SPRINGFIELD, VA — The Department of Interior, Bureau of Land Management-Eastern States (BLM-ES) will hold a Wild Horse and Burro Adoption at the Wild Horse and Burro Holding Facility in Ewing, Illinois on March 2-3, 2007.

The adoption will be from 9 A.M. to 5 P.M. on Friday, March 2 and Saturday, March 3, 2007. The facility is located 30 minutes from Mt. Vernon, Illinois just east of I-57 at exit 77. All those who adopt at this event will receive a free halter. Anyone who gets pre-registered and qualified by February 28, 2007, and adopts during the event, will receive a Special Wild Horse and Burro halter. All other adopters will receive a plain halter.

Yearlings and horses under 5 years old will be available for this event. These horses are noted for their endurance, sure-footedness and intelligence. All animals have been examined by a veterinarian, vaccinated, de-wormed, and blood-tested prior to being offered for adoption to good homes.

Since the Adopt-A-Wild Horse & Burro Program began in 1973, over 215,000 animals have been adopted nationwide. Gentled wild horses in the Midwest are used for trail riding, dressage, western events, and other disciplines. Of those 215,000 horses and burros adopted so far nationwide, 2705 have been adopted in Illinois, 2169 in Indiana, 4923 in Kentucky and 5889 in Missouri.

For applications, facility and trailer requirements, or other information about this event, contact the Bureau of Land Management-Eastern States 1-800-370-3936. Adopters’ applications must be approved by a Wild Horse and Burro Specialist prior to being eligible to adopt.

You may also visit http://www.wildhorseandburro.blm.gov/adoption.htm or http://www.es.blm.gov/whb/ to get requirement information, download an application to become a qualified adopter, and view/print driving directions.

Prospective adopters must have sturdy corrals, at least 6 feet high for horses and 5 feet for burros and yearlings, shelter, transportation, and the means of caring for the animals. The adoption order will be determined by lottery, with an adoption fee of $125 per animal.

Adopters must provide their own stock-type, step-up trailer. BLM staff will sort, halter and load animals onto the adopters’ trailers. Applications to adopt may be screened in advance by mail or fax and will be reviewed in person starting Friday. Adopters must be approved to adopt animals. To avoid waiting in the lines call early to be pre-approved before you come and get the Special Wild Horse and Burro halter when you adopt.

The facility is located 5 miles east of Ewing, Illinois, at 22295 Sheep Farm Rd. Directions to the facility are: From Interstate 57, take exit 77 east (S.R. 154), turn north on State Route 37 and go 1 mile, turn east (right) on Ewing Rd., go 8 miles (3 miles past the town of Ewing,) and turn north (left) onto Sheep Farm Rd., go 1 1/2 miles, the facility is at the intersection of Sheep Farm Rd. and Bobtail Rd.

The BLM manages more land — 258 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.
Source: Bureau of Land Management

CONTACT: Bill Davenport of Bureau of Land Management,
+1-703-440-1720