Wild Horse and Burro Program
The Bureau of Land Management manages and protects wild horses and burros on 26.9 million acres of public lands across 10 Western states as part of its mission to administer public lands for a variety of uses. The Wild Horse and Burro Program's goal is to manage healthy wild horses and burros on healthy public rangelands.
- About the Wild Horse and Burro Program
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The Bureau of Land Management created the Wild Horse and Burro Program to implement the Wild-Free Roaming Horses and Burros Act (.pdf), passed by Congress in 1971. Broadly, the law declares wild horses and burros to be “living symbols of the historic and pioneer spirit of the West” and stipulates that the BLM and the U.S. Forest Service have the responsibility to manage and protect herds in their respective jurisdictions within areas where wild horses and burros were found roaming in 1971. Read more >>
Learn more about the Wild Horse and Burro Program:
- Wild Horse and Burro Blog
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The Tales from the Trails blog pulls together wild horse and burro stories from across the Bureau of Land Management. These are stories about our work to manage and protect wild horse and burro herds on public lands, how animals are cared for in our off-range holding facilities and where they end up after they've been adopted to a good home. Read more >>
Read some recent featured stories:
- Annual plan for wild horse and burro gather and fertility control operations in Fiscal Year 2025 builds on progress towards healthy herds and healthy lands
- Celebrating Five Years of the Adoption Incentive Program: A Win-Win for Animals and Taxpayers
- Wild Horse Annie: The Original Champion of America's Wild Horses and Burros
- Gin and Finley Ride Across America
- From failed meet cute to forever; A life changing journey to Mustang Mania
- Wild horses trained by Veterans in Colorado
- BLM investing in healthy wild horse herds and wildlife habitat in Sand Wash Basin
- On-Range Herd Management
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The BLM manages free-roaming wild horses and burros on public lands as part of its multiple-use mission, with the goal of supporting healthy wild horses and burros on healthy public rangelands. The BLM is responsible for determining and maintaining appropriate management levels (AML) for each herd and works to achieve that population target through a variety of management processes, including limiting reproduction in some herds through the use of birth control and gathers that remove excess animals from the range. Read more >>
Learn more about:
- Off-Range Adoptions and Sales
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The BLM works to place excess animals into private care through its Adoption and Sales Programs as well as successful partnerships with organizations across the nation. Many have found it personally challenging and rewarding to adopt or purchase a wild horse or burro. It is a chance to care for, and then own, a part of America’s heritage. Read more >>
Learn more about:
- Get Involved
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Managing, protecting, and finding homes for America’s wild horses and burro is challenging as it is rewarding. There are many opportunities to get involved in the management and protection of America’s wild horses and burros. The BLM relies on the hard work and determination of thousands of volunteers, partners, donors and contractors. Read more >>
Learn more about:
- Advisory Board
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The National Wild Horse and Burro Advisory Board provides advice and recommendations to the BLM and the U.S. Forest Service as the agencies work to carry out their missions to manage and protect wild horses and burros on public lands. Read more >>
- Contact Us and Request Information
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Do you have questions about the Wild Horse and Burro Program, or would you like to request program data? We recommend first checking our data page, which provides decades of population, adoption, removal and other historical data, as well as our Frequently Asked Questions page.
For additional questions or data requests, please contact the National Information Center prior to submitting a request under the Freedom of Information Act. We strive to provide substantive responses as quickly as possible and reduce the need to submit FOIA requests. FOIA requests undergo a legal process that can be time intensive and costly, which consumes agency resources and funding that otherwise can be used to help fulfill our mission of managing healthy wild horses and burros on healthy public lands.
Finally, please report any suspected inhumane treatment of wild horses and burros to the National Information Center.
Wild Horse and Burro National Information Center
866-4MUSTANGS (866-468-7826)
wildhorse@blm.govContact information for off-range corral facilities can be found on each facility webpage.
Contact your local BLM state, district or field office for specific questions regarding submitting an adoption application, obtaining title and more.
To submit a FOIA request, please visit the BLM's FOIA website.
Photo credit: John Wheland
Annual plan for wild horse and burro gather and fertility control operations in Fiscal Year 2025 builds on progress towards healthy herds and healthy lands
The Bureau of Land Management released its tentative plan for wild horse and burro gather and fertility control operations in Fiscal Year 2025, which outlines the bureau’s planned efforts as it works to protect herd and land health across the West. Scott Fluer is the Wild Horse and Burro Program’s Deputy Division Chief for On-Range Operations, and he’s responsible for managing and coordinating the formulation of the annual plan. Read more >>
Recent Wild Horse and Burro News
- Celebrating Five Years of the Adoption Incentive Program: A Win-Win for Animals and Taxpayers
- BLM 2024 wild horse and burro estimates show reduced overpopulation
- More than 8,000 wild horses and burros found new homes in Fiscal Year 2023
- BLM releases new funding opportunity for wild horse and burro research
- BLM seeks new partnerships to support wild horse and burro adoptions
- The BLM and USFS seek nominations for National Wild Horse and Burro Advisory Board
- BLM, USFS select Wild Horse and Burro Advisory Board members
How to Bring Home a Wild Horse or Burro
Educational Resources
Find educational resources about wild horses and burros and their management, provided by the Bureau of Land Management.
Inhumane Treatment and Illegal Sale
The BLM provides information to equine sale and auction facilities regarding the illegal sale of untitled wild horses and burros. If you observe or have factual information that a federally protected (untitled) wild horse or wild burro has been treated inhumanely or illegally sold to slaughter, please contact the BLM at wildhorse@blm.gov or at 866-468-7826 with your name, contact information, and specific information about what you saw or know. If possible, please include the freeze mark and/or photos.