How to Adopt a Burro from the BLM

Burros have been living in the Southwest deserts since a few escaped from Spanish explorers in the 1500s. Today, up to 20,000 burros roam the deserts. Each year, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) rounds up a number of the wild burros and offers them for adoption to the public.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

1. Decide why you want to adopt a burro from the BLM. A burro is an intelligent, playful companion who demands a lot of your attention when she bonds to you. However, when you adopt her, she will still be fairly wild and will probably also be missing her herd mates. You must invest a lot of time and patience in her care to have a gentle burro.
2. Qualify to adopt a burro. You can adopt a burro if you are at least 18 years old, can prove that you can provide quality care for the burro and keep the burro within the United States. If you have any convictions for inhumane treatment of animals, you are ineligible to adopt.
3. Prepare a home for your burro. Each burro you adopt needs a minimum of 400 square feet enclosed by sturdy fencing at least 4 1/2 feet high. Wire fencing of any sort is not strong enough to hold your burro, and you cannot use barbed wire even in combination with sturdy fencing. Though used to the elements, your burro also needs shelter such as a loafing shed.
4. Complete the adoption application for wild burros, which you can find on the BLM website. Mail it to your nearest BLM office and wait for approval.
5. Plan to attend an adoption event to find your new burro after your application is approved. The schedule of adoption events is posted on the BLM website.
6. Adopt a burro online if you can't attend an event in person. Burros are often included in the BLM Internet adoptions held periodically throughout the year. Once you receive approval, register on the BLM website and bid on available burros. If you are the highest bidder, you are notified and told where to pick up your new burro.
7. Bring cash, a check or credit card, proof of identity, a double-stitched nylon halter and a sturdy lead rope for each burro you adopt and an appropriate horse trailer. Your burro must be able to turn around within the trailer. Burros can be transported in one-horse or in-line trailers, depending upon the number of animals you adopt.
8. Receive the Certificate of Title for your adopted burro after you have provided humane care for 1 year. You will receive a Title Eligibility Letter from the BLM. Sign and return the letter, accompanied by a letter from a veterinarian or other appropriate individual who can attest to your care of your burro.

Tips & Warnings

• Locate a veterinarian and farrier who have experience with burros and are willing to work with a wild burros.
• Burros are herd animals, so a single burro will become lonely-—and a lonely burro will bray for hours. Consider adopting at least two burros.
• Burros and donkeys are the same, though "burro" is generally used to refer to the wild donkeys of the desert Southwest.