Horse and Burro Campaign

February 24, 2006 -- Ratifying a unique partnership, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and the Public Lands Council (PLC) are unveiling a national campaign aimed at promoting the purchase of wild horses and burros.

Letters are going out to more than 15,000 livestock operators across the West who hold BLM-issued grazing permits or leases. The letters urge public lands ranchers to consider buying the animals.

The appeal comes as the BLM implements a law enacted by Congress in December 2004 that mandates the sale of certain wild horses and burros ? specifically, those more than 10 years old or those that have been passed over for adoption at least three times. As of January 2006, the BLM has sold more than 1,500 wild horses and burros that were immediately affected by the sale-authority law.

BLM has been reaching out to groups and individuals that are interested in buying the horses and burros for long-term care. It is a natural fit for some of these animals to be adopted by ranchers, many of whom already provide support to wild horses and burros through water use and grazing on private lands intermingled with public lands.

Interested buyers can call the BLM at 1-800-710-7597 or send an email to wildhorse@blm.gov.

PLC represents the American Sheep Industry Association, the National Cattlemen?s Beef Association and the Association of National Grasslands.