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BLM issues decree to wipe out largest Wild Horse herd during the Holidays

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Despite Tens of Thousands of Letters of protest the BLM, AGAIN, flips-off the public and breaks Federal Law

The Voice of the Public is Ignore by the BLM Photo by Terry Fitch

CARSON CITY, Nev. — The Bureau of Land Management issued its final record of decision Monday approving the removal of 2,500 wild horses from the range north of Reno as opposition grows to what would be one of the largest Nevada gathers in recent years.

A federal judge in Washington, D.C., is to hear arguments Wednesday in a lawsuit filed to block the roundup planned for later this month.

The gather is part of the BLM’s overall strategy to remove thousands of mustangs from public lands around the West and ship them to greener pastures in the East. The BLM estimates about half of the 36,600 wild mustangs live in Nevada. It wants to reduce the overall population to what it considers an “appropriate management level” of 26,600.

In its decision involving the 2,500 Nevada horses, the BLM said removal of the mustangs is needed to bring population numbers down in the Calico Mountains Complex to prevent habitat deterioration.

The agency estimates that more than 3,000 mustangs roam the five herd management areas near the Black Rock Desert that make up the complex. It wants to reduce the population to about 570 by removing horses and treating others with birth control.

BLM spokeswoman JoLynn Worley said the agency in 2000 set what it deemed to be appropriate horse populations for areas in Nevada, and has been working since to achieve those goals. In 2002, about 2,200 horses were taken each from the Calico area and another area near Elko. Smaller gathers have been ongoing.

Horses taken from the range would be placed for adoption or sent to long-term holding corrals, which now hold about as many wild horses as left in the wild.

Mustang advocates counter the planned gather using helicopters is illegal because some of the animals are traumatized, injured or killed.

U.S. District Judge Paul Friedman in Washington, D.C., is scheduled to hear arguments Wednesday on a motion to stop the gather. The suit was filed in November by California-based In Defense of Animals and wildlife biologist Craig Downer. Terri Farley, a Nevada author whose books about wild horses target young readers, joined the lawsuit Monday.

“If we allow the BLM to continue to ignore the will of Congress and the America people, then soon there will be no horses left to preserve,” Farley said in a written statement.

Horse advocates said the roundup violates the Wild Free Roaming Horse and Burro Act, which Congress passed in 1971 to protect wild horses and burros as “living symbols of the historic and pioneer spirit of the West.”

In 2008, the BLM said it would have to consider euthanizing wild horses because of escalating numbers and the cost of caring for them in long-term holding facilities. But earlier this year, Interior Secretary Ken Salazar said the agency instead would pursue shipping horses to pastures and holding corrals in the Midwest and East.

Horse advocates call that proposal unnecessary and inhumane. During a hearing last week, they urged the BLM’s National Wild Horse and Burro Advisory Board to press for a moratorium on roundups until an independent audit of mustang numbers can be conducted.

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30 replies »

  1. R.T., I am very much considering getting a copy of your book for not only me but Drew, the one who inspired in me an awe and growing love for the equine race.

    I truly appreciate all you do 🙂

    I am also considering writing a book on some of my experiences with him and the divine nature of horses and dedicating it to him and all horse lovers out there. It’s great to know that there are people like you all over the US!

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  2. lyrics to a song come to mind….what will it take before we wipe out everything that is beautiful?

    They took all the trees, and put em in a tree museum
    And they charged the people a dollar and a half to see them
    Don’t it always seem to go
    That you don’t know what you got till it’s gone
    They paved paradise, and put up a parking lot…

    make a call people!! DO something to save the horses!!!

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    • Uh huh…Joni Mitchell was ahead of her time and called it pretty close. (You have done dated yourself, )

      But don’t let up, we can stop it if we stick together and work as a team…

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    • Yes, I remember the passion I had back then and this was one of my favorite Joni Mitchell albums (but was this written by Cohen?).

      Let the passion spread! In another blog I have mentioned my new camapign, I am this week writing not only to Obama, Congress and Salazr, but to every single White House Staff, Advisor, Cabinet member about the BLM ‘secret’ roundup. Join me in a BLITZ?

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      • Roxy- Are you on facebook? You can get to me on FB through Morgan, let’s talk soon. I have some ideas thundering through my brain, pounding.. well… like hoof beats!

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      • Kathy – I must admit that I am still a techno fraddy cat. I promise I’ll get a facebook up soon and will contact through Morgans FB.

        Or Marilyn Wargo could put us in touch.

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  3. I’m still writing and spreading the word, but at the moment I think our best hope lies in the lawsuit. I believe it will be Craig Downer presenting the case for a permanent injunction to stop this roundup. If Craig can’t convince the judge, I don’t know who could.

    About the Salizoo “plan” – I don’t think they really have any intention of actually doing it. Salazar may not have any scruples, but no one ever said he was dumb. And he’d have to be dump as a post to seriously consider spending millions of tax dollars on “preserves” where all the horses had passed away before he even finished getting ready for his “tourists.” I mean, he does know that horses are mortal, right? That if a herd can’t reproduce, it won’t be around very long?

    Sigh…

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    • suzanne, frankly, i think that’s his part of his whole cockamie idea…..there won’t be any more horses to have to take care of. period. no horses means the blm can focus on more “important” (ie, more money-making) things….more cattle? more mining? more oil drilling? more deforestation? no matter HOW you look at it, though, it’s one sick, f’ed up plan.

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    • Suzanne, exaclty! Consider this though, “someone” will have already received that 96 million taxpayer dollars for thier land – uh hu?

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  4. I just don’t think that petitions, plea’s, email and letters are enough anymore. Sometimes the pen is not mightier than the sword after all.
    The lawsuit is good and may have a slight chance. I think WE THE PEOPLE need to file a class action lawsuit against the BLM for the whole shebang, the roundups, mismanagement, cruelty to animals, etc etc etc.

    WE need to take our case to the streets and halls of the Senate. Unless we’re “in their face” and have constant media attention…….nothing is going to change except the numbers of wild horses left in the wild!

    I think this issue is more than it seems. There has to be top government officials involved other than Salazar. There has been NO RESPONSE from the white house after months of constant calls and emails from thousands of citizens.. and not a whisper?

    MUSTANGS ON THE HILL needs to have a constant presence in D.C.
    9 of out 10 people in America still haven’t heard this story.

    Salazars stupid lets ship ’em east plan was just to show the Senate and Natural Resources Committee that there was a plan so they wouldn’t need to bother with the ROAM act which will be considered DOA soon. Gets the Senate off the hook and Salazar looks like he has been addressing the issue. By the time someone in the senate or congress starts to pay attention…there won’t be any horses left in the wild. Then what are they going to do? I don’t think they’ll be setting them free.

    I will keep calling and emailing but i’d rather be marching down the halls of the senate knocking on doors.

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    • Carol- I know many of us have good ideas, the key is to put them in to action. A big campaign in Washington is/was great. But so many of us can’t or couldn’t get that far east. I’m thinking micro-managing. If we can get support in small doses to have ‘rallys’ in our home state’s capitals, we may get the attention we need.
      Butterflies’ wings can make tsunamis!

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      • Kathy, from previsous comments, I sent my e-mail address directly to Morgan (MorganServies?) and asked it be forwarded on to you, forgot phone number – I’ll ask RT to pass on to you.

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    • I am in complete agreement with doing more. More marches, more reports on news channels, more, more, more!!! Let’s utilize whatever form of media we can to show exactly what is happening to them and uncover the actual intent of the BLM, the people i.e. Senators, Congressman, Representatives, Ranchers, Truckers, and whomever else is making money off the demise of our wild horses. Let’s start naming names and making them accountable! No letting up. Keep the pressure going full steam!

      I have always been an avid animal & horse lover since I was a child, worked at a stable for free just to be around them, owned 2 horse at one time and just recently found out about what has been going on.

      Since I found out 2 weeks ago about what has been happening, something has snapped inside me and I cannot rest or think of anything else until this is stopped and they are once again free and safe. We have written letters to everyone, signed every petition we can get a hold of, told everyone I can think of, post as much info on my Facebook page as I can get a hold of and my fiancé & I are building a website to try and get as much info that I have found out to as many as possible… my nickname now at work is the “Horse Advocate Lady” which I proudly accept. I wish I could quit my job and work fulltime for one of the organizations that are on the front lines everyday fighting these horrendous people.

      My oldest son joined the Army in 2005 and for my own sanity, I had to stop watching the news and reading the papers because of the way they give bits & pieces of information and not knowing where he was or being able to contact him it was too difficult, so hence, I was not aware of the plight of these incredible horses.

      He has just returned from his 2nd deployment fighting abroad to protect the innocent people in other countries & “the USA” that our government says he needs to go & do for the protection of “OUR FREEDOMS” from the TERRORISTS that threaten our lives & well being. Well I ask you “where is “OUR” government here at home, when “OUR OWN BEAUTIFUL, FREE “NATIVE” & YES! HELPLESS AGAINST HUMANS” wild horses & burros need PROTECTION from the TERRORISTS that are threaten their lives & well being”.

      Oh wait the terrorists that are attacking them “IS OUR OWN GOVERNMENT”!

      Our country was based on FREEDOM for ALL! & I do not understand why our government is spending millions of dollars to “Manage” these wonderful animals that have been taking care of themselves for hundreds of years (since the 15th century) & have not bothered anyone. They do not go around killing or attacking people. They do not even go around people! They mind their own business and take care of themselves just as they always have.

      If our government spent as much time worrying about our homeless, our elderly, our unemployed, our abused children, etc. & not about “killing, injuring & “managing” our wild horse that don’t need looking after & do not bother anyone, then maybe we could start heading to be a country that “LEADS the World in HUMANITY for ALL” & not follow in the footsteps of the countries that my son & others loved ones have to go & fight in.

      I know times are very tough for some (I was laid off from work for 1 year) but I never stopped caring and trying to make things better. People need to start caring & having respect again for the little things in life; the little & big creatures that have no voice & were here before us. I hope more people will start to stand up for something in their lives, other than what new car or piece of clothing I should get or keeping up with the “Jones”.

      It is a shame that we treat criminals better than we do these beautiful FREE animals. If the BLM, ranchers & other companies cannot live with them on THEIR land then the other (oil) companies & the lobbyists that work for them should go somewhere else.

      How would your children/grandchildren feel to know that you could have done something to stop this inhumane treatment of our nation’s beautiful wild horses & didn’t. I know my sons would not respect me if they knew that I had the power to do something & didn’t. Our job as parents is to be teaching our children that if you believe in something than you should stand up for it and not quit.

      Our country is becoming a country where we see things happening that are not good or right & because we “don’t want to get involved” or “feel there’s nothing we can do about it – powerless” we stand by & watch it disappear into a void of nothingness & apathy.

      Please be one of the ones to tell as many as you can, in whatever way you can and start the ball rolling in an uphill, positive motion so that we can start to turn our the hopes & dreams of our wonderful country back to what we are suppose to stand for…FREEDOM FOR ALL! Not freedom for who the government decides should have it. Who are they going to start to manage next “our pets”?

      When you hear someone say “it’s just an animal”, ask them if they have or had a beloved pet at home and ask them “if they died or had to be put to sleep, would you (since they are just an animal) take their body to the butcher and serve them up as dinner? Then see how they would feel.

      Every living thing on this planet deserves to be treated with respect and compassion. I know we cannot save the whole planet all at once but at least we can start in our corner, make positive strides to show the world that we care & are walking the walk, then we can watch/join in as the momentum turns to the positive that we so desperately need in these times that we are living.

      A friend posted this quote by Winston Churchill on his FB page about the people who fought 70 years ago ‎”Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few” – Winston Churchill. (I believe this also would apply to all the animals that have fought & died in our “human wars” with no choice of their own).

      “Such was the use of horses on the Western Front, that over 8 million died on all sides fighting in the war. (This was just one war)

      They Served And Suffered For Us” and this is how we repay them….

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  5. Do we get an on-line transcript available to us of the court hearings? Or, have to waite until it is over? Any projection of how long it will take?

    WE MUST vision a SUCCESS!

    Carol, “the more than it seems”, I beleive is energy, not cattle. And they are taking the easy way – horses and energy could co-exist with a little effort – other wildlife does (or does it? – maybe not). Or could it be that the horses would show the earliest signs of pollution from the energy activities? There are documentaries and at least one YouTube about energy pushing out cattle and farms, and the ill health of the humans nearby. Klienerts movie may go further into this also.

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  6. I’ll be one of the first to write my name to a Class Action Lawsuit!I have a few documents going back to 1994 that I’d submit.
    Trish Kerby

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  9. Tomorrow is the big day – I do hope someone in the court audience will keep us apprised, I’ll be checking twitter here and on TCF every hour! I’m supposed to be doing something else this week, but the news was too startling, I’m still in shock of the arrogance of BLM and would not have really been paying attention!

    All, keep good positive thoughts! And follow Madeleine and “keep those e-mails pouring in”.

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  10. Sorry for length here. Wanted to share my latest writing to Obama, et al. Please let me know if I’ve incorreclty represented anything here – critiques welcomed:

    Choices:
    • Believe BLM, – COST – $96 MILLION start up for land, then continue $50,000 to $70,000 annually for feed, veterinary care, etc. on Salazar plan.
    • Continue inhumane roundups at estimated $1 to $2 million – EACH. See BLM website for scheduled roundups – multiple times of the year, year round, including holidays (overtime and double time for BLM employees).
    • Continue current method of population control of chemical birth control (cost undisclosed to this writer), given against manufacturers instruction at incorrect time of year – resulting in inhumane out of season births when chemical wears off.
    • Begin inhuman sex ratio imbalance – these herds survive on strict social order; this would be an inhumane practice.
    • Continue reducing herds to genetically unviable numbers, assured extinction – cannot be disguised as anything else, and cannot be hidden from the public – cost – continued loss of public support, public suspect of all other government activities, loss of trust and enthusiasm for US government, etc., etc.
    • Begin selling for slaughter – fill in the blank _________________.

    OR
    • Pass S 1579 – COST – NEGLIGIBLE! Return the already captive horses to their land, by returning the 20 Million acres taken from them illegally, expand acres to US Forest Service land and Parks Service land. Cost for land – nothing. Cost for food and water – negligible (occasional assistance “in place”). Cost for veterinary care – negligible (only occasional emergencies “in place”).
    • Stop payments for current holding land leases and food – cost – positive – save millions of dollars.
    • Stop inhumane roundups – cost – positive – save $1 to $ million each.
    • Return natural predation for population control – stop killing mountain lions, return wolves – cost – nothing.
    • Implement chemical birth control by dart, at the correct time of the year, only when emergency needs arise – cost – negligible.
    • Leave natural sex ratios – especially giving credit to elder horses needed for social stability and their elder knowledge – cost – nothing.
    • Euthanasia only when real emergency needs arise – probably never, but if so, cost – negligible.
    • Advance management based on real science, peer and public scrutinized – cost same as is.
    • Create an advisory board of adequate number, of adequate varied representation, with effective term limits – cost – negligible.
    • Advance acknowledgment of wild horse benefits – reduction in wild fire severity, healthy grass lands (according to BLM Salazar purchased lands will be improved by having wild horses on them) – spreading seeds on ready dirt, making water available to all wild life during winter, etc. etc. – cost – positive.
    • Find ways for energy and wild horses, and all other wildlife to coexist with energy interests – cost – negligible.

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  11. Today I emailed several wild horse and animal welfare groups and suggested a billboard campaign in high profile places starting with Washington D.C.(close as possible to Capitol Hill) and places like Times Square NY. I figure we could all could contribute to the campaign to make it happen…maybe even State by State through volunteers and have a billboard near each State House. Pictures of the helicopters chasing the horses and eye catching headlines on top and website or phone numbers on bottom to call or email to stop the roundups. To my suprise, 1 organization emailed back and said they were just talking about doing exactly that and would keep me in the loop if they made a decision so we could start fundraising!!
    I’m already looking up corporations like absorbine, farnam, blue seal etc to try to get corporate donations to help pay for at least 1 billboard. I also intend to persue the class action lawsuit idea if I can find an animal welfare group that will allow their attorney to take it. It might all sound crazy but time is of the essence and the horses need mass media attention now or they may be doomed. The Congress, Senate and White House have become immune to email petitions etc. It is “quiet noise” and “invisible”. A nationwide coordinated event at each State House would also be great.

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    • Carol, Yes, these are very good and needed for exposure. Time is very important. Horses and burros are being taken from their homelands and BLM is making fools of the much of press and the electorate. Action and high profiles can inform the public. I hope people will respond to you. You need to get us a way to contact you off the blog. Mar

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  12. i wish there was something we could do about this!
    i luv horses and i wish there was something we can do about these round ups and slaughter shops

    i heard a poem once that said “you see the spirit, life,and the dream in my eyes, why would you take that alaway from me”??? so stop the horses abuse, round ups and worst of all the slaughter! ;[

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