WILD MUSTANGS AND BURROS LOOKING FOR HOME

WEST PLAINS -- About 200 wild horses will change owners here later this month.

"We'll put 200 young wild mustangs and burros for adoption Saturday and Sunday," said Jim Boylan, public affairs officer with the U.S. Department of the Interior. The department conducts adoption programs for the animals, which are gathered in Nevada, Wyoming, California and Oregon.

The animals will arrive at the Ozarks Regional Stockyards at West Plains Friday between the hours of 8 and 10 a.m., noted Boylan. "Viewing hours will be from 1 to 5 p.m. Friday, with the adoption event to be held Saturday and Sunday."

The adoption fee is $125 for horses and $75 for burros, which helps defray the costs of roundup, veterinary care and transportation, added Boylan.

"All animals have been vaccinated, blood-tested and de-wormed," said Boylan. "Each animal is inspected by a veterinarian and given a clean bill of health before being shipped."

To qualify to adopt up to four animals, applicants must have a sturdy corral at least six feet high, shelter, transportation and means of caring for the animals, noted Boylan.

After an animal has been adopted, Bureau of Land Management (BLM) personnel will halter and load the animal for the adopter. BLM officials also will provide information on health care, feeding and training of the wild animals.

"We have a number of burros for this event," said Kim Melicki, of the Department of Interior's BLM Milwaukee District. "The burros are always highly sought after."

Boylan said as many as 75 burros may be on hand.

"We're looking forward to the weekend event," said Boylan. "We have good success adopting mustangs and burros in Missouri and Illinois." An adoption event has been held at Goreville, Ill., the past two years.

"In past years we have had people from Illinois, Kentucky, Indiana, and Tennessee at the Goreville adoption proceedings," said Boylan.

The adoption program was initiated in 1973 to help curtail the problem of overpopulation among wild horses on public range lands. Since the program was started, more than 150,000 animals have been adopted by more than 60,000 people in the U.S.

"Adopters are always needed to help us solve the mustang overcrowding problems," said Boylan. "Right now we're looking for people who would like to take this opportunity to get involved in this program."

Herds of wild horses have increased in western lands over the past couple of decades, noted Boylan. "During the mid-1970s, census surveys revealed about 20,000 mustangs, but now we're seeing more than 30,000 of the animals."

The horses are permitted to roam and are left to fend for themselves in areas of Nevada, Wyoming, California and Oregon.

The populations grow so fast that thousands of horses must be removed each year to prevent harm to the range and to the herds.

Until 1986, people had to drive long distances to adopt wild horses.

The BLM has some permanent adoption centers where horses may be adopted year-round. Names of these centers are available by contacting a BLM district office, or by calling (414)-297-4433.