Wild Horses: December is the Cruellest Month for Salt Wells Creek Part Two
December 16, 2013Wild Horses: Wild Horse Freedom Federation BLM Exposé Making Headlines
February 23, 2014Wild Horses – Please Comment about the BLM’s Planned Roundup at Great Divide Basin
Wild Family In Great Divide Basin
In a continuation of their relentless persecution of the wild herds in Wyoming’s Red Desert, the BLM has posted a Scoping Notice for the roundup of the wild horses in the Great Divide Basin Herd Area in Wyoming. This is one of three herds that the Rock Springs Grazing Association hopes to completely zero out, removing all wild horses not only from the checkerboard areas of public and private lands but from all public lands as well.
Roundup at Great Divide Basin in 2011
This press release does not propose the complete zeroing out of the herd, but only proposes removing 164 horses at this time, but says that all horses will be removed from private lands. The document is remarkably vague:
“The BLM proposes to remove approximately 164 wild horses from the HMA. All wild horses on private lands in the checkerboard would be removed in conformance with the 2013 court ordered Consent Decree; some wild horses may be relocated north of the checkerboard. Excess wild horses in the remainder of the HMA would be removed to meet the low AML of 415. The proposed operation would possibly include fertility control.”
They MAY be relocated north of the checkerboard, they might POSSIBLY use fertility control. Why on earth would they not use fertility control unless the ultimate plan is to zero out the herd?
Bachelor stallion Running
Here is the link to the press release:
http://www.blm.gov/wy/st/en/info/news_room/2013/december/10rsfo-gather.html
Here is the link to the Scoping Document:
1. I object very strongly to this proposed roundup. First of all, the wild horses numbers in this area, even by BLM’s own estimates are still within AML or Appropriate Management Level. The AML for this area is 415-600, in May 2012 there were 439 horses in the area, and they estimate that there will be 579 wild horses by summer of 2014, still within AML, and that year’s foals should not be included in the count of horses.
2. I strongly encourage the BLM to use on the range management for this herd, using PZP birth control which is a tested and proven method of birth control, treat the mares, then release them back into the range.
3. If horses are on private land, then move them to the portion of the range that is public land. This herd area is vast – 778,000 acres, and can easily support the horses that are currently in the herd area.
4. I also recommend bait trapping instead of helicopters to capture the horses. It is far more humane and much less stressful on the horses, and it would be far less expensive to gather them this way.
5. In 2011 the BLM proposed the use of sterilization to control the numbers in this herd, so the vague wording on the “possible” use of birth control while not specifying what type, alarms me. No gelding, SpayVac or Overectomies should be used on the horses, just PZP.
6. Last point is summer is foaling season in Great Divide Basin, with most foals born between April and August. This is NOT the time of year to be chasing tiny foals and heavily pregnant mares with helicopters.
A family band runs
Please comment by January 10.
You can comment by email or mail, and as always personalized comments are the very best and most effective, so feel free to use my points as a guide but please use your own words:
“Written substantive comments may be emailed only to DivideBasin_HMA_WY@blm.gov with “Divide Basin Scoping Comments” in the subject line; or mailed or delivered to the BLM Rock Springs Field Office, Attn: Jay D’Ewart, 280 Highway 191 N., Rock Springs WY 82901. Comments will be accepted until Jan. 10, 2014.”
A band stallion runs in Great Divide Basin
46 Comments
Why on earth can’t they put this much effort into the plight of the homeless people in America’ Seems to me money spent on wild horses would be better spent on helping families get on their feet’
Why they continue to kill off the herds is BECAUSE THEY CAN! It makes NO sense to continue to capture these wild horses except for the $ they get sending them to slaughter. Our whole government is corrupt! Follow the money trail and you will find much more than you could imagine on what’s going on here in America.
Why they don’t help the people of America instead of putting $ into this? They make no $ off of helping people. Can’t send people to slaughter, BUT I bet if they could, they would.
Hitler did send people to slaughter, and there are many similarities between what is happening now in our country and what happened back then.
Good point Laura. I’m just not sure they are that smart.
Humans have voices, animals do not.
They (BLM) are actually spending much more of our taxpayer money with their current “plan”(oxymoron) than if they let them manage themselves free. They’re also great stewards of the land. BLM is managing them into the ground at great expense to us
Why does the Blm keep rounding up these horses to put in pens without shade or enough water what is their reason. These horses belong out where they were born not in pens to die. What is wrong with this picture!!! Stop rounding them up enough is enough!
What we have witness through the brave and relentless horse advoates is amazing. Our Government is in bed with Catlle Ranchers and Big $ for Land Grans/Sales… We have to stop the roundups, we have over 2 million open rangeacres for them, without ever seeing a human.. We band togethr, liek America used to do and we stop this insane, most inhumane act of Slaughter I have ever witnessed.. When foals are trampled and killed in the stapedes, and slaughtering as young a a yearling, The AMerica I grew up, never would stand by.. We are organizing (all of us who care) a Nationwide Rally agianst Horse Slaughter as early as April/May 2014.. Lets prepare.. hundreds of thoudsands are gone and to who pockets are lined and WHY has our President not stopped this after hunderds of calls to Thw White House.. Why>> We press on.. and Birth control.. If Mares are slaughtered more poison to human’s, Gelding would be a far less, and not all of them, maybe some older gents.. din’t check for typos. eyelids tired..
The BLM’s holding pens are already overflowing. This is the cruelest time of the year for wild horses being penned up without the protection from the arctic winds and cold. BLM and the US Forest Service are spending taxpayers money with impunity. This isn’t management of wild horses. This is a blatant eradication of “so called Protected” wild horses from public ranges to satisfy the cattle, mining and oil companies desires. The BLM contracted a helicopter outfit 6 million dollars to
round up wild horses.. in 2013. More taxpayer monies spent! Enough is enough Ms Jewell. The time has come for accountability… and the truth.
Enough is enough Stop the Round-ups. They need shade and more water also! Not put in pens!!!
Why do we as taxpayers that don’t want to pay for wild horse round-ups have to pay– it is not right and needs to stop! There are more important places for our tax dollars!
I am a tax payer and voter. I have a horse rescue and sanctuary as well. Our horses work with community youth from all backgrounds and offer healing to any person in need. Our wild horses, burros, equines are not the property of OUR government, they belong to the PEOPLE of the United States. It is time for our representatives and the BLM, all of whom work for us as ELECTED officials to listen to tax payers and voters. Any of us active in advocacy know that the MAJORITY of us are AGAINST slaughter and the round ups of our horses! There are other solutions for over population and the practices that the BLM is currently using are not suitable or humane. I thought we set standards of excellence and compassion here in the USA. I do not want my tax dollars being used this way. There are so many petitions that overwhelmingly state all of the above. It is time for LISTENING to we the people! Stop BLM from continuing their mismanagement and killing of our nations horses.
I totally agree with you, Vicki! Our family does the same thing you do. Rescue them and help kids by offering the same kind of programs. Our government stopped listening to us years ago. Time to change some laws and put them all out of office if they do NOT do what WE THE PEOPLE want. They are suppose to work for us, but instead offer up apologies and, “I’ll take your thoughts into consideration”. It’s HIGH time we take back our country. I don’t really know how, but I’m going to find out how to do this legally. WE THE PEOPLE need to stick together and do a Class Action Law Suit against our own country and politicians for not carrying forth our wishes.
Stop this insanity and cruelty using taxpayer resources and money. Enough of welfare ranchers taking public lands and indigenous wildlife suffering.
Im a woman of few words, so just don’t! You have already done enough damage.
The people who are doing this are heartless, foul, people. These are the people who believe that animals don’t have feelings or souls. Owning a BLM Mustang Mare (Caught in Canyon City as just a yearling filly, now 18 years old) she is the greatest thing that has happened to me, her personality perks me up everyday. And just the thought of someone thinking that a horse can’t feel, is absolutely bull.
These people could care less what the public thinks, all they care about is making the extra dollar. Just leave the horses be in their natural, known, habitat. They aren’t hurting anyone or anything.
Are theses horses need water and losts of shad and something to eat so they don’t die
They should stop these roundups. That land was set aside for the mustangs. Period. Our government wastes so much money on other things, they could stop the ridiculous spending and even drop some feed for these animals. It would be within their means, if that was what they wanted. They could invest in more water areas for the horses, it is just not something they want to be bothered with. More fun to play helicopter roundup. Disgusting.
I think the gov. Is more interested in making money from the free wild mustangs from the innate barbarians that eat horses. The horses are suppose to run free and be cared for ever since Wild Horse Annie (WHOA) worked so hard to save them. And since the horses run free like the other wild animals the government sees $ signs. Take less vacations , fewer parties and sell a few helicopters would go a long way to feed and secure these horses forever.
I just want to remind everyone who commented here that I appreciate your comments, but they will not get to the BLM from my blog. If you can submit your comments by January 10 to the Rock Springs BLM office I would really appreciate it – here are the mail and email addresses:
“Written substantive comments may be emailed only to DivideBasin_HMA_WY@blm.gov with “Divide Basin Scoping Comments” in the subject line; or mailed or delivered to the BLM Rock Springs Field Office, Attn: Jay D’Ewart, 280 Highway 191 N., Rock Springs WY 82901. Comments will be accepted until Jan. 10, 2014.”
Right Carol
Going there now. Hopefully the rest of the commenters will do the same.
Maggie
Carol, thank you for supplying the high lights that need to be addressed for comments to be taken seriously, and the specific contact information for this proposed round up. I sent an email, and have encouraged others I know to write as well. We need to stand up for these majestic wild horses. Thank you for what you do to bring their plight to the forefront.
Enough of these barbaric policies, poor use of tax payers money, and playing into those special interest groups with their own agendas! Stop these senseless round ups!
These people are totally DEMENTED. First the wolves, now the horses? What a filthy soulless lot we have in our government.
No words can come to mind because I get so upset every time I see or hear of the way the BLM treats these beautiful creatures, so all I can say is STOP IT ALREADY!!!
I once watched an ASPCA video (I still have nightmares about it) on how horses are rounded up, sent to Mexico in old cattle cars, which they do not even use for cattle anymore (some die before they even get there) then they slaughter them by sticking an elongated knife in their neck and shove them aside and they are not even dead yet. They do this for rich people overseas
to EAT, now this is truly terrible. We should be able to control their breeding and then use them on farms, for kids with disabilities. STOP THE ROUNDUPS unless you plan on doing something that makes sense!!!
BLM haven’t you done enough damage? You can’t even properly care for the horses you already have corralled! Little if no food & water & no shelter against the elements! What the BLM is doing is cruel & inhumane! Please stop the roundup now!
BLM: The American public wants you to STOP rounding up OUR Wild Mustangs…for 100 reasons you’ve heard before. There is a growing movement to hold rallys, contact politicians, and expose any possible wrong doing by BLM, USWFS, DOI, US Forest Service, you name it. You can probably stop this now, since stopping the round-ups based solely on moral grounds is beyond you. If you continue the genocide (’cause that’s what it is) the Wild Mustangs will soon go the way of Bison but animal AND environmental advocates will do everything in their legal power to not only stop you, but to continue to expose the lack of transparency, the brutality, and the possible criminal activities involved with this whole thing. You can’t adopt out the 50,000+ horses you have! What are you going to do with them? Use overcrowded horse pens as an excuse to send them to slaughter? Which by the way IS clearly against the law. The Wild Mustangs are not a threat to the environment, forage resources, or water resources. CATTLE ARE!!! Do the math; 30,000 Wild Mustangs vs. 4,000,000 cattle. At best, when all the dust settles, the BLM will look like idiots. At worst, someone will go to jail.
Please don’t do any more damage to the horses than you already have. They can be properly cared for by the same people that are trying to phase them out. Instead of complaining about them, why don’t they put their money where their mouth is and make an effort to save these magnificent creatures. They deserve a chance at life too.
statement sent via email.
Thank you Michelle. Hopefully you have emailed them to the BLM not to me – we need to have the comments go to the BLM in order to make a difference.
Here is the info for submitting comments by January 10:
“Written substantive comments may be emailed only to DivideBasin_HMA_WY@blm.gov with “Divide Basin Scoping Comments” in the subject line; or mailed or delivered to the BLM Rock Springs Field Office, Attn: Jay D’Ewart, 280 Highway 191 N., Rock Springs WY 82901. Comments will be accepted until Jan. 10, 2014.”
Let the horses stay and have the ranchers cattle graze on his own property not public lands. These horses deserve their homeland, they do not deserve to be run off for the sake of cash cows and a ranchers livelihood. poo, I am sick of big business paying off government agencies to ruin our countries native species and natural resources!
These are magnificent, peaceful animals. Why can’t they just leave them alone!
There are too many horses in long term holding not properly managed by the BLM already. They are much better off on the range. And if there is concern about overpopulation, well bring their natural predators back and get the live stock off the land. Living free and dangerous is much better as suffering in jail, call holding pens. It’s our land, the public!
The BLM is a TAX PAYER JOKE everyone in the BLM I wish you pain and suffering !!
Horses on public lands belong to the American citizens, no one else. It’s our land and we have the last word on how it will be used and who can live there. Someone has conveniently forgotten that an Act of Congress was passed in the 70’s to protect the wild horses. Time to remember that this is a LAW!!!
I, a law abiding federal taxpayer, doth protest this proposed round up of wild horses. Your Grazing Rights Program is antiquated and needs to be self supporting instead of costing 1.5 million to subsidize the pittance of fees charged to ranchers ($3.50 per cow/calf pair or 5 sheep per month). Otherwise, this is just a government handout that the federal budget can no longer sustain. Especially, when the cattle/sheep, oil, mineral and gas frackers seem to rate a much higher priority than the wild horses that deserve to be protected and remain on public lands. This area is vast, 778,000 acres and you say that can’t support the estimated 500 wild horses? Bull Puckey and shame on you. Warehousing 50,000 wild horses is very expensive and a totally unneccessary expense. Yes, you may want to relocate the wild horses that are on private lands, but relocate them to the many acres of public lands. Kick off the other blood sucking interests that do not make the government any money, just enrich a few private ranchers and lot’s of private corporations that rape the land for their own benefit.
We, the tax paying public, demand that you adhere to the NAS study that informed you quite clearly and substantiated their findings that removing the wild horses from their home rangelands is not effective nor necessary, especially if you start putting wild horse survival at the top of your priority list and not at the bottom. These are our public lands. You proudly proclaim that the wild horse is a symbol of American Freedom, yet you continue to exterminate them at an ever alarming pace. The Cattoors are happy to do your dirty work as they are raking in millions for a service that is sucking the BLM budget dry and should be appropriated to managing the lands for the benefit of the wild horses not every other priority you seem to have.
Your actions show you to be an inept, corrupt, politically based, ineffective, inefficient agency, hell bent on destroying the viability and genetics of wild horses (and burros). Oh, you didn’t think we’d find out about the 1700 wild horses you shipped to Tom Davis and geezuz, couldn’t follow the paper trail to the slaughter house where he raked in about 30 grand from the slaughter of these innocent creatures. What kind of accountability have you shown us? What kind of science do you rely on? You don’t even stand by the NAS report that cost over 30 grand to prepare that advises you to stop the roundups, stop warehousing and focus on other methods that are far less expensive and far more beneficial for wild horses. Nope, your actions show that all you care about is making someone rich, and it ain’t the American Public.
Pauline Brooks aka WildhorsePerilousP
Areba Ranch
Saving One Horse at a Time
I don’t understand why our Gov;t is so GREEDY and why we keep developing land…STOP IT… why can’t we coexist with nature??? We need to know who we are electing into public office and what their stand is on the emvironment… This is out of control… leave the wild animals wild. We need a better,more compasionate , thoughtful Government…
Yes, Stop it NOW and Leave OUR Wild Horses and Burro’s alone.
Please – all of you that left comments here – Please email the BLM. The more people they hear from – the better the possibility is that they will actual listen! It only takes a few minutes & a personal comment will do more there than here on Carol’s blog.
Why can’t they just leave these horses alone??? Disgusting is an understatement…
i just want to say carol what u do with wild horses has inspired me thankyou for that u really got a REALLY GOOD GIFT FROM GOD. God put the wild horses in the wild for some reason and not just for the BLM go right back out and round them up. If God did not want the wild horse in the wild then he would not let it. That just shows how selfish these ranchers and The BLM are. I have tried everything to help them i have wrote letters to the presdent, i even try to call him, email the comment site nothing is being done yet but i will not give up. I am only 13 years old and i have been rape in fosters homes for 8 whole dark years and now God gave me a forever home with a mom and dad and 4 dogs, but threw that whole time i only had one friend and he was a black mustang colt that i got from my uncle before i left so i told the people that took me away i am not going without him so they found me a foster home on a horse farm that said i could take him with me. I was being abuse their and he was the only one their for me. I promise him i wont leave or let andyone hurt him. Well i had to break that promise becaue it got so bad i went to school with bruses so one day the teacher called 241kids and they did not even let me say good bye. About a year ago on facebook that family sent me a video of them beaten him and he died it was all my fault my i can’t bring him back to life but i can protect his kind “wild mustangs”. So whatever it takes i will let them be free in peace.
You are welcome!
This is abuse and terrorism!! Why should they b n prison with no shelter n nasty weather,tags around their necks ,sick because u took their way of life away! Leave our American Horses and Burros Alone! They r not yoursBLM,they r the American peoples!
I strongly agree with you carol, I have to say you almost made me cry and I think the government is doing the wrong thing here and I wished all the wild mustangs and wild burros could run wild in their homeland and Deb Mcqueen is correct This abuse and terrorism.
This is uncalled for!! These beautiful creatures aren’t harming anyone or anything. I Wish they would just leave them alone.