BLM to host wild horse tour

The Bureau of Land Management is hosting in a free half-day public tour of a wild horse off-range pasture near Nowata, located about 10 miles east of Bartlesville. The free tour, which will take place on Aug. 1, will give the public an opportunity to observe approximately 850 mares roaming in a pastoral setting across 5,600 acres.

The BLM estimates that approximately 58,150 wild horses and burros are roaming on BLM-managed rangelands in 10 Western states, based on March 1 data. Wild horses and burros have virtually no natural predators and their herd size can double about every four years.

Off the range, there are nearly 60,000 other wild horses and burros are fed and cared for in off-range corrals and off-range pastures. All wild horses and burros in holding, like those roaming the public rangelands, are protected by the BLM under the 1971 Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act.

As the program works with its partners to place more wild horses into private care, the BLM must care for the unadopted animals in its off-range pastures and corrals. The BLM estimates that the total lifetime cost for caring for an unadopted animal is nearly $50,000.

The public is invited to make reservations for the tour prior to July 30. Visitors will be shuttled to the pastures by the BLM from Bartlesville; no personal vehicles will be allowed, as the pasture is on private property.

Attendees should wear casual clothes, and comfortable shoes. Cameras and video cameras are welcome. The charter buses will be fully equipped with A/C, rest rooms and USB ports.

The tour is set from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Aug 1. The charter bus will depart from Washington Park Mall, 2350 SE Washington Blvd, in Bartlesville. Attendees should watch for the Kincaid Charter Bus.

For more information about the tour or the program, or to RSVP, call 866-468-7826 or email wildhorse@blm.gov and put “WHB Tour” in the subject line.