Alert issued by Ginger Kathrens of The Cloud Foundation
BLM Sets Sights on Cloud’s Herd Once Again
Cloud's grandson, Echo, represents both unique coloration and rare bloodlines being one of the only descendants of the late stallion, Mateo ~ photo courtesy of The Cloud Foundation
The BLM is proposing another significant removal of wild horses on the Pryor Mountains. I know. Just when you thought it was safe… they’re back!
BLM’s recently released Environmental Assessment (EA) seeks to remove via bait trapping and potentially water trapping, 30 young Pryor mustangs, ages 1-3 years. Bait and/or water trapping could begin as early as mid-January. Comments are due by January 6, 2012. We urge you to comment and to support the NO Action Alternative, the only alternative that keeps a viable population of horses on the mountain.
Here are the points we feel you may want to mention in your remarks. Make sure to use your own words.
- Making decisions on a 30 horse removal now could put the Pryor Wild Horse Herd in jeopary of a die-off. Natural mortality in the winter of 2011-2012 is an unknown. The number of foals to be born and survive in 2012 is also unknown.
- The population of the Pryor Wild Horse Herd is currently stable with only 150 animals one year of age or older. According to Gus Cothran, PhD, the foremost equine geneticist in the U.S., “A census population size of 150-200 is required to achieve the minimum effective population size (usually 1/4 to 1/3 of the of the total population).” Currently, the Pryor population is at this bare minimum level.
- In 2011 there was no population growth. Births equaled deaths—18 births versus 18 deaths.
- Removing 30 young horses in one year alone is risky, unnecessary and threatens the genetic viability of the herd, diminishing their ability to survive into the future.
- We urge BLM to wait and see what winter brings as far as mortality, and what the foal crop looks like in August of 2012. Late summer would be the time to assess herd growth and health as well as range health and decide on whether removals are really necessary.
- No details have been provided in this EA regarding the disposition of young horses once they are caught, other than their transport to the Britton Springs corrals at the base of the mountain. What then? Where and when would the young horses be available for adoption? These details need to be revealed to the public.
- There are no criteria cited which ensure that young horses with narrow genetic representation in the herd, unique or underrepresented colors and markings, and rigorous physical characteristics (i.e. size, health) would be retained on the range. Consideration must be given to these removal criteria to ensure that the “best” are left on the range in order for the herd to perpetuate itself into the future.
- Urge BLM to adopt the No Action Alternative.
We are encouraging you to speak up on behalf of this small, isolated, genetically unique, world-famous herd. BLM will not accept emailed comments but feel free to send your comments via email to info@thecloudfoundation.org and please put in the subject line, “Pryor EA comments.” We will print out your emails and mail them with our Foundation comments. Or you can send your letters directly to:
Jim Sparks
Field Manager
BLM Billings Field Office
5001 Southgate Drive
Billings, MT 59101
Thanks for speaking out to ensure that the Pryor herd and Cloud’s family line will continue into the future! Stay tuned for an update on our latest visit.
Happy Trails!
Ginger
Related articles
- BLM Targets Famous Wild Stallion Cloud’s Babies (rtfitch.wordpress.com)
- BLM Plans Annihilation of Cloud’s Herd (rtfitch.wordpress.com)
- BLM Fine Tunes Assault Plans Against Cloud’s Herd in 2012 (rtfitch.wordpress.com)
Categories: Horse News, Wild Horses/Mustangs
Straight from the Horse's Heart 
I think this must be stopped and our choices are few! mar
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A pilgrimage is due. All of us who have wanted to visit the Pryors have no excuse left not to. I bait trapping BLm will remove the individuals gradually and quietly. We must adopt all these horses. Maybe we can start another freedom fund.. but this must be stood up to and the horses saved all together!
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Right Mar, if we all contributed $5.00 or what they could afford to in any amount we could work some Magic at the Pryors…..
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Well, this looks like the “poster child” for everything screwed up inside USDA and DOI.
Absolutely does NOT make sense and proves beyond a shadow of a doubt that this is not science or management!
They got their “culls” when USDA/Forest Service put up that freaking fence and all those wild equines died!!!!
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Oh…and when the drunk picked off a couple with his truck.
And you know, would we have ever heard of those deaths without the work of TCF????????
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Mar is right only 2 options here , of course we will again write our letters of disapproval,in the past proved they are a waste of time !! and does nothing to save them……Why do they assault Clouds Herd again ,because they can there is nothing warranted to this second betrayal of Clouds herd………….. and the American people////////////////////
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The BLM’s so-called management of Cloud’s herd is wreckless and certainly makes no sense.
Too bad the BLM can’t manage itself into oblivion….
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Every BLM assault on Americas Mustang is a personal assault to every American who believes in AMERICA her beauty and splendor has always been reflected in its FREEDOM,to assault her Wild Mustangs the very symbol of her FREEDOM is UN American…..And assaults on the Icons of Freedom are unbecoming ,and extremely degrading to America and its people and most of all to her illustrious allies The Great American Wild Mustangs…………….
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MONEY MUTES OUR VOICES!
I also believe this is BLM’s way of punishing the Cloud Foundation for the lawsuit.
What they need is a Good old American Passive-Aggressive A$$ Whoopin!
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We need to get a huge crowd of horse volunteers and BLOCK these round ups, enough is enough! Either block the roads in or block the path to the corrals, etc. We have been trying the “peaceful” and legislative way and it has not stopped these illegal round ups, it is time to take the next step! WE THE PEOPLE run this country not those in D.C.!
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Dear Todd I agree fully !!!!!!
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Clouds Herd is my Last Nerve , to desecrate them again unchallenged by the 75% of people who believe that they are the most precious gift of all ,is unheard of !!!!!! They stand strong throughout history for us, I stand strong for them !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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I have been saying all along, we need 60’s style protests!!! All these letters and petitions have done nothing!
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Sometimes, I think, the BLM is doing these STUPID, AWFUL things to get back at all of us, & all that we stand for, purposely & relentlessly going after Cloud, & all that we hold dear, all of our wild equines! And, this, well this is a giant smack in our faces, & right before Christmas!! I hope they all get coal for Christmas & choke on it since they’re so STUPID they’d probably think it was candy!! It seems the government & the BLM hate anything beautiful, they are pure & ugly evil! It’s going to be up to us to stop them, at ANY cost, words are not enough, we need to use some physical action if we really want to save OUR wild horses & burros, &, let’s not forget that now, ALL American horses are in danger, if horse slaughter is allowed to return to OUR country.
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Catherine is right. Look at the publicity generated by the “Occupayers”, they sure got a lot of publicity. Each time I write the BLM I send copies to my Legislators so that they are informed as well. I still think we need Snoopy in the air to take pictures of the abuse. They certainly screamed about a small plane overhead and did they complain to the FAA. Whats good for one should be good for all. I will spend some time on this letter to this next guy. Keep the failth all of you, Even though Its hard in the face of such adversity.
We all need to call and complain to the media that this getting no coverage even though are tax dollars are being spent, Sooner or later, they will get the
message and I think they know we are not going to go away. I hope Madeliene’s project gets off soon. I have heard the people in the areas are encouraged bu her plan. I think it would mean jobs for people and it will be
supported by the tourist traffic. I for one was disappointed the last time I was out in Las Vegas that I did not get a chance to view the wild horses and burros.
Keep the faith and remember the War Horse. In light of that movie, its going to be a good time to push to save them. Laura, if you get a call from the Ford Company, see what they want. I have been in contact with them to see if they
can get you a new vehicle to help in the great job you are doing. No promises, but I’m working on this. WE can never let slaughter return to this country again!
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Excellent, Gail…when you write the cone of silence called DOI/USDA you must send a copy to your representatives…excellent!
You ought to see what the Maryland Jockey Club, the American Horse Council and Rep Dennis Cardozo (CA) with wounded troops no less, did with “War Horse”. It is sickening and I am sure Mr Speilberg has no idea about Cardozo and AHC and their position on HCHS. I suspect “Ben’s Cjili Bowl” doesn’t know what cretins they hosted that night either…..AHC is crowing about it.
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We pay taxes to have the BLM abuse the Wild Horses. Need to start a White House petition page on not paying the BLM!! Ken Salzar and Mr Abbey are criminal.
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Here is the link to the AHC press release:
http://www.horsecouncil.org/press-release/maryland-jockey-club-and-american-horse-council-co-host-advanced-screening-steven-spie
The story is also being carried at Horseback (and I’m spitting nails there at all involved except Ben’s Chili Bowl, the film connections and most of all, the troops attending…I don’t believe they have a “clue”).
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We can complain and address to the people that we are directed to do so to but we cannot ignore the complete deaf ears we are addressing our concerns to on this extremely important issue.for the welfare of our Law protected Mustangs, our concerns are totally founded on eyewitness ed reports, actual film footage and documentation of the atrocities being inflected on the Symbols of Freedom the Wild Mustangs…………….. I for one have been on my last nerve about this whole unnecessary scenario, It is quite clear or should be quite clear that there is no Justice for the Criminals who waste tax dollars to the tune of 67 million , they have never proven that this is needed. the only thing they have proven to date is they are lieing , brutality maiming and murdering without any justification what so ever and are allowed to do so for no other reason than pure greed ……………. We can complain till we are all blue in the face and nothing changes only gets worse for the Wild Mustangs or we can organize to end this Betrayal of not only the American people but first and foremost the Wild mustangs and horses that built America literally with their backs and blood……………………
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What TCF has posted above (although we need to reword the facts to make them “personal”) is priceless.
It shows how bad the DOI/USDA really are. It is worth talking to our reps and sending a cc: to the perps.
BE OUTRAGED…but never give up.
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I agree with others – we need numbers of boots-on-the-ground protesters and get this stopped once and for all. This is nothing less than an outrage for anybody to be harming the horses and burros. And I put a greater accountablilty on the government because they should and CAN make it stop – after all, they are charged with PROTECTING the wild horses and burros according to the LAW, not killing and torturing them!!
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This is where many of us came into this battle, in 2009. BLM rounded up Cloud’s Herd on Labor Day week-end. They were, more than likely, paid overtime for that. There were no government offices open to take complaints. Here is a letter that was printed on Cloud’s blog:
http://thecloudfoundation.wordpress.com/2009/09/page/3/
Letter to the Editor
September 15, 2009
This is one awesome letter — please everyone, write letters to your editors!
The Pryor Wild Horse roundup was quite alarming and troublesome. It was horrible to see old wild horses and their complete bands taken from their home, like Conquistador, Grumpy, Trigger, Shane and others vital to this historic and unique Spanish herd’s blood line. It was heart wrenching to see Floyd, an exceptionally rare blue roan, who was beaten in the face, and who should be returned to the Pryor Mountains to live forever. Then, there was Cloud, the stallion made famous by a PBS series, so courageously snaking his mares backwards into the corrals trying to rescue his family, so sadly torn from him. But, who are these wild horses really? A little fact not well known is that the Pryor Wild Mustangs truly belong to the Crow Tribe. They are their “Crow Ponies”. They always have been. They always will be, and the Crows deserve to be heard with regard to these majestic famous wild horses that are a stunning part of their cultural heritage. In truth, the BLM should listen to the Crows, for there is no one more deserving than they, who courageously fought to save their own lands, and who rode these spectacular Crow Ponies into many hunting quests and many battles. Truly, it can be said that the ancestry of the Apsáalooke Nation lives on, deep in the hearts of their very own “Crow Ponies”.
Carl & Laura
Billings, Montana
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We need to get rid of 30 or more members of Congress, every year!!! They need to loeave the wild ones alone.
Jenny Garcia
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