BLM Offers Cash Incentives to Adopt Wild Horses and Burros

March 20, 2019

In an effort to encourage the adoption of wild horses and burros, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is offering a $1,000 incentive for each animal adopted. This initiative aims to find homes for the thousands of horses and burros currently held in BLM facilities. However, the program has sparked debate among conservationists about the best use of resources for managing wild horse populations.

BLM Adoption Facility in Palomino Valley

Off the Pyramid Highway, signs lead to the BLM Adoption Facility in Palomino Valley, where hundreds of horses, geldings, mares, yearlings, and burros await adoption. The BLM has showcased the versatility of these animals through horse shows and shared numerous success stories of adopted animals thriving in various roles.

“We've had a Breyer horse that was a Mustang,” says Jason Lutterman, a BLM spokesman. “These horses have gone on to work for the border patrol and the U.S. Marine Corps,” he adds.

Incentive Program Details

In 2018, the BLM rounded up more than 11,000 horses in the West. To encourage adoptions, they are now offering $1,000 per animal, distributed in $500 increments over a year. The BLM hopes this money will assist with training or setup costs for new adopters.

“This is our way of trying to incentivize more people to give a horse a good home,” says Lutterman.

Opposition from Conservationists

Deb Walker from the American Wild Horse Conservation (formerly American Wild Horse Campaign) opposes the cash incentives. She argues that the funds would be better spent on fertility control for horses on the range and collaborating with volunteers to keep the horses wild.

“So this is an excellent program. Over the lifetime of a mare, we can inoculate her and prevent pregnancies for as little as $700,” Walker explains.

The BLM counters that current birth control methods last only one year and are not viable for addressing the populations and locations of horses.

For more information on the BLM cash program, click here.

Originally posted by KOLO TV