33,500 Wild Horses and Burros in Holding Pens Die? It is hard to believe but it is true the wild horses are near extinction.
They need your help!
Will 33,500 Wild Horses and Burros in Holding Pens Die?
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) of the Department Of The Interior has proposed to euthanize 33,500 wild horses and burros presently in cramped holding pens in the United States. The BLM contends that it can no longer afford to feed the nation’s wild mustangs and burros, eliminated by the thousands from public lands designated as their legitimate home.
“With the BLM announcement, this war on America’s wild horses and burros is reaching a crescendo, and we are at a critical juncture regarding our greatest partner and icon,” said Deanne Stillman, author of Mustang: The Saga Of The Wild Horse In the West, a new, acclaimed book on the mustang.
The wild horse and burro both played a major role in the settling of the West. Of all horses, they alone had the stamina and courage to transport the American settlers across five treacherous mountain ranges to the Pacific Ocean. Yet today they are threatened with extinction.
Tragically, America’s wild horses and burros have become scapegoats. Stillman writes in her new book that “a two-pronged war is being waged by Government agencies through quasi-legal methods and by lone operators with guns who go out in the wilderness and whack mustangs.” The real plight of these heroic species is only now coming to light, with more to be revealed.
Powerful cattle and livestock lobbies contend that mustangs and burros sharing grazing land with cattle are depleting the grazing areas. Research shows this to be untrue, however. Craig C. Downer, a Wild Horse Ecologist who formerly worked for the BLM, in an October 2008 speech, states that “Livestock are often allowed to strip the very most nutritious forage during a few months to half a year. This leaves what remains in the way of forage for wildlife, including wild horses, to fend on as best they can.”
In October 2008, the International Society For The Protection Of Wild Horses And Burros, organized by Karen Sussman and Jerry Reynoldson, held the Wild Horse Summit in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Summit brought horse rescue organizations, scientists, veterinarians, horse lovers, attorneys, and some Native Americans from all over the United States to find a solution to the BLM’s threat. A key speaker was Deputy Director of the BLM, Henry Bisson, who stated his personal reluctance to follow through with the euthanasia plan.
However, Bisson went on to acknowledge that euthanasia is a legal option, and the Agency is mandated to consider it. The George W. Bush administration has rolled back the federal law protecting wild horses and burros since 1971.
Mrs. J. Boone Pickins, whose husband is a well-known, international authority in the field of energy, made a surprise appearance as a summit speaker. Both Mr. and Mrs. Pickens have taken a firm stand against the euthanization of so many treasured animals. They have formed their own organization to purchase a large tract of land that could become a home to the horses. In addition, tourists who wouldn’t know a wild horse or burro from a lama will actually be able to see both species in a free roaming environment.
Other well-known attendees of the Summit included Ginger Kathryns, whose heroic work with “Cloud” and his herd, recently aired on television, as well as Michael Blake, oscar-winning author of Dancing With Wolves. Chief Arvol Looking Horse of the Cheyenne River Sioux in South Dakota blessed the opening of each session with a Lakota prayer.
Most of all, the Summit united people from all walks of life who love the wild horse and burro and are committed to saving them. “If we lost our wild horses, we would lose a part of ourselves,” said Deanne Stillman. “So why are we eliminating the horse we rode in on?” she queried.
Stillman refers to the gradual elimination of the American horse and burro that are American icons and earned the right to be part of the American story. These animals are native to North America and want only the right to be free roaming and left alone. Largely due to round-ups, many of which have been inhumane, their population has been reduced from two million to just over 30,000.
As a result of the Summit, the BLM and the Society for the Protection of Wild Horses and Burros will soon conduct negotiations regarding the fate of the 33,500 animals. The BLM has invited the Society to submit a list of their proposals for the upcoming discussions. All are striving for a consensus of fairness. May America’s prized wild mustangs and burros, so long maligned and misunderstood, soon live forever in the freedom that is their inheritance and birthright.
All Americans who love the wild horses and burros (and America) are needed to call or email their Congressional representatives to support HR 249, which will repeal the Burns amendment, allowing unrestricted wild horse sale and slaughter. Americans are also needed to appropriate money in support of wild horses currently in captivity until January 30, 2009.
This will give the Government and interest groups time to find a management plan that does not include killing the horses and burros. You can also write or call the Honorable Dirk Kempthone, Secretary of Interior, IUS Department of the Interior, 1849 C Street NW, Washington, DC 20240.
All are urged to act now to make sure these heroic creatures, part of the American legacy, live.
For more information, feel free to contact Ms. Karen Sussman, President of the International Society For the Protection of Wild Horses and Burros, at 605-964-6866.
The email address is wildhorsesummit@gmail.com.
Thank you, Liz. Animal rights is one of the things I work for and is something of which more people need to be aware. Many kudos!
Love, Hope, Peace, & Christ Is With Us All,
Cal-el
I admire what you are trying to do for them. I’ve recently been doing alot of research on the mustangs. I’ve always been a horse lover. I have to ask, what do you think about the holding pens? Yes they are a way for the horses to stay alive, but for how long? All the sites I’ve seen talk about the holding pens being a way out of hunting them off the plains. Is it any better to let them die in a cramped pen? What do you see as an option for taking care of the mustang population?
Allison, thanks for caring. IMHO Spend money on habitat restoration and the environment instead of war. Then we wouldn’t have a mustang problem.
I often wonder where we are going, what next, will the corporate cattle rancher state that due to 10 million cattle being on open public lands there is no longer any room for any other animal? I see the word GREED in this picture. Give an inch and they take a mile. Has anyone ever taken a look at cattle grazing on public lands? They over graze and the ranchers state they are not and then blame it on the wild mustangs and burros. When cattle over graze mother nature cannot replenish the lands and what is ashame is that the BLM turns a blind eye to the over grazing. We are eroding our lands faster than ever and in the future there just might be no land for wild mustangs and burros to roam.
I love Wild Mustangs and unless we take action soon there just might be any left to admire except in a zoo.
In closing how fast the ranchers forget that back in the wild west days the wild mustang was the riders backbone and the backbone of all the cattlemen and their ranches.
The internal crises of capitalism seek their solutions at the expense of all life, especially wild life. If we stop seeking ways to perpetuate the madness to instead find alternative solutions then life on this planet has a future.
The longer business as usual is permitted to run its course the future is uncertain and the end is always near.
Tuesday’s Horse A Weekly Publication of the Int’l Fund for Horses
National Wild Horse and Burro Advisory Board meet in March (US)
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Cross-posted from RGJ.com
The Bureau of Land Management’s National Wild Horse and Burro Advisory Board will meet in Reno on Monday, March 2,2009 to discuss issues relating to the management, protection and control of wild horses and burros on Western public rangelands.
The one-day meeting will take place from 8 a.m.-5 p.m., local time, at the Silver Legacy Resort Casino’s Reno Ballroom, 50 East Fourth St., Reno. The agenda of the meeting can be found in the Feb. 3 Federal Register on page 5941.
The Advisory Board provides input and advice to the BLM as it carries out its responsibilities under the 1971 Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act. The law mandates the protection, management and control of these free-roaming animals in a manner that ensures healthy herds at levels consistent with the land’s capacity to support them. The BLM manages about 33,000 wild horses and burros that roam BLM-managed rangelands in 10 Western states.
The public may address the Advisory Board at the March 2 meeting at an appropriate point in the agenda, which is expected to be about 3 p.m.. Individuals who want to make a statement should register with the BLM by noon on the day of the meeting at the meeting site. Depending on the number of speakers, the Board may limit the length of presentations, set at three minutes for previous meetings.
Speakers must submit a written copy of their statement to the BLM at the meeting; those who would like to comment but are unable to attend may submit a written statement no later than Feb. 25 to: Bureau of Land Management, National Wild Horse and Burro Program, WO-260, Attention: Ramona DeLorme, 1340 Financial Boulevard, Reno, Nevada, 89502-7147.
Comments may also be e-mailed to: Ramona_DeLorme@blm.gov. Those submitting comments electronically should include the identifier “WH&B” in the subject of their message and their name and address in the body of the message.
Board appointments: The BLM also announced that Robin Lohnes, Executive Director of the Washington, D.C.-based American Horse Protection Association, has been re-appointed to the nine-member Advisory Board in the category of wild horse and burro advocacy. Dr. Boyd M. Spratling, a veterinarian from Deeth, NV, has been reappointed to the Board in the category of veterinary medicine. New to the Board is Janet M. Jankura of Richfield, Ohio, who will represent the category of public interest. http://www.RGJ.com >>
Written by Editor
Feb 17, 2009 at 3:55 am
Posted in wild horses
Information gathered for others knowledge…Barbara Ries
Also 2009
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/29187597/
11th Hour for Cloud’s Herd,
URGENT MESSAGE ABOUT THE PYRORS
Please act now to stop this unnecessary and cruel round up— the BLM still plans to move forward on September 1st
The Bureau of Land Management is rounding up and eliminating 12 herds (650 horses) off 1.4 million acres in Nevada right now– next they plan to destroy Cloud’s herd with a massive removal of 70 horses that would include OLDER HORSES and YOUNG FOALS.
Many of the horses you have come to love in the Cloud shows and will meet in the new Cloud show on October 25th will lose their families and their freedom next week. By zeroing out whole herds and reducing others to below genetic viability, the BLM is circumventing the will of Congress. The House just passed the Restoring of American Mustangs (ROAM) act and the Senate will review this bill (now S.1579) when they return from recess in September. Is BLM just trying to do as much irrevocable damage to America’s wild horses as they can before Congress can act?
This round up will start on September 1st unless we can stop it. Removing 70 horses will destroy this unique little Spanish herd, leaving them well below the bare minimum for genetic viability. The range is in great condition and the horses are healthy. This removal should be stopped. Please do all you can to help! Listen to Ginger Kathrens on Endangered Stream Live– a special edition show “Angels for Cloud”
National Call in Day for Cloud is Friday, August 28th — SPREAD THE WORD! Have your kids call in and write too– These horses need to be preserved for future generations and we must act NOW
1. Call/write/fax President Obama as often as you can—this herd is a national treasure and should not be wiped out by a government agency. Please flood the phone lines with calls! Phone: 202-456-1111 or 202-456-9000 Fax: 202-456-2461
E-mail Obama
2. Ask Secretary of Interior Ken Salazar to stop this round up
Call: 202-208-3100
Write: feedback@ios.doi.gov
3. BLM Director Bob Abbey, tell him to halt this round up– he must reconsider his agency’s actions
Call: 202-208-3801
Fax: 202-208-5242
Robert_Abbey@blm.gov
4. Call and write your own Senators and Congress people- tell them that Montana is allowing the destruction of Cloud’s unique and historical wild horse herd. Politely express your outrage and ask them to help stop this round up. Find your state offices here
Listen to Ginger Kathrens NOW on “WFL Endangered Stream Live”
REMEMBER: National Cloud Call-In Day is FRIDAY, AUGUST 28th!
Thank you to everyone for signing the petition- we only need about 400 more signatures!
Karen Sussman, president of ISPMB, has a wonderful story that she has written for a newly released book, Horses with a Mission: Extraordinary True Stories of Equine Service. It gives such a good explanation of why roundups of the wild horse herds are counterproductive and cruel. In the story Karen tells about the mission of Diana, lead mare of the rare Gila herd. I interviewed Karen for the book and learned so much from her. She’s truly an expert in this field. When I heard about the Pryor Mountain roundup I felt sickened by the news.
what is going on in the senate with the ROAM act, obvisouly salazar and his henchmen dont want this bill to pass either
Some might argue that ferrel horses are all that wonderful…true a 150 years ago some got captured and trained to be usefull for movement of people and products, you should also realize that many were untrainable and actually very mean…there is nothing romantic about getting your teeth kicked in and or getting drug to death by a wild horse.
Another thing that should be acknowleged, the ranchers and farmers that did use these animals did a significant amount of preservation of the best of them in that era…some of those genetics can be found in some breed registries to this day so to say that these wild horses are going to be extinct is somewhat short sighted…the good horses will always be around.
As a serious breeder of horses I feel somewhat slighted by the way some portray organizations like AQHA which I have to belong to, to establish and quantify the true genetics and age of my production.
To say that AQHA is a Puppy Mill type organization is a slap in the face of all serious horse breeders involved.
Here on our ranch I can show you horses that have pedigrees that extend all the way back to the mid 1800′s….these are the genetics that many nowledgable true horse lovers and I feel are so rare and worth preserving ….they are the best individuals(genetically) that have been protected and preserved….not the ferrel scrubs and wild man killers that everyone thinks are so valuble.
Good horses like good people are an asset to this world…..the opposite is also true, thats life.
Please stop the killing of the wild mustangs. Please protect these horses. What is wrong in America, that cause people to want to destroy.