 years after Congress passed the Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act of 1971, the BLM carries out a program that includes adoption, research, and management of these iconic animals in a humane manner. Statistics on the Program Newsletter and Success Stories History Contact Us
BLM State Wild Horse Program Links Arizona  California Colorado Eastern States Idaho Montana Nevada New Mexico Oregon Utah Wyoming