Captured wild horses in temporary corrals at Devils Garden Wild Horse Territory during a 2016 roundup. RTF file photo by Steve Paige.
Twenty-six of the 260 older wild horses remain available for adoption or for sale at $1 apiece at Modoc National Forest near Alturas, Calif., according to the U.S. Forest Service.
A total of 932 wild horses captured last fall during a helicopter roundup at Devils Garden Wild Horse Territory.
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.
USFS is planning an adoption-only event for April 8-11. Details are to be announced on Monday.
Younger horses
Fourteen wild horses ages 9-younger remain available for adoption at Modoc’s Double Devil Corrals, while many of the more than 650 Devils Garden wild horses ages 9-younger or mares with foals are now or will soon be available for adoption at the Bureau of Land Management’s Litchfield Wild Horse and Burro Corrals in Susanville, Calif.
BLM’s Litchfield facility has from Devils Garden “approximately” 90 yearling fillies, 60 yearling studs and 25 yearling geldings, according to 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.
Adoption appointments are fully booked until at least April 22. To book an appointment after that date, contact vrettera@blm.gov.
Adoption / sale information
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