Story by Vince Patton as published at Oregon Public Broadcasting
“Suddenly they’re going to kill off the wild horses because there’s a man-made drought caused by the BLM’s own mismanagement of our public lands…”
An internal memo has surfaced that shows the U.S. government’s wild horse program is in dire financial trouble. It also calls for “drastic changes” including the possibility of killing sick horses on the range.
In August last year, Joan Guilfoyle called for an immediate halt to all roundups.
That’s something independent scientists called for last summer. This is the first time the public has learned that someone at Bureau of Land Management agreed.
Guilfoyle is not just anybody. She’s in charge of the BLM’s wild horse division.
The halt to roundups is one of several recommendations revealed because a wild horse advocate sought documents under the Freedom of Information Act.
Debbie Coffey, Vice President of the Wild Horse Freedom Federation, says the BLM sent her two versions of the memo, one with large sections blacked out. But a duplicate titled “Internal Working Document” were completely uncensored. She thinks BLM goofed.
“I saw they had given me an un-redacted version as well,” says Coffey. “So, just for fun, I decided to post that and let the public know what’s really going on.”
Coffey is most troubled by one of Guilfoyle’s proposals.
In the memo, the division chief recommends that BLM should euthanize horses on the range “as an act of mercy if animals decline to near-death condition as a result of declining water and forage resources.”
Coffey says, “Suddenly they’re going to kill off the wild horses because there’s a man-made drought caused by the BLM’s own mismanagement of our public lands. They need to rethink how they’re managing public land if they can’t sustain wild horses they have a mandate to protect.”
Coffey blames BLM for allowing other users of public land to use up so much water, leaving little for wildlife including horses.
The BLM has said in the past it is legally required to manage public land for multiple uses.
Oregon’s BLM wild horse officials referred our questions about the memo to the Washington DC office, which did not respond.
The recommendation to halt roundups was not followed…(CONTINUED)
Click (HERE) to read the story in it’s entirety and to comment at OPG.org
Related articles
Categories: Horse News, Horse Slaughter, Wild Burros, Wild Horses/Mustangs
Straight from the Horse's Heart 
The only sick or dying horses or burros that I have seen is from the BLM chasing them too far to be caught ! The BLM needs to be sued for the mismanagement of the horses,burros and the land that they have destroyed or rented out ! We need someone then to step up and take care of the sick horses or burros that are being held in corrals and return the healthy horses and burros back to where they were captured ! Leave the wild horses and burros on their land where they belong !!!
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HOW does BLM intend to euthanize those Wild Horses?
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Probably With A Sharp shooter From One Of Those Helicopters. Isn’t That The Way They Are Liking The Wolves, Bison And Other Wild Animals? Maybe That’s The Real Price Of The Contract With The Helicopter Pilots… Ever Stop To Think About That? Or Maybe A Canned Hunt For The Rich And Infamous After They Round More Of Them Up? These People Are Deceitful At Best And Look His They Killed That 20 Year Old Black Guy. They Are Above reproach, Above The Law. They Lie To Justify Their Crimes And Nobody Can Touch Them.
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agree with Terri. They will sell seats on helicopter for people to come shoot the horses. Lets face it, get a bunch of yahoo’s with rifles in a helicopter is a recipe for disaster. Cannot imagine how many others will be killed/injured in the mayhem.
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Louie,
For as long as we have been watching this travesty, federal agencies have been using a variety of methods to eradicate our wild horses and burros. Our oversight has been our failure to imagine that if someone changed the law, surely we would have been informed.
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The memorandum states that there will be a halt to the roundups, so WHAT is the reason for these contracts?
https://www.fbo.gov/index?s=opportunity&mode=form&id=9d6478bb41e2948ea84fff0f504791e9&tab=core&_cview=0
V–Wild Horse & Burro Flight Services
Notice Type:
Award Notice
Contract Award Date:
January 31, 2014
Contract Award Number:
D13PC00079
Contract Award Dollar Amount:
$6000000
Contractor Awardee:
EL AERO SERVICES, INC.815 MURRAY WAYELKONV89801-7808US
Synopsis:
Added: Jan 31, 2014 4:41 pm
IGF::OT::IGF ON CALL SMALL HELICOPTER FLIGHT SERVICES, EL AERO SERVICES
Contracting Office Address:
DOI, National Business Center, AQDDivision 4/ Branch 1300 East Mallard DriveSuite 200BoiseID83706
Point of Contact(s):
Haener,Janice 208-433-5043 janice_haener@ibc.doi.gov
Haener,Janice
https://www.fbo.gov/index?s=opportunity&mode=form&id=056832287d9969d216ba45f0b158bc9f&tab=core&_cview=0
V–HELICOPTER FLIGHT SERVICE-WILD HORSE AND BURRO
Agency: Department of the Interior
Notice Type:
Award Notice
Contract Award Date:
January 30, 2014
Contract Award Number:
D13PC00091
Contract Award Dollar Amount:
$6000000
Contractor Awardee:
WILL HOGAN T1620 W PETERSON AVEDEER LODGEMT59722-1818US
Synopsis:
Added: Jan 31, 2014 4:33 pm
IGF::OT::IGF WILD HORSE AND BURRO HELICOPTER FLIGHT SERVICES
Additional Info:
Contracting Office Address:
DOI, National Business Center, AQDDivision 4/ Branch 1300 East Mallard DriveSuite 200BoiseID83706
Point of Contact(s):
Haener,Janice 208-433-5043 janice_haener@ibc.doi.gov
Haener,Janice
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If DOI and USDA can’t even count, how is it that they are competent to diagnose what constitutes a “sick” wild horse? They don’t know how to feed, water or house them properly in holding.
Talk about stupidity with a ton of arrogance!
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I posted the same comments on OPB They were under moderation and I still don’t see them yet. it’s important that readers have ALL of the facts.
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Three Items.
1. Yes, the BLM has let 2014 roundup contracts to helicopter companies worth millions. SFTHH posted on this. The BLM press release was issued January 31, in the evening, before a weekend. THE BLM FORKED-TONGUE INDICATES EITHER THE RUTHLESSNESS OF BLM MANAGEMENT, OR THAT IT IS IMBUED WITH CHAOS, OR BOTH.
2.Oregon PBS’s Vince Patton writes above: “Oregon’s BLM wild horse officials referred our questions about the memo to the Washington DC office, which did not respond.”
Mr. Patton and everyone else needs to know that DECISIONS ON WHAT HAPPENS IN A PLANNED ACTION AT THE STATE OR LOWER LEVEL ON A HERD MANAGEMENT AREA IS ENTIRELY UP TO STATE AND LOCAL MANAGERS. THIS IS ONE OF THE SORRY IRONIES OF BLM’S BROKEN BUREACRACY. ALL WASHINGTON DOES IS GIVE THEM THE MONEY.
So again! That state office was blowing smoke! Again THE BLM FORKED-TONGUE INDICATES EITHER THE RUTHLESSNESS OF BLM MANAGEMENT, OR THAT IT IS IMBUED WITH CHAOS, OR BOTH.
3. Of course, it is these same BLM managers at the local level on each HMA who will be deciding whether horses and burros need to be killed. And who will be letting contracts or buying bullets which I pay for as a taxpayer. FOR THAT REASON ALONE, THE BLM CAN LOOK FORWARD TO KILLING HORSES LIKE THIS OVER MY DEAD AND BROKEN BODY!
WHICH MEANS, WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO BE KEPT INFORMED ON A DAILY BASIS WHAT HAPPENS TO THIS DECISION, AND IF IT BEGINS TO BE CARRIED OUT ANYWHERE.
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Rob, are you saying here that people at the local and state level are not under federal management, and cannot be fired for misconduct?
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P.S. WHEN ARE THESE BLM AND DOI HONCHOS IN WASHINGTON GOING TO BE EMBARASSED AND ASHAMED ENOUGH TO COME OUT INTO THE LIGHT AND CLAIM SOME POWER AND REFORM THE PROGRAM?
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MID TERM ELECTIONS THIS YEAR EVERYONE
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from second page of this blog, source…was this update at the bottom
UPDATE 2/26/14: Tuesday morning the BLM in Washington D.C. responded with a statement. Public Information Officer Tom Gorey writes that the memo “explores a range of interim measures that could be implemented until more sustainable actions are available, such as the development of longer-lasting contraceptives and reduction of holding costs.” He says the BLM is still in the process of deciding what to do with horses this year.
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Geesh!!!
That Gorey A$$HAT is still around to collect a paycheck??????
Sounds like how AZ is back peddling their service providers can discriminate and now the AZ Senate realizes the NFL and tourism/business (never recovered from the last racist/discriminatory practice they codified) and wished the Gov veto.
Listened to the IDIOT leader of the AZ Senate explain or back peddle (AGAIN) about how he VOTED for it and it was all a big misunderstanding and was confused as to what the big deal was.
What a crock of taxpayer funded $hit!
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GREAT ARTICLE IN THE MARCH ISSUE OF NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC ON THE NATIVITY OF HORSES AND THEIR RELATIONS WITH NATIVE AMERICANS
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This is great news! Perhaps this is a sign that someone involved in either the creation or pertetuation of the non-native species myth has come to his or her sense.
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Just for a chuckle, seems the CEO of EXXONMOBILE is suing the government because of fracking in HIS backyard.
Ain’t that a HOOT!?!
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Re: UPDATE (see Patton article)
2/26/14: Tuesday morning the BLM in Washington D.C. responded with a statement. Public Information Officer Tom Gorey writes that the memo “explores a range of interim measures that could be implemented until more sustainable actions are available, such as the development of longer-lasting contraceptives and reduction of holding costs.” He says the BLM is still in the process of deciding what to do with horses this year.
Are you aware that the BLM put out a solicitation last summer (about the same time as the Guifoyle memo) for on-the-range EXPERIMENTAL PERMANENT wild horse and burro sterilization … and it is my belief that is what Gorey is referring to when he says “more sustainable actions”. (see below)
“This Request for Information invites research project ideas aimed at refining techniques and establishing protocols for the permanent sterilization or contraception of either male or female wild horses and/or burros in the field. While these projects would be conducted in a controlled environment, the final goal of this work would be to apply the refined sterilization or contraception techniques to free-roaming animals on the range, so please keep that environment in mind when presenting ideas. Any sterilization or contraceptive method, including surgical, chemical, pharmaceutical, or mechanical (such as IUDs) approaches, will be considered (with the exception of surgical castration).”
WILD HORSE and BURRO STERILIZATION or CONTRACEPTION: DEVELOPMENT OF TECHNIQUES AND PROTOCOLS
Solicitation Number: l13ps01214
Agency: Department of the Interior
Office: Bureau of Land Management
Location: National Centers Region
Does this plan sound like the BLM is following the law that clearly states “All management activities shall be at the minimal feasible level” and “wild free-roaming horses and burros shall be protected from capture, branding, harassment, or death”? These wild horses and burros are not “experimental projects” – they are living, breathing, thinking, caring and intelligent wild animals who are legally designated by Congress to live on their (our) land.
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Who is going to make those determinations? A hore hating Cattle rapist? A BLM employee who doesn’t give a rap about anything except drawing his next paycheck? A contractor who in the past has captured and sent to slaughter wild equines? Or a contractor that has been caught shooting horses from a helicopter?
I live out here so I know we’re dry. While its sunny right now we were suppose to have a fairly big storm blow in today. I still hope we do…and yes Nevada is dry. But this is why BLM is suppose to manage the range and plan for these instances. Even if we get the two big storms were due this week it won’t be enough to stop the drought.
I am beyond spaying wild horse mares. This is major surgery. BLM does not have the skill set to manage this, either surgical wise or handling the horses. Turning them back out the day following urgency IS NOT proper care. And we see how icky the corrals are for the studs–when they are being gelded.
Everything about this program is broken. From the top down. I really hope someone is able to get Smelly Sally Jewell and show her how what Joanie is recommending is NOT in the horses best interest.
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Okay people we need to flood the white house with phone calls to show the president thath we the people are on top of what is going on and we don’t want them to start killing the wild horses, mother nature will do this on her , BLM has been part of this problem from the start, the number for the line to the whilte house is 1 202 456 1111 we need to show them we are in force ….Get rid of Sally Jewell and all of the BLM’s peole they have botched the jog of and for the wild horses.
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OK. I agree I AM NOT the burning bush in the fight for wild equines or domestic slaughter or export to slaughter.
BUT DID YOU PEOPLE UNDERSTAND WHAT I POSTED…..
THE CEO OF EXXONMOBILE IS SUING TO STOP FRACKING AROUND HIS HORSE FARM AROUND DALLAS TEXAS. YOU GET IT???????
Are you all that thick?!
MSNBC has been running the story and the hell of fracking for TWO DAYS!
Flame me..could care less, if it mobilizes more people to treat equines, other wildlife, protect food and save our water and land.
HINT: if the CEO of ExxonMobile is suing , maybe those litigating for equines have a floor to stand on. A kin to Western Watersheds,,,FOCUS ON THE WATER!!!!!!
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Here is a link, among others:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/02/21/exxon-ceo-rex-tillerson-lawsuit_n_4833185.html
Let’s see…wild equines have to be removed because of water or water concerns, destruction of water areas or fires which leads to no water (latter dumb stupid no science).
Hmmmm…not obvious to the advocates and here is a big fat foot in the door regarding removal?
Really?
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Denise, I guess I am thick. I don’t see a rich guy whining about protecting his own private property is anything but business as usual, and isn’t the same issue as wild horses dispersed over millions of acres of public lands, under public management.
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Denise – I saw that article & did get a chuckle out of it. At one point I made some comment about not wanting fracking anywhere near me(NY & someone accused me of the “not in my backyard” phrase! And yes that’s how I feel – but frankly for this guy to come out & sue when hes one of the ones responsible for this crap – certainly says it all. Maybe it WILL help. maybe
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Every trick in the book – except doing the right and honorable thing, which we seem to be incapable of. 😦
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http://www.calgaryherald.com/news/alberta/Five+protesters+arrested+Sundre+horse+capture+site/9550796/story.html
“One of the senior citizens arrested who walks with a walker, she was handled pretty roughly during her arrest.”
Five protesters charged after arrests at Sundre horse capture site
By Amy Glass, Calgary Herald February 26, 2014
Five protesters who were arrested near the site of a controversial horse-capture pen near Sundre have been charged and released, according to a spokeswoman for the group.
Shannon Mann, who has been camping near the site since Feb. 16 but was not arrested, said the three women and two men who were taken into custody by RCMP on Tuesday were released later that night and are facing mischief charges.
Mann said the group is expected to appear in court on March 31. They are currently trying to get in touch with a lawyer to handle their case.
“They tried to call legal aid, at least two of them did, and there was no answer,” Mann said Wednesday morning.
“One of the senior citizens arrested who walks with a walker, she was handled pretty roughly during her arrest.”
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“The Nevada Farm Bureau Federation and Nevada Association of Counties filed a federal lawsuit Dec. 30 seeking to force the BLM to use existing authority to sell older horses without the usual prohibition on resale for slaughter in cases where animals are deemed unadoptable”
http://www.times-standard.com/statenews/ci_25181389/little-blm-horse-budget-spent-fertility
BLM spokesman Tom Gorey said Wednesday the critics’ claims are baseless, “anti-BLM propaganda.”
“It has been and remains the policy of the BLM not to sell or send wild horses or burros to slaughter,” he said in an email to The Associated Press.
Until recently, mustang advocates felt comfortable the slaughter ban would remain intact given public opinion polls showing widespread support nationally for what they say is an icon of the American West. But that’s no longer the case in places such as northern Nevada where ranchers and rural politicians are pushing for change, citing drought conditions and lack of holding space.
The Nevada Farm Bureau Federation and Nevada Association of Counties filed a federal lawsuit Dec. 30 seeking to force the BLM to use existing authority to sell older horses without the usual prohibition on resale for slaughter in cases where animals are deemed unadoptable. Earlier this month, a BLM resource advisory committee in Nevada also voiced support for some unconditional sales.
“It’s time to think outside of the box,” said Debbie Lassiter, chairwoman of the Sierra Front Great Basin Northeast RAC.
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Honestly, these characters wouldn’t know how to GET outside the box! All they know is to keep doing the same thing – even if it doesn’t work – but keep doing it.
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This quote sure sounds like BLM employees to me:
“It is difficult to get a man [or woman] to understand, when his salary depends on his not understanding it.” – Upton Sinclair
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This is crap….it sounds like an excuse to me for them to get rid of more horses which they have been trying to do for years.
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