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On January 28-29, 2011, the U.S. Department of Interior Bureau of Land Management (BLM) will offer approximately 40 wild horses ranging from yearling to 5 years old to potential adopters at the Jackson County Ag Center at Marianna, 3631 Hwy 90, in Florida. You can adopt a very special animal in Marianna, Florida, for a minimal fee and get a buddy horse for $25. In January, this is the month to start the New Year off with your very own wild Mustang!“The BLM estimates that approximately 38,400 wild horses and burros are roaming on BLM-managed rangelands in 10 western states based on the latest data available,” said BLM-Eastern States Acting State Director, Timothy Spisak.“Wild horses and burros have virtually no natural predators and their herd sizes can double about every four years. As a result, the agency must remove thousands of animals from the range each year to control herd sizes.”The Saturday adoption will be on a first come first served basis. The animals can be previewed on Friday, January 28, from 8:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. Adoption hours on Friday, January 28, are from 1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. and Saturday, January 29, from 8:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. A minimal adoption fee of $125 for animals less than three years of age and $25 for animals three and older is required for adoption. In addition, you can take home a buddy animal for only $25 when you adopt any animal at the full fee of $125.The ecosystems of public rangelands are not able to withstand the impacts from overpopulated herds, which include soil erosion, sedimentation of streams, and damage to wildlife habitat. Under the authority of the 1971 Wild Free Roaming Horses and Burros Act, which once the Interior Secretary determines on the basis of all information currently available, that an overpopulation exists on a given area of public lands and that action is necessary to remove excess animals, from the range so as to achieve the appropriate management level of 26,600. The BLM placed 3,474 removed animals into private care through adoption in fiscal year 2009.“While the adoption process is simple and straightforward, anyone considering adoption of a wild horse should remember that the animals are wild and require gentling and training,” Spisak said. Prospective adopters must have sturdy corrals that are 20’x 20’ (or larger), at least 6 feet high for an adult horse and at least 5 feet high for horses younger than 18 months, and have a shelter directly attached to the corral. Adopters must provide a stock-type, step up trailer (ramps and side-by-side two-horse type trailers are not allowed).Applications to adopt will be reviewed starting on Friday and may be submitted until Saturday. For more information, call 1-866-4MUSTANGS (1-866-468-7826) or visit the BLM web site at www.wildhorseandburro.blm.gov.Directions for the Wild Horse Adoption: From I-10 in Florida. Turn North on Hwy 231 to Hwy 90. Turn east and go about 8 miles and the Jackson County Ag Center is on the South side of Hwy 90.