U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIORBUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT
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National Wild Horse and Burro Program | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
One of the BLM’s key responsibilities under the 1971 law is to determine the “appropriate management level” (AML) of wild horses and burros on the public rangelands. These animals have virtually no natural predators and their herd sizes can double about every four years. As a result, an estimated 33,000 wild horses and burros roam BLM-managed lands in 10 Western states, a population that exceeds by some 5,700 the number that can exist in balance with other public rangeland resources and uses. To help restore the balance, the BLM gathers thousands of wild horses and burros from public rangelands each year and offers them for adoption or sale to those individuals and groups willing and able to provide humane, long-term care. Droughts and wildfires are also determining factors in the number of wild horses and burros that must be removed yearly.
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