Article by Debby Coffey ~ all rights reserved
Sun J Stampede Contractor Thumbs Nose at Dept. of Transportation Regulations
22/07/2011, Desert Heat in July causes injuries in babies ~ photo by Laura Leight at http://artandhorseslauraleigh.wordpress.com
On 2/10/2011, during the Antelope wild horse roundup in Nevada, and the day before Tom Gorey of the BLM issued a press release (below) on BLM’s investigation into their contractor, Sun J Livestock, Inc., the Sun J truck was found to be in violation of several DOT regulations.
Dept. of Transportation records indicate that DOT number 2072963 (Sun J Livestock’s truck) “Denotes this carrier exceeds the FMCSA intervention threshold relative to its safety event grouping based upon roadside data and/or has been cited with one or more serious violations within the past 12 months during an investigation. Therefore, this carrier may be prioritized for an intervention action and roadside inspection.”
On 2/10/2011, Sun J’s truck was noted for these violations:
- speeding 15 or more miles per hour over the speed limit (unsafe)
- No Drivers’ Record of Duty Status (Fatigued – meaning the operation of CMV by drivers who are ill, fatigued or in non-compliance with Hours of Service regulation)
- No Medical Certification in Driver’s possession (driver fitness)
- Failure of driver to use a seat belt
BLM’s very narrow investigation of only one incident at the roundup, instead of a broader investigation (maybe BLM didn’t want to look too hard in case they might actually have seen/found something) failed to uncover another 10/29/2010 speeding violation by Sun J’s truck.
The BLM’s review team, established by Dean Bolstad, Deputy Division Chief, BLM Wild Horse and Burro Program, and Amy Lueders, Acting State Director, BLM-Nevada, consisted of Dr. Albert J. Kane, Senior Staff Veterinarian, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), APHIS/BLM Wild Horse and Burro Partnership; Gus Warr, BLM-Utah Wild Horse and Burro Program Specialist; Lili Thomas, Wild Horse and Burro National Program Office, Contracting Officer Representative; and Mary D’Aversa, BLM-Nevada Schell Field Office Manager
Although Bob Abbey stated that the BLM review team found no violations of BLM policy and procedures, and called for a “new Normal” for doing business, here we are at the Triple B wild horse roundup with Sun J, running horses in 90-94 degree heat. Sun J is also using the same helicopter pilot, Josh Hellyer, who, according to Laura Leigh of Wild Horse Education, consistently flies too fast, flies on top of horses, dives at the horses, and gets in front of the horses, especially at the mouth of the trap, causing the horses to turn away. Leigh noted that at one time today, Hellyer drove in only 2 mares and a foal, so he is most likely breaking up the bands as he drives them in.
Bob Abbey, does this sound like the BLM is minimizing risks to animals? This is an open invitation for you and Secretary Ken Salazar to put on your cowboy hats and attend at least ONE roundup to see what’s really going on.
Release Date: 02/11/11
| Contacts: | Tom Gorey: 202-912-7420 |
BLM Review Team Finds No Violation by Wild Horse Gather Contractor of Existing BLM Policy and Procedures; BLM Director Calls for “New Normal” for Doing Business
An internal review by the Bureau of Land Management has found that Sun J Livestock, one of the BLM’s wild horse gather contractors, did not violate existing BLM policy or procedures in connection with a Jan. 27, 2011, incident involving a mare that fell, got up, and was subsequently pursued by the contractor’s helicopter during the ongoing gather of wild horses at the Antelope Complex, located in Elko and White Pine counties, Nevada. The controversial incident, captured on videotape, was widely disseminated on the Internet and through the news media.
The four-member BLM review team concluded that the mare had stumbled or tripped and fell when she lost her footing in a small snow drift. She was not over-driven and did not collapse from exhaustion, the review team found. Following attempts by the helicopter to herd her into the trap, she ran off uncaptured.
BLM Director Bob Abbey said, “The BLM review team was asked to look into this incident to see whether Sun J violated any existing BLM policy or procedures relating to the gathering of wild horses from the Antelope Complex, an overpopulated Herd Management Area in Nevada. The team found that no such violation occurred.” Abbey added, “This finding does not mean that the BLM is satisfied with its existing policy and procedures dealing with wild horse gathers. We will carefully review our policies, consider advice from experts, and continue to look for ways to improve and minimize the risks to animals.”
SOURCES:
http://www.blm.gov/wo/st/en/info/newsroom/2011/february/NR_2_11_2011.html
Today it is the heat, early in the year it was the cold that the BLM and Sun J tormented the Horses with at Antelope
Related articles
- Fitch Outs BLM Employee Who Advocates Hunting Season on Wild Horses (rtfitch.wordpress.com)
- BLM Employee/Contractor Publicly Promotes Hunting Season on Wild Horses and Burros (rtfitch.wordpress.com)
- BLM Boss Bob Abbey Plays Congress (rtfitch.wordpress.com)
- HSUS Misses the Mark on BLM Wild Horse Stampedes (rtfitch.wordpress.com)
Categories: Horse News, Wild Horses/Mustangs
Straight from the Horse's Heart 
Has blm EVER found anything wrong in the manner it tortures the horses or in the manner that it’s staff threaten private citizens, endorse hunting horses or in the manner that it (mis)treats the horses and burros in their “care”? Truly I expect to hear of such behavior from a foreign country overtaken in some coup by members of the military junta. “Stay in your houses citizens and do not attempt to observe the doings of the dictator. We will establish armed guards at all events to keep the citizenry in line and to prevent the press from publishing the truth. And we will send in moles to turn those who will not tow the line to turn against each other thus weakening any subversion?” RT, I know you go to China, I didn’t realize our government had gone there with you.
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Since I work with this subject in my employment, I will say that there is a bi-annual audit by the highway patrol of all driver records and federally mandated drug/alcohol testing etc. for each company and that a speeding ticket is not enough to stop a company from hiring or using an employee with that violoation – same with a seat belt violation. But not having a valid medical card on file with the company as well as IN POSSESION and NO DRIVER’S RECORD OF DUTY STATUS are MAJOR violations of the federal law and would be worthy of a highway patrol auditor of the controling company (employer) giving the company an unacceptable status … i.e. illegal for ANY commercial driver working for that company to operate a commercial vehicle on a public road. This can be an “interpretaion of the federal law by the auditor .. but with this many “strikes” against the driver … no way would a commercial vehicle company be allowed to let that driver back on the road (not to mention their insurance company agreeing to this!). No way … unless there is more to the “picture” than what we are seeing here???
(pay-offs to the auditor? … yes it does happen)
On 2/10/2011, Sun J’s truck was noted for these violations:
speeding 15 or more miles per hour over the speed limit (unsafe)
No Drivers’ Record of Duty Status (Fatigued – meaning the operation of CMV by drivers who are ill, fatigued or in non-compliance with Hours of Service regulation)
No Medical Certification in Driver’s possession (driver fitness)
Failure of driver to use a seat belt
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I agree Grandma Gregg, my ex was a trucker, a careless one, who was fired from 2 companies as being uninsurable. Due to his record thankfully he could not drive anymore. His record was similar to this drivers with an accident thrown in. It’s even worse when you consider that they are hauling living “cargo” along roads we drive. I had occassion to see one of the companies trucks after its brakes failed which lead to the accident (funny how parts off that truck just disappeared). I suspect that if Sun J is allowing this driver out on the road that its trucks are in no better shape than the operator. These trucks and the drivers ought to go under close scrutiny, and that doesn’t even begin to describe what ought to be happening with their pilots.
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Does the contract exempt them? Has anyone ever seen a contract between the bottom feeder killers (Cattoor Livestock, Sun J, et al) and the head killers (USDA, DOI)?
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Obviously, Sun J has a problem here, but the greater problem lies with a government agency that makes is using our tax dollars to contract with irresponsible and perhaps criminally negligent businesses putting federal property (property that belongs to WE THE PEOPLE) in jeoprady. Congress cannot shut this agency down soon enough.
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I do not want to bring too much politics into our discussion, but the link posted by Beth in this discussion is by a group of conspiratory fundamentalists that is funded by the same KOCH Brothers, who I believe also fund the real culprit, and I believe we are going to be able to prove it. The group is ALEC..American Legislative Exchange Council. This group is at current 73 Republican state legislators and 7 Democrats who get together with Corporate Members to decide what legislation should be put before the state legislature.
http://www.followthemoney.org/press/ReportView.phtml?r=454
If you follow this link you will see many of the corporations that have a huge interest in getting the wild horses off the land. There laws start at the state level (think Nevada) and work their way into the Federal legislatures.
This group was just outed and 800 pages of their meeting minutes etc have been published. There are definite attacks against women, the eco-system, clean air and water, And if we can find the pages, and it is searchable I feel certain we will find mention of the wild horses and the other uses the Corporations wish to engage in on the public lands. If anyone comes up with the location where these pages are located. Please let me know… I do want to research it. I think if we could find the plan to rid the public lands of the horses, it could make a huge difference to some of the men and women on Capital Hill.
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Within this link you provided, is another embedded link to http://www.ALECexposed.org and doing a quick search for land, I found Sagebrush Rebellion Act?
This ALECexposed site is quite large and I found a video of an interview done with Lisa Graves from http://www.DemocracyNow.org. She is the Executive Director for Center for Media and Democracy and has a list of the most impressive credentials and work experience. This may be a project for George Knapp to interview her and see what can be uncovered! Or by contacting her directly at Democracy Now, there is a phone number listed and address. It looks like they may have broadcasts of their own and through other media outlets.
After reading some of this information talking about riders, an email caught my eye: a Care2 petition trying to prevent an extinction rider from being put into an Appropriations Bill which could affect our horses if the government keeps on at the rate they are going…. please, read!
http://www.care2.com/causes/speak-up-for-wildlife-stop-the-extinction-rider-from-passing.html
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I posted a message back to you with too many links, I think that is the problem and it is awaiting the sun to rise for moderation.
I went ahead and wrote to Lisa and within a few minutes received a response back! (NOT an automated response either, I am amazed!).
I believe she is going to help us!
Thank you for posting this, we may have another warrior on our side.
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Click to access IA%20LL%2009-03%20Aggressive.pdf
Interagency Aviation
Lessons Learned
Area of Concern: Aggressive flying and Pilot Over-Confidence
In October of 2007, a Bell 206B III crashed
while herding feral horses into a corral….
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“Congress cannot shut this agency down soon enough.”
Can Congress do anything right? i think not, this is the least of their worries at this time!
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The facts are that the BLM are downright liars. We see evidence on film, and facts on paper.
How can Congress get away with this and expect their people to remain ‘Proud to be an American’???????
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Excellent work Ms Coffey (and others on the ground).
The transportation issues are frequently part of Animals Angels investigations.
Does the Federal Government (specifically DOI) get to exempt themselves from these DOT requirements? Is it an interagency exclusion?
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http://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/ (federal motor carrier regulations link)
I do not know if government employees are exempt from the federal DOT regulations. Example would be a state fire employee (Cal-Fire) who drives the commercial vehicle (truck and trailer) that hauls the bulldozer to a fire. I do know that this employee would be required to have a commercial (big-rig) vehicle license and current medical card in possession but I do not know if all other regulations (drug/alcohol testing and log books etc.) would be applicable since he/she works for the state.
As for Sun J and Cattoor drivers, they work for a private company who contract with the government and thus would be required to follow and be audited for all federal motor carrier regulations like any other privately owned company.
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Why would federal employees be exempt from DOT regulations? I highly doubt that.
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Depends on the contract and terms…like I said before, has anyone ever read a wild equine removal or holding contract?…under FOIA?…anything?
And the federal government exempts itself ALL THE TIME from the very laws that they impose on businesses and citizens. It is along the lines of “can’t sue the government”.
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The truck driver is not exempt from DOT regulations.
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case in point-Blackwater-a government contractor-the only way to stop questionable and lawbreaking by the federal government is thru congressional investigation-not using the legal system-our efforts in DC have accomplished more than the lawsuits-what is needed is funding to put full time lobbiests in DC working the offices of elected officials..lets play this game to win-using the tools the bad boys use and make our money count
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I might add…little wild horse annie..didn’t aquire protections for the wild horse using the legal system-she used congress to get it done…congress is the entity that has allowed that law to be convoluted and corrupted…federal judges are not elected and do not have to consider an angry populace as does congress..
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Great work. This is just another example of the BLM and the corruption and deceit that is allowed within their agency and their associate companies. THese companies have no scruples. THis is evident from the top and down through the whole agency and its contractors. This is the tip of the iceburg. Any agency doing business(s) in this manner should be immediately closed and never be allowed to operate again. In addiiton, anyone having worked for a company transacting business in this manner should never be allowed to work again for a like company. This is CORRUPTION, CORRUPTION AND CORRUPTION TO THE HIGHEST EXTENT. Our government needs a complete overall as it seems that there is noone that gives a d__n about the wild horses. I firmly believe that if we checked and looked further, a trail of tranferred monies would clearly be evident — from all these companies seeking to use the ranges to the government employees in the BLM and the other companies having to do with the ranges. Surely, someone can find this — they have to have made a mistake or will soon. The evidence is there is only we can find it.. That these drivers and helicopter pilots continue to be employed without a trail of evidence is horrible. But then you think, the companies they work for are no better. Like seems to go gether and ultimately it will be their demise.
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How ironic and what a shame to America that these magnificent wild horses we see in this video were in their last moments of freedom on Earth in this lifetime! What gross hypocrisy permeates our nationls Wild Free Roaming Horses and Burros program! This has been so perverted and the act subverted to favor greedy special interests who receive enormous taxpayer subsidies and for whom our so called public servants, the BLM and USFS officials charged with upholding the act, dedicate their work and budgets — not to the General Public of the United States who recognize the rightness of these wild horses and burros having principal resource allocation to them so they can establish truly long term viable population and prove their compatibility here in the western ecosytem. But people must give them a chance, and this is clearly not the case for these returned natives and gardeners of the ecosystem!
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Didn’t Sun J incorporate just last August and already had government monies within 2 weeks? I think this entire operation from the drivers to the helicopter pilots needs an expose. Who are these people that the government could not wait to work with?
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Needless rounding up and removal of Wild mustangs under any conditions is Illegal, regardless of method is used. Also the BLM is not a wild horse Agency! There is no Agency in play that is qualified to access the need !!!! until there is it is Illegal……………..
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I would have to guess, oh lets see, do you suppose the government (BLM) actually put this business together???
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This link is about current BLM tripe:
http://www.blm.gov/nv/st/en/prog/wh_b/gathers.html
It’s worth reading/rereading. I’d sue ’em based on that sh*t alone.
I’m still trying to find out HOW Sun J and Cattoor became acceptable “contractors” for the euphemistic “gathers” and if it is sole source, competitive, published bid data, etc. As far as I have gotten, I’d say nope…it appears hinky. Onward….
p.s. Commerce Business Daily website is about one of the most complicated I have ever searched….anyone here understand it?
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Is this David L Cattoor in the below documents the same as the roundup contractor? Per these two government documents below, the David L Cattoor listed was given an exemption in 2006 and 2009 (maybe other years?) to drive a commercial vehicle although he could NOT pass the required vision test. He was granted this exception because he had an optometrist sign a statement that even though he could not pass the vision test … it was OK for him to drive a commercial vehicle. That’s scary!
2006
http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:V-WdODMJbWYJ:www.federalregister.gov/articles/2006/10/30/E6-18087/qualification-of-drivers-exemption-applications-vision+%22david+l+cattoor%22&cd=6&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us&source=www.google.com
2009
http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2009-02-10/xml/FR-2009-02-10.xml
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Thanks GG…I think that is him….anybody?
This is why I say researching the contracts and “exemptions”, etc may show why this DOT stuff is going on except for the speeding observation/complaint.
Still can’t find the comprehensive contract info.
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BTW, I don’t believe the link referenced discusses criminal convictions (Cattoor, D. has at least one I know of) or the drivers working for him or Sun J (although they might be on that very outdated list).
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There are no excess Mustangs – there is MILLIONS and Millions OF PRIVATELY OWNED WELFARE CATTLE that need to be removed from our public lands. Stop the STAMPEDES NOW ! In violation of the law, Obama/ Salazars lying corrupt cruel BLM is wiping out Americas wild horses to steal our public lands & stuff millions of privately owned welfare cattle on our public lands, these cattle destroy water, plants, wildlife & cost taxpayers 1 billion per year.
More Info; WILD HORSES NATIVE TO AMERICA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oTho-Si5w9Y&feature=player_embedded#! http://www.animalsangels.org/ & http://www.handmadenews.org/article/index.php?id=995 & http://www.animallawcoalition.com/
& http://www.wildhorsepreservation.org/
&
http://www.thecloudfoundation.org/
&
http://www.equinewelfarealliance.org/
&
http://www.americansagainsthorseslaughter.com/
&
http://www.kaufmanzoning.net/ & http://rtfitch.wordpress.com/2011/07/04/no-independence-day-for-u-s-national-icons-wild-horses-and-burros/
&
http://www.madeleinepickens.com/ http://www.respect4horses.com/
&
http://tuesdayshorse.wordpress.com/
&
http://www.humanesociety.org/issues/horse_slaughter/
&
http://www.awionline.org/ht/d/sp/i/11222/pid/11222
&
http://www.awionline.org/ht/display/ContentDetails/i
http://animalrecoverymission.org/
&
http://www.bigwildlife.org/threats2.php
&
http://www.adventure-journal.com/2009/05/grazing-is-razing-the-big-bad-impact-of-livestock-on-public-lands/
&
http://www.publiclandsranching.org/book.htm
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Similar to the undercover factory farm claims, we have video and photos that contradict their absurd claims and show the real abuse! According to the video and photos I have seen, the BLM is grossly guilty of harrassment, torment and death of our wild ones. The Cattlemans Assoc is in bed with the BLM! Pursuant to the 1971 Wild Horse and Free-Roaming Burro Protection Act, the BLM is in the wrong! Get em Laura and the wild horse warriors!
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Thank you.
I am starting to believe that the grazing allotments are just very intricate and manipulated ruse to allow energy and mining extraction as those entities water requirements are gigantic. I don’t hate cattle or sheep; I hate this antiquated and manipulated system.
Soon the livestockers will find they are in the proverbial crosshairs too.
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Here is an old contract to roundup wild horses in Northern California – USFS (not BLM). Although this contract does not include helicopter use – it is bait trapping – it should give you at least some idea of a federal contract for rounding up our wild ones.
https://www.fbo.gov/index?s=opportunity&mode=form&id=85ec18f4cddf9b9e11a485bb4b36ae07&tab=core&_cview=1
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Thanks again GG…USDA doesn’t seem to have the “hide” mission like DOI.
Very troubling and I looked at FOIA costs and if I’m not wrong, it ain’t cheap. Frankly it (all info barring National Security) should be readily available to citizens and orgs…you should read the pages of cr*p hoops an individual has to go through to get PUBLIC information from DOI.
Bottom line is, just exactly what do these pompous, arrogant assh*ts think they are fooling????? They AIN’T DOD OR HOMELAND SECURITY AFTERALL!!!!!!!!
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Today I spent over 5 hours wandering the Loop here in Rock Springs. I have lots of photos, questions and so forth.
I even saw a guy training to drive an 18 wheeler on public lands!
I made a huge diary of the trip which includes mileage and notes about how roads are not marked. I don’t know what to make of it, but at least I can tell you about the proper miles I was at, which side of the road the turn off is on.
I will endeavor to put this together once I get home.
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Any government of the United States of America is above the law.
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Thank you. This needs to be done by all of us as often as possible (and shared) so that we all learn to know the land and the animals before they are gone – and for “other” reasons. We know that there are people who do this already – but more is better.
I have often wondered if the WH&B “specialists” spent their time out on the range really getting to know the horses and burros and their families, if the horses and burros would have a better chance of being left alone on their land where they belong. Unless a person was a real “low-life” … how could you not learn to love them and respect them and admire them and care about them if you spent days and days and days actually watching them and getting to know them?
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Grandma Gregg, read Laura’s assessment of the Kiger/Riddle round-up in Oregon (on her blog ART AND HORSES). Apparently the people in charge of the management there have an entirely different perspective, are competent and things were vastly different. Laura can add to that. I remember her saying that the Wild Horse and Burro specialist there not only knows HOW MANY are out there, but WHO is out there.
This one’s for you, BLM
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Louie,
I say this with all due respect – and I do respect your unending dedication to our wild ones – but as Laura says “The Kiger herd has historically been a successful “range breeding” operation for the BLM. Kiger horses have had an unheard of 100% adoption rate.” Does this not ring any bells? Our (YOURS AND MINE) wild ones do NOT need to be managed with a range breeding mentality. They are not range stock. They are wild animals. They need to be left alone on their legal range. They are born and should die there … as Mother Nature intended. We humans need to keep our “paws off”! We need to be aware of the true reasons that our wild ones are being persecuted … MONEY, nothing more or less. Their land was given to them (and other wildlife including predators) because nobody thought that it was valuable. Does that ring a bell? Look at the South Dakota Black Hills American Indian “treaties”. Nobody wanted the land so the American government gave it to the tribes … and then … behold … it became very valuable because of its gold and the treaties then became invalid. It’s all about the $$$.
Today with large gas, oil, mining, hunting, livestock “interests” it has become valuable and thus our wild ones must be removed in “their” eyes … the eyes of the BLM who are selling/leasing our land (yours and mine, Louie!) to the “big bucks corporations” of not only the American corporations but China etc. And who suffers? Who will eventually be (and already are) on the verge of destruction? Our WILD animals – horses, burros, mountain lions, and coyotes and on and on and on… these animals do not belong to the government … they are not BLM animals … they belong to you and me and my children and grandchildren. What you and I do today to save the wild ones is not done for you and me … it is done for our future generations.
You will want to visit the website: http://wherethewildhorsesare.blogspot.com/ (July 14th) A year ago there were 1700 +- rightful horses and burros on this 800,000 acre Twin Peaks HMA land that belongs to you and me … and now … about two weeks ago TWO were found that have little or no possibility of survival for themselves let alone for their rightful progeny. Wrong … wrong … wrong.
With much respect,
Grandma
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The Kigers are a purely manmade group of horses brought to the kiger gorge area from other areas across oregon where there were bands of horses with simular color and characteristics..oregon has created-by culling-the appy herd-Warm Springs-the roan draft group-stinkingwater, the palamino herd-the palamino buttes, of course all of these are recessive colors, so its impossible to maintain that without continued culling…that is not where the value lays in the mustang..nature culls them by fitness for survival-ability soundness and smartness..man cannot nor does he posess the knowledge or skills to make that kind of selection..you can’t get it out of a book or by just owning a horse..the BLM is never going to know exactly who is the sire of a foal..whether it is inbreeding..they know the oregon herds because they are small..but trust me..LOL, they are not out there checking those horses on a daily basis..could that be done on the adobe towns on over a million acres of rough country?..NO..its not a practical solution of any kind…and then you have to factor in human proclivities and preferences of the individuals who would be making those decisions…for instance those individuals who believe cremelos are inferior or defective…catoors would have them all killed..and yes-there would be people like catoors who would be in those posistions…hands off folks is the best possible solution
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Sandra……EXCELLENT COMMENTS!!!!!!!
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the point is not a discussion about the kigers or the pryors..both very small hmas with genetically stressed populations..most of the HMAs are large with thousands + horses..as a lifetime breeder, stallion owner with a line breeding program I can unequivicably state this can NOT be accomplished as a positive benefit to the wild horses as a whole..but a massive screwup in the offing..The conversation needs to be on restoring the HMAs to their original size location and benefit to the wild horses…I might add I have had this conversation with Matt about the pryors
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LOL, besides-isn’t this a moot point..by this time next year..there will be no breeding herds and nothing to manage but a death watch as the horses disappear to greener pastures??
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Sandra….
I’ve made some posts down the thread line, but my point here is NEVER GIVE UP!
And no, they ALL won’t be wiped out, sterilized, removed, etc…close, but not the end of our cause. Part of our shift, cause and funding should be to buy the herds from the killers and plan for resettlement in the ecosystem.
And I personally believe based on research, science (the best kind) will show the wild equines NEVER left NA. Which begs the question: why does DOI still list them as a non indigenous species….UHHHHHHhhhh…that would be mission statements and funding/appropriations.
Does it matter? Sort of, but look at what they do with wolves, coyotes and buffalo.
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IDenise..we are of the same mind on that..I bought a herd of wild horses with that in mind…let me tell you the pitfalls of that someday when I have dug myself out of the finacial hole…I have told my friends to just shoot me the next time I decide to save something
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out of 11 stallions and 21 mares, there are five foals to date -with possibly a couple more mares that may foal, 3 stallions are dead, 2 mares dead…4 or 5 foals were all that carol walker saw when she went out to adobe town, and many stallions without mares….so maybe it was worth it…many days-it doesn’t seem like it
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The Burns crew does do a better job of management-the wild horses were never intended to be managed like a breeding farm and that IS the way oregon herds are managed in that area..always remember..these are small herds..we have only around 2500 wild horses left in oregon and most herds are at dangerous genetic levels..and we have much better grazing and water sources here in Oregon than many of the other states..we also have an over abundance of cattle on the HMAs..the minerals corporations have not struck gold here..so they are not in the picture..with only a few areas being tested for windmills..And keep in mind..Dean Bolstead spent many years here in this Burns dist…this district was the only one..who volunteered to geld and return stallions to the HMAs-all other states refused to do it…so lets not get carried away with the backslapping..they have things to answer for as well. Praising the best of the worst..should not be where we compromise
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Grandma Gregg, Laura did say that it was a highly managed herd. I had better not speak for Laura, but I believe what she was referring to was the manner in which the operation was handled and the way she was treated. More care was taken and I don’t think the Gestapo were brought in. I think we are all in agreement that these Wild Herds should be managed as Wildlife, not domestic equines. There are plenty of domestic Horses for people who want to adopt a Horse. “In the Wild Management” is a term that I see used a great deal and I think that is the goal that we are heading for…NOT these continual round-ups.
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It may not be realistic to expect that numbers of wild horses can be managed without some culling from time to time. I would prefer to have a few horses routinely culled through bait or water trapping once every year than these massive roundups.
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Sandra said what I was TRYING to say. Laura was giving credit where credit was due. We aren’t just BLM BASHERS. There are other issues (as Sandra stated) that need to be addressed. You really have to read and listen to Laura’s entire report. That was the reason I posted my original comment. You can then draw your own conclusions.
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Laura’s preliminary video report:
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Thank you Louie and All. Yes we are all pleased and relieved for any and all (large or small) humane treatment for our wild ones and the Burns corral was apparently using good practices and I am greatful.
I am sorry if I hurt your feelings because I greatly appreciate your hard work and vast knowledge and willingness to share it and I always read your comments with great interest – knowing that I will learn from you.
Onward!
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I am guilty of chasing around in the carnival atmosphere that BLM is using on us who care about the wild ones – commenting on as many EAs & RMPs as often as possible, looking for dent’s in BLM’s armor (there are many – like the federal DOT regulation violations in Debby Coffey’s great article, for example) for the sake of litigation/education, requesting FOIAs, contacting and asking questions of BLM field managers and on and on. All of these things are important but the BLM keeps us so busy with their “shell game” that we sometimes forget that it is a federal Congressional law that is being broken over and over again by BLM/FS. I believe that keeping focused on that law is the ONLY thing that will ever put a stop to the BLM/FS animal abuse of capture (illegal) branding (illegal) harassment (illegal) and death (illegal). Even the Burns Amendment did not negate this part of the law. A law that was passed by Congress can only be abolished by an act of Congress. Is that correct or not? If so, then we need to concentrate our efforts on this law.
IT IS THE POLICY OF THE CONGRESS THAT WILD FREE-ROAMING HORSES AND BURROS SHALL BE PROTECTED FROM CAPTURE, BRANDING, HARASSMENT, OR DEATH.
I wonder if they will respond with “outside the scope” when we quote the law in our EA comments? Since when is following the law they are employed/required to follow “outside the scope”? It is not.
Here is a link with information/ideas that we may want to include in all comments/correspondence.
http://wildhorseinvestigationteam.wordpress.com/2009/09/08/free-roaming-horse-and-burro-act-1971/
(my humble opinion)
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Awesome report from a Awesome lady !!! Thank You Louie…! And Thank You Laura!!
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I am happy to see court cases now challenging the premise of- multiple use-which is no more than administrative land use decisions initiated by BLM-administrative law being used and abused to circumvent congressional law and Supreme court decisions..somewhere there is a judge who will be offended by that action..unfortunately…by the time legal cases are adjudicated..the horses will be long gone and or sterilized
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RIGHT on all points. The thing that is lacking is ENFORCEMENT.
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Sorry Louie, I don’t have a problem with your “enforcement” aspect, but I believe the lack of legitimate science, transparency and accountability are why there is no enforcement. And DOI would say they are enforcing the law and regs. I suppose you mean Congressional enforcement of the 1971 Act, which unfortunately has been tampered with via riders, interpretation, etc
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Judge McKidden inquired on our knowledge of the limitations imposed by the RMP. It is the administrative procedure – modified by RMUD. The take down of the Act is solintered and you must read it all and listen as much as you can stand it. Listen to the judges, read the plans. Don’t be led except to nourishment. There are some very wise words on this blog article. The problems are not new. Neither are the complaints. Something is not being done right to make change. I think it is the anti-roundup who are swatting flys, while leaving the door open.
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I’m oversimplifying, but remember the wild equines face multiple criteria for removal, reduction, sterilization and even zeroing out; whereas other human use (not multiple in my mind) get reprieves, adjustments, pull the livestock off/put them back on in which the wild equines do not. For some reason, wild equines have a lower standard of sustainability (drought, water availability, forage, etc and yet have ridiculous reproduction formulas more than rabbits on the range) and a more intensive management enforcement effort than any other “user” of that exact same land. That, in and of itself demonstrates a lack of equal consideration in the DOI lip service called “multi-use”. There are only 2 other species I can think of that garner that kind of attention: buffalo and wolves….and they just flat out get shot (buff also get sent straight to slaughter) both because of livestock Aggies.
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Grandma Gregg, don’t worry, you didn’t hurt my feelings! I DO understand what you are saying. I was just trying to clarify what Laura was saying, while trying to be careful not to misquote her. These round-ups, no matter how well they are carried out, are FAR TOO invasive and disruptive to these Wild Herds AND they FAR TOO expensive.
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Denise, I think I am the ones who oversimplifies, but to me, the whole thing is, as Laura say, NOT ROCKET SCIENCE. The law is worded and used in so many ways to circumvent the actual issues. It comes down to who can afford the legal counsel….that can START at $100,000. While the court is haggling
over proper procedure and “moot points”, the heliocopter is warming up the engine. As we keep trying to get it right, the Wild Horses and Burros are being stolen RIGHT IN FRONT OF US. When Humane Observers, peaceful citizens (STAKEHOLDERS), and credentialed journalist show up at a round-up, local law enforcement and BLM Gestapo are brought out. It looks to me as though WE need to bring the National Guard with us, since this appears to be a matter of National Security.
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I’ll tell you what I find fascinating (in a scary way) is that all this bid, contractor qualification process, and eventually contract award ARE NOT ACCESSIBLE VIA .GOV website for public viewing. Read the FOIA requirements for DOI…it is a mish-mash joke and intentionally so. It is confuse, deflect, diffuse, delay at it’s highest form. Intentionally so because after all, we are not talking protecting military or nuclear secrets here.
These jerks have even been allowed to tier their rate per 15/30 minute research based on employee scale…look at the rates. They are outrageous!
Again, it is public information and should be available on line. The FAR, CBO, CBD are a probably the worst, most user unfriendly website search sources I have ever been acquainted.
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Sandra……EXCELLENT COMMENTS!!!!!!!
And I don’t believe you and Laura disagree. I believe you are saying the same thing (w/additional points), just in a different way.
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Ummmmm…”United we stand; divided we fall”????!!!!
Steep learning curve here folks, with LIMITED RESOURCES and in consideration of our character, which never ceases to amaze the wild equine (and domestic) advocates (or enemy)….we shall overcome.
Not being flip, trite or dismissive…but we have to find ways to agree to disagree, respect each advocates opinion and fight the good fight.
Rule one: Step outside yourself and read, reread a post that you find inconsistent with our advocacy…..and then reread it AGAIN! Find the common ground, contribution and commend it; find the contrary points and respectfully disagree with why, research sources and logic.
This about our education and the equines extermination by the bad guys…we don’t need to exterminate each other…Wash DC is doing a good job on that all by their lonesome amongst (sp?) themselves no less on behalf of us/US worse yet.
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The word MANAGEMENT seems to bring up a great deal of discussion, AND IT SHOULD. That’s why we all came to this party. I think it is the only word we have until we can find a better one…management as opposed to MISmanagement.
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Let’s start laying out some serious groundwork for the Wild Horse and Burro program that we DO want.
What would that program look like?
Who would we want to be in charge it?
What would an ideal Herd Management Area look like?
I believe that we all have pretty much the same vision, just different opinions as to how to accomplish it.
So much land has been stolen from these Wild Herds. Sandra nailed that one. We need to focus on getting those Herd Management Areas reopened and restored.
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Has to be done private email, Louie.
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I recommend that individuals attend the September proequine welfare conference and talk to several individuals, attendees and speakers and devise a plan.
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concensus is not always a good thing unless you are a gov agency, and then you must think with one mind and not out of the box…while all of us seem to agree we donot like the roundups some feel PZP22 is fine and gelding and returning stallions is the best plan..and that the BLM must be right when they claim reproduction is 20 %.. and that wild horses are better off adopted than wild-I don’t happen to believe any of the above..I feel it is a dangerous premise to put out there..the people who actually had the experience knowledge and lifetimes of managing herds in the hundreds and thousands are gone…they have been replaced by people who have read books and have degrees in genetics and no hands on experience…the only management that needs to be done is range management..the records kept by the burns unit since its inception were for the most part very good in the inception, and records showed the herds at stinkingwater kept in balance before any roundups were done..after the first roundup-populations exploded..its there in their own records…after restoring the HMAs to their original size and reversing the AMLs set in the RMPs, there should be minimal needs met by bait trapping and limited use of PZP (1 year)..turning this into blm controled breeding program is a nightmare..the new woman in charge of the adobes..decided she liked the roans better than the grays so returned the roans and removed grays…since when are the mustangs a color breed…we have made a mess-we humans -in our of breeding horses, with our decisions about what we are breeding for..why ask for them to screw up the mustang-its one thing to manage-its another to meddle..I say- if you have an opinion-speak up-be prepared to defend that posistion and you will have crediblity..
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Consensus is a good thing as long as it includes reasonable, intelligent debate and compromise because no one side should get everything. The “All of Nothing” proposition is archaic and antiquated. However, on some issues I get it….wild equines, HCHS and the National debt are NOT any of part of that. Surprised? Don’t be…my argument is that those issues defy laws, the will of the American People and have been usurped by special interest and lobbyists.
DOI/USDA/STATES have no moral argument regarding the removal of wild equines and worse yet, nor do the HCHS advocates. In fact, demonstrated behavior and history shows that they are morally bankrupt.
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There’s the first point
We want RANGE management…GOOD RANGEMENT
Do we all agree on that?
WHAT is GOOD RANGE MANAGMENT?
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I’m thinking that people who do read this blog, but have never had the opportunity to actually visit a Herd Management Area, need to be given some basics. Many of them are contacting their legislators and they need to have some accurate and verifiable information. I have been calling legislators all week and I can tell you that you want to have your facts in line when you talk to them. It makes a difference as to whether they listen.
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Luoie…always respect your posts, but question….what HMA? They have been so mutilated and putrefied, with multiple names and locations by the FEDs and States and it takes Sherlock Holmes to figure out what HMA one is requesting info about or even the ability to intelligently discuss it with reps/Senators.
Surprise? NOT ONE BIT…it is intentional.
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You also have to be ready to offer some solutions.
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let me just throw out something to think about..there is discussion among breed groups that throwing 40,000 wild horses in holding is driving up the cost and availability of hay for any livestock….can we figure how much hay these horses are consuming..when they could be consuming for free and preventing prairie fires late this summer??? given the fact much of the country-but where I live is in a burning drought…shouldn’t that factor in?
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Should be worded in the holding contracts…btw…just investigate how much forage, grasses and hay are being exported.
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Denise, the HMAs where round-ups are occuring as we speak
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NOPE…HMAs have been zeroed out, manipulated and redesignated for the sole purpose of removing wild equines.
I’ve talked to advocate that tried to get the original HMA data, transition/reduction HMA data and current data of HMAs, to include grzing permit data and DOI can’t )or won’t) provide it.
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I have a premise, in life-you never get higher than what you aim for…so aim high and you will get closer to your goal…selling the wild horses out is not an option..oh yeah, and then…expect a miracle..LOL
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I’ve noticed two different terms. Herd Area and Herd Management Area. What is the difference?
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So when we comment on one these many Environmental Assessments regarding a proposed “gather” in a given HMA, are we commenting on something that doesn’t exist?
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Wow !!! Just read all posts here for today !!!These are the best posts I have ever seen written here, Bravo to everyone here !!!!! i do believe now more then ever we can do this, you people are awesome !!!!!Its going to take me days , just to go over and completely understand and digest all this information……………..The knowledge here is awesome again I must say Bravo to all here………………………the key here is somewhere, it must be sorted out to Simplicity then the answer for Our Wild Ones will be clear…………..
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Sorry !! one more thing we here in Ohio, at least i , am not real savy on all the higher complicated facts, mainly because we dont have Herds of these magnificent Wild Ones,on a daily basis, I only know that after viewing them hundreds of times, and reading all their History, That their need to be here is essentially fact …………from everything I have ever read……………….there can be no other conclusion………..
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Arlene, join in. We are all learning together.
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I’m out raged about the truck drivers also. My husband , son & several friends are truck drivers. If any of them were to have any of these faults against them for any reason, theyed be in trouble by the compony they work for or even be fired. The compony, if these violations continue would also be inspected by DOT & the law brought down on them hard. BUT, since these trucks are under Federal use why should DOT breing down the law on them!
Those drivers are going to get away with this crap & it PISSES ME OFF! BLM SHOULD GET IN TROUBLE JUST LIKE ANY OTHER TUCKING COMPONY WOULD BECAUSE SUN J IS WORKING FOR THEM!
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