For Immediate Release:
Seven Mustangs Die in NV Roundup, Observers Barred Access
Public Calls for Permanent Stop to BLM’s Inhumane Summer “Gathers”
Reno, NV (July 12, 2010)—
The Cloud Foundation and the public learned yesterday that seven wild horses died after being rounded up on the first day of the
Tuscarora (Owyhee Complex) roundup in Elko County on Saturday, July 10. The Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) contractor, Cattoor Livestock, rounded up 228 horses in less than 2 ½ hours over dangerous terrain. Choosing to begin the roundup on private land, BLM prevented the public from observing the first day’s roundup and the condition of the horses after they were captured. The Foundation strongly advises that
humane observers be present at all times during roundups and processing to ensure the humane treatment of America’s iconic herds.
“In light of yesterday’s devastating news, we call for an immediate stop to summer roundups,” states Ginger Kathrens, Director of The Cloud Foundation adding, “Tuscarora is another example of BLM’s reckless agenda.”
BLM issued
a press release announcing that the roundup had been suspended to assess the situation.
Upon hearing of the BLM’s proposed July Tuscarora 1,400 horse roundup, the Cloud Foundation, the public, mustang advocates as well as animal welfare groups
sent comments to BLM asking the agency to postpone the roundup because of high temperatures and the obvious danger to foals only weeks old. BLM ignored thousands of public comments including warnings by wild horse experts. The agency forged ahead—despite the dangers and public outcry.
In response
In Defense of Animals and Craig Downer, wildlife ecologist and Cloud Foundation Board Member, represented by the leading conservation group,
Advocates For the West, filed with the Interior Board of Land Appeals (IBLA) to stop the BLM roundup on July 8.
On July 9, the Cloud Foundation’s Herd-Watch Program Director, Laura Leigh, filed suit to stop the Owyhee Complex roundup in Federal District Court in Reno. Yesterday Leigh’s attorney filed a Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) to stop the Tuscarora/Owyhee Complex Roundup.
“This is what we feared and this is what we wanted to stop,” explains Leigh. “BLM’s agenda absolutely disregards the welfare of these horses—unconscionable and unspeakable. It’s a shame. More horses have paid with their lives due to BLM’s unwillingness to listen to the public and allow us to participate in management decisions and observation of our wild herds.”
Secretary Salazar’s BLM Director and stand-in Mineral Management Services Director, Bob Abbey, temporarily halted the operation after one horse broke its leg and four horses were found dead on July 11 in the capture pens and others were “exhibiting signs of colic and brain swelling.’ Helicopter roundups during this time of year are known to be dangerous and cause dehydration of adults and young mustangs alike. Foaling season is defined by BLM as ending June 30 and the agency advises waiting until mid-August to begin helicopter roundups. The Cloud Foundation is requesting that independent humane observers be allowed to view the trap-site area and the wild horses as they come in, and that BLM immediately cancel the remaining 2 ½ weeks of this roundup.
“These horses died at the hands of the agency meant to protect them,” states Kathrens. “This is all driven by a removal schedule and contractor availability. What about the welfare of the horses? We’re asking the public to call their Representatives and Senators and urge them to ask for a freeze on BLM’s summer roundups.”
Based on past experience and the current rush to
remove 6,000 wild horses in three months, The Cloud Foundation believes that the BLM’s priorities are based on contractor availability rather than the humane treatment of wild horses—especially foals—some of whom may be only weeks or days old.
BLM is aware of the danger to the foals. Their 2009 Calico Roundup planning documents stated: “…Not only are young foals in summer months more prone to dehydration and complications from heat stress, the handling, sorting and transport is a stress to the young animals and increases the chance for them to be rejected by their mothers.”
If not cancelled, the Tuscarora roundup will decimate three herds, Owyhee, Little Humboldt and Rock Creek, living in a vast 455,000-acre area about 90 miles northwest of Elko, Nevada. “Damage to livestock fences” is cited as one reason to remove the horses. BLM plans to leave only 400 wild horses in an effort to reduce the range damage caused by 4000 cattle allowed to graze the same area. In 1990, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) Report underscored that wild horse removals did not significantly improve range conditions and pointed to cattle as the culprit for public lands damage. Despite GAO noting the lack of data provided by BLM back 20 years ago, the public has seen no improvement in the piecemeal management of an agency that favors welfare cattle over legally protected mustangs and burros. Herd areas containing 10 to 30 times more livestock than horses are the norm rather than the exception.
Given the clear lack of accurate range censuses and the presence of over 37,000 wild horses in government holding at enormous taxpayer expense, advocates continue to call for an immediate freeze on the costly
roundups. Congressional hearings are needed to discuss the shortcomings of an out-of-control program that threaten the future existence of wild horses and burros on lands set aside for their use in the West.
“Clearly this agency is out of control. They were warned and advised not to move forward. Now at least seven horses have died,” states Craig Downer. “It is time for Secretary Salazar to stand up and stop this disaster in the making—the lack of good leadership in this agency is causing the death of America’s treasured mustangs.”
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Links of interest:
‘Herd-Watch: Public Eyes for Public Horses’ http://bit.ly/9Wvh58
Roundup Schedule- updated July 12, 2010 http://bit.ly/roundupschedule
Proposed Roundup of CA Wild Horses Criticized – Sacramento Bee 7/5/10 http://bit.ly/SacBeeMustang
The Mustang Conspiracy: Sex, Drugs, Corruption, and BP – investigative report http://www.abovetopsecret.com/mustangconspiracy/
After campaigning for Obama, Sheryl Crow at odds over his administration’s wild-horse plan (Associated Press)
Disappointment Valley… A Modern Day Western Trailer- excellent sample of interviews regarding the issues http://bit.ly/awFbwm
American Herds Blog http://americanherds.blogspot.com/
PR Firm Hired for the Destruction of America’s Wild Horse and Burro Herds http://bit.ly/czf3HB
Mestengo. Mustang. Misfit.
America’s Disappearing Wild Horses
Fact Sheet on Wild Herds & The Salazar Plan http://bit.ly/bfdX1y
Wild Horse and Burro Act http://bit.ly/a7hOeS
Photos, video and interviews available from:
news@thecloudfoundation.org
The Cloud Foundation is a 501(c)3 non-profit dedicated to the preservation and protection of wild horses and burros on our Western public lands with a focus on protecting Cloud’s herd in the Pryor Mountains of Montana.
107 S. 7th St. – Colorado Springs, CO 80905 – 719-633-3842 www.thecloudfoundation.org
Media Contacts:
ROTH ~ Blog 
Now This is too much, REALLY??? Why is everyone afraid of the B L M ???? They are like Hitler, in my book. Day after Day, Week after Week, Month after Month; for YEARS now we hear of & see our gentle, harmless, animals being abused, to say the least. How much more of this carnage are WE AMERICAN’s supposed to put up with??????