CULLMAN, Ala. — The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) will offer Alabamians a rare chance to adopt or purchase a wild horse or burro through an online auction running July 14-21, with animal pick-up scheduled for Oct. 9 at the Cullman County Agricultural Trade Center in Cullman, Alabama.
The BLM’s Online Corral platform allows prospective adopters to browse photos and details of available animals, submit applications, and place bids from home. Most of the horses and burros are untrained and have been gathered from overpopulated herds on public lands in the western United States, part of the BLM’s decades-long effort to maintain healthy herds and rangelands. Since 1971, more than 300,000 animals have been placed into homes through the program.
Bidding starts at $125, and participants must be at least 18 years old and meet facility requirements, including at least 400 square feet of corral space per animal, proper shelter, and secure fencing. Approved trailers for transport are also required. Full details and application forms are available on the BLM website.
The BLM manages wild horse and burro populations across 25.6 million acres in ten western states, a legacy of the Wild and Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act of 1971, which protects these animals as symbols of the American West. The Cullman event offers local residents a unique opportunity to support conservation and experience the challenge and reward of caring for a wild horse or burro.
For more information or to apply, visit BLM.sgov/whb.