Captured wild horses in temporary holding pens during a 2016 helicopter roundup at Devils Garden Plateau Wild Horse Territory. RTF file photo by Steve Paige.
Modoc National Forest in Alturas, Calif., will hold an April 8-12 adoption event for about 14 wild horses ages 9-under captured last fall during a helicopter roundup at Devils Garden Wild Horse Territory.
Some 650 others — most 9-under plus mares 10-over with foals — are available for adoption at the Bureau of Land Management’s Litchfield Corrals in Susanville, Calif.
The wild horses were among 932 wild horses captured last fall during a helicopter roundup at Devils Garden Wild Horse Territory.
BLM’s Litchfield facility has from Devils Garden “approximately” 90 yearling fillies, 60 yearling studs and 25 yearling geldings, according to an email last week from BLM staff, as well as 180 mares ages 2-5 and 114 mares ages 6-over. All of the mares are currently with foal or likely pregnant.
In addition, the facility is caring for 70 stallions ages 2-5, 60 stallions 6-over, and 35 geldings ages 2-5 from Devils Garden. All of the studs will likely be gelded before being made available for adoption or are transported to other facilities for adoption events or to the Mustang Heritage Foundation’s Trainer Incentive Program for gentling.
Older horses reamin at risk
As of last week, 26 wild horses ages 10-older remain available for adoption or for sale at $1 apiece at Modoc National Forest.
The wild horses that are ages 10-older are in danger of being sold “without restriction” — without protections against slaughter — depending on the outcome of lawsuits filed by Return to Freedom and other advocates to stop the unrestricted sale. A federal court hearing is set for May 9.
Wild horse advocates remain concerned that USFS’s decision, announced in December, to drop the sale price from $25 to $1 will make the sale more attractive to kill buyers or third parties willing to sell to slaughterhouses.
Both horse slaughter and the transport of horses with intent to slaughter are illegal under California law.
Those who adopt a wild horse, for $125 each, do not gain title for one year but are allowed to return the horse at any time during that one-year period. Those that purchase a wild horse receive title immediately.
Adoption appointments
To schedule an appointment at Modoc National Forest’s Double Devil Corrals, contact (530) 233-8738.
Adoption appointments for BLM’s Litchfield facility are fully booked until at least April 22. To book an appointment after that date, contact vrettera@blm.gov.
For USFS adoption and sale forms and for more information, click here. Photos of the wild horses can be found on the Double Devil Wild Horse Corrals Facebook.
USFS continues to allow adopter / buyer viewing, selection and pickup of wild horses by appointment each Wednesday and Friday as well as on the first Saturday of each month. Appointments must be confirmed at least seven days in advance after completing a “Viewing and Pickup Scheduling” request form by clicking here and submitting it to modoc_info@fs.fed.us.
For more information about the BLM adoption process, click here.
Take Action
Click here if you are interested in providing a home or transportation for Devils Garden horses
Donate to RTF’s Wild Horse Defense Fund