HOUSTON – (SFTHH) At 1900 hrs, US Central Time, we received a personal phone call from Artist and Wild Horse Advocate Laura Leigh that she and her undisclosed travel partners were safe and not in harm’s way. Ms. Leigh disclosed that she had not been to the trap site, today, as she her progress had been impeded by the local Sheriff’s Department and her name, despite the Federal Judge’s order, did not appear on the BLM’s approved attendee listing.
Update July 16, 2010: Nevada U.S. District Judge Larry Hicks has lifted the injunction prohibiting BLM from proceeding with the Tuscarora roundup.
The judge has also denied plaintiff Laura Leigh’s motion to delay the roundup until August, after the foaling season, particularly as to the Owyhee Herd though she can seek “further relief” as to the planned round ups in the Rock Creek and Little Humboldt herd management areas.
The BLM is accepting public comments through Monday, July 19, 2010, for the planned removal of the entire West Douglas wild horse population. Click Here to review the Preliminary Environmental Assessment.
Elko, NV (July 15, 2010)—Mustangs of the Tuscarora/Owyhee Complex in NE Nevada are now the focus of a BLM “emergency” as the agency claims that they don’t have enough water. The issue is not one of lack of water but prevention of access to water as the Tuscarora mustangs must navigate a maze of livestock fences and closed gates. Miles of fencing prevent their free-roaming behavior and ability to access water sites they’ve used for decades if not centuries. 12 Tuscarora wild horses have died after BLM contractors used a helicopter to roundup 228 of them in less than 150 minutes on July 10. Prior to the roundup BLM told advocates that they were confident this was a reasonable window to remove horses in and maintain their good condition despite the presence of very young foals and the heat. However when the first day proved to be fatal and the roundup placed on hold, BLM began referring to the horses’ situation as an emergency. BLM now states that “an escalating drought” necessitates an emergency “gather.” However this is a typical weather pattern for the area in the hottest month of the year and the Cloud Foundation points to the fencing off of water sources and division between herd management areas in the complex as the root cause of their “emergency.”
Original Poem by Rob Plisken BLM’s killing horses just tryin to be free Runnin them from Rock Creek, Little Humboldt and Owyhee Towards a tragic future of captivity or death While most Americans don’t even know and others hold their breath And some unlikely heroes save 174 Pay […]
Tuscarora, NV (IDA) – Yesterday, In Defense of Animals (IDA), an international animal protection and rescue organization, called for a summer moratorium of all roundups and is blasting the Department of Interior which, despite a federal lawsuit and legal appeal, began a controversial roundup of wild horses in Northeastern Nevada on July 10 which has resulted in seven (7) fatalities and numerous injuries in just the first day of the roundup. BLM has indicated that 228 wild horses were captured. These horses were stampeded with the use of a helicopter over eight miles in the deadly desert summer heat. The majority of deaths are dehydration-related.
The News as WE See It ~ by R.T. Fitch They would not listen during the Calico Roundup where 150 horses are dead and now the warnings were issued to postpone the ill conceived and misguided roundup at Tuscarora and in the very first day the BLM and […]
Image of Wild Horses 7 ‘federally–protected’ American Mustangs have died on Day 1 (Saturday, July 10) of the Tuscarora Roundup in Nevada. BLM has suspended the roundup at least until Wednesday. They continue not let any public or independent observers watch or be present at this roundup. These […]
Yesterday morning I sat at the computer and just could not bring myself to write anything, not one blinking word. Day after day we have been battered with the bad news of the BLM violating the law and decimating the few remaining wild horse herds while diabolical mental misfits sit in the wings and smack their lips at the chance of getting the horses on their BBQ. I was so distraught that I actually phoned a seated board member of a much respected equine advocacy group to voice my concerns long before the sun was up and still the keyboard remained silent. All of you valued readers just deserved some good news for a change.
The catch phrases that have caught my attention most recently – and begged for further review – were ‘Portions of Public land will be temporarily closed…” for whatever reasons; and ‘Drought’. So I did a little exploration. Let’s talk about ‘temporary closure of Public Lands’.
Straight from the Horse's Heart 
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