A contractor’s helicopter drives wild horses into the trap at Devils Garden during a 2016 roundup. RTF file photo by Steve Paige.

Dec. 18 update: The U.S. Forest Service has begun selling captured wild horses ages 10-older for $1 each. In-person sales are ongoing with plans for online sales to begin in January. For more information, please click here.

This fall, Modoc National Forest removed 932 wild horses during a month-long helicopter roundup. About 260 of the horses ages 10-older have been offered for adoption or sale with a restriction against slaughter from the Double Devil Corrals at the forest near Alturas, California. About 70 had found homes through Monday.

The balance of the captured horses – those ages 9-under and mares with foals — were sent to the Bureau of Land Management’s Litchfield corrals near Susanville, California. The weather has slowed efforts to prepare them to be offered for adoption. Adoptions are now likely to begin in mid to late December, at the earliest, according to BLM.

After rescuing about 120 horses last year, RTF’s own American Wild Horse Sanctuary is at capacity, already providing care for a total of about 550 wild horses and burros at five locations. We’re marshalling interested supporters to make the greatest impact for the wild horses at risk in the most efficient way that we can.