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Press release from the Bureau of Land Management:

Ferndale – The Bureau of Land Management will offer two untrained Mustang yearling fillies and four wild burros for adoption Saturday, March 9, at the Humboldt County Fairgrounds in Ferndale.

Anyone interested can see the available animals between noon and 5 p.m., Friday, March 8. The adoption begins with a silent auction at 9 a.m. Saturday. Animals not taken during the auction will be available on a first come, first served basis for a $125 adoption fee. The BLM’s Adoption Incentive Program applies to this event; adopters receive a check for $1,000, when they receive title to their animals a year after adoption.

To qualify, adopters must be at least 18 years old and have facilities that meet the BLM’s requirements. Title to the animals remains with the federal government for a year, after which adopters can apply for title. Detailed information about adopter qualifications and facility requirements can be found online.

The adoption event is being held in conjunction with the Back Country Horsemen of California Trail Obstacle Challenge, a free event for spectators. The event includes demonstrations on back country horse and burro packing topics, including Dutch oven cooking, predator encounters, trail etiquette and correctly packing gear.

The BLM is responsible under the Wild Free Roaming Horses and Burro Act for protecting and managing wild horses and burros on public lands. The agency periodically removes animals from the range when populations exceed levels established to allow wild horse and burro herds to thrive in balance with other range users, including wildlife and permitted livestock. These animals are then available for adoption at events throughout the country.

To learn more about the BLM’s Wild Horse and Burro program, please visit: https://www.blm.gov/whb.