BLM to Host Online Wild Horse and Burro Auction with Cullman Pickup Option
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) will offer members of the public the opportunity to adopt or purchase a wild horse or burro through an Online Corral auction, set to run from July 14 to July 21, 2025. Winning bidders will be able to pick up their adopted or purchased animal during an in-person event at the Cullman County Ag Center in Cullman, Alabama, on October 9, 2025.
The Online Corral is BLM’s web-based platform that allows prospective adopters and purchasers to view available animals, submit applications, and place bids remotely. Most of the wild horses and burros offered through the platform are untrained and unhandled, having been gathered from overpopulated herds on public lands in the western United States. These efforts aim to promote healthy animals and rangelands.
“This unique event gives the people of Cullman and the surrounding region a convenient opportunity to provide a good home to a wild horse or burro,” said Annie Ebbers, off-range branch chief for the BLM’s Wild Horse and Burro Program.
Interested individuals are encouraged to apply in advance for pre-approval to participate in the auction. Bidding starts at $125. Approved adopters must be at least 18 years old and meet specific facility and transportation requirements, including a minimum of 400 square feet of corral space per animal, adequate shelter, and fencing specifications. Detailed qualifications are available on the BLM’s website.
The Cullman event is part of the BLM’s larger effort to manage and protect wild horse and burro populations. Since 1971, more than 300,000 animals have been placed into homes through the BLM’s adoption and purchase programs.
The BLM oversees 245 million acres of public lands and manages wild horse and burro populations on 25.6 million acres across 10 Western states. For more information about the Wild Horse and Burro Program or to apply, visit BLM.gov/whb.
