Wild horses and burros available for adoption in Gridley

REDDING, Calif. - Wild horses and burros from public rangelands will be available for adoption Saturday and Sunday, April 5 and 6, at the Butte County Fairgrounds, 199 E. Hazel St., in Gridley. The Bureau of Land Management will offer 14 adult horses, 14 yearling horses, and 12 burros of all ages.

Anyone interested can preview the animals when they arrive at the fairgrounds at about 3 p.m. Friday, April 4. The adoption event gate opens at 8 a.m. Saturday, and adoptions begin with a silent auction from 9 to 10 a.m. Animals not adopted during the auction will be available all-day Saturday until 5 p.m. and from 8 a.m. to noon on Sunday for a $125 adoption fee.

"These horses are healthy and ready to train," said Doug Satica, manager of the BLM Litchfield Off Range Corral near Susanville. "They have been vaccinated against all common equine diseases. We provide complete health care records."

Adopters must be at least 18 years old and have facilities that meet BLM requirements.

The BLM is responsible under the Wild Free Roaming Horses and Burros Act for protecting and managing wild horses and burros on public lands. The agency periodically removes animals from the range when populations exceed levels established to allow wild horse and burro herd to thrive in balance with other range users including wildlife and permitted livestock. The animals are then available for placement in private ownership. Visit the BLM Wild Horse and Burro Adoption Program online for more information.