COME PROTEST WITH US TO SAVE LIVES

Media Contacts:

 

Makendra Silverman

Makendra@TheCloudFoundation.org

Tel: 719-351-8187

 

Anne Novak

Anne@TheCloudFoundation.org

Tel: 415-531-8454

 

For Immediate Release

 

Protests Sweep California for Wild Horses

 

Rallies Saturday in Sacramento, Los Angeles and Del Mar

 

Los Angeles (October 22, 2010)—Three California cities join the second wave of national protests calling for a freeze on Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) wild horse and burro roundups. The removals of more than 11,000 symbols of freedom are slated for permanent removal from our Western public lands in fiscal year 2011 (beginning in October, 2010).

 

“The BLM is pushing forward with massive roundups using a budget not yet approved by Congress, against the will of the American people and the intent of the Wild Horse and Burro Act,” explains Cloud Foundation Director, Ginger Kathrens. “Congress needs to rein in the BLM who is managing our wild horses to extinction at taxpayer expense.”

 

Currently the huge Adobe Town/Salt Wells roundup in Southern Wyoming continues at an estimated cost of more than $3.5 million to remove more than 1,500 healthy Mustangs living free on public lands. BLM plans to start limiting public access by placing trap sites on private land.

 

Wild horses create biodiversity and a sustainable landscape. Countries such as England have reintroduced wild horses to heal the land and bring back ecological balance. The horse evolved to its present form in North America and in the 1500s returned with the Spanish Conquistadors to the Americas. This returned-native species flourished and in 1974 more than 50,000 roamed the United States/American West. Today far less than half that number remain in the wild.

 

California has lost 16 of the original 38 wild horse herds designated for protection in 1971. BLM recently devastated the Twin Peaks California herd, leaving only 450 mustangs and 72 burros on the 1,250 square mile Twin Peaks wild horse and burro herd management area.

 

Many roundups have been linked to energy development projects, other extractive industries and the fight for water rights–all competing for public land use. Corporate Geothermal projects in California alone are able to lease land from the BLM for as low as $7 per acre.

“Removing mustangs from public lands releases land use restrictions and creates ecological disaster. The West is being transformed into an industrial zone for extractive industries: oil, gas, gold mining, uranium mining and more,” states Terri Farley, author of the Phantom Stallion series who will speak at the Sacramento rally.

 

Protests are scheduled for the following locations:

 

Scheduled protests:

October 23: Los Angeles, CA – CNN Los Angeles, 6430 W. Sunset Blvd

October 23: Sacramento, CA – West Steps of Capitol Bldg (10th and Capitol Mall)

October 23: Del Mar, CA – Del Mar Fairgrounds

October 23: Phoenix, AZ – John McCain’s Phoenix office, 5353 North 16th St

October 29: Annapolis, MD – Lawyers Mall/Thurgood Marshall statue.

October 29: Brattleboro, VT – Co-op, 2 Main St

November 13: New York City – Columbus Circle, 59th St.

November 13: Fort Worth, TX – location to be announced

Details and contact information online here

###

Links of interest:

French TV reports on wild horses http://t.co/4jKWYJg

Congress Sends Letter to stop roundups to Secretary Salazar http://bit.ly/54sign

Roundup Schedule http://bit.ly/roundupsched

Unified Moratorium on Roundups Letter http://bit.ly/MoratoriumLtr

Short link to this release http://bit.ly/CAprotests

Photos, video and interviews available by request from the Cloud Foundation

The Cloud Foundation is a 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, p. 719-633-3842

 

Mustang Mare Roped and Shot!!

Restraining order filed in NY court to stop already deadly mustang roundup

 

For Immediate Release

New York Federal Court to Hear Wild Horse Case

 

Mare roped, drug into trailer and later shot in contested BLM Colorado roundup

 

New York, NY (October 15, 2010)—A New York Federal District Court Judge will consider a request on October 20 to stop the federal government’s roundup and removal of Colorado’s North Piceance wild horse herd. Second-string contractors, hired by the BLM, already have killed one mare who attempted to escape with her baby. They roped her, choked her down, kicked her and then dragged her into the trailer. Yesterday the mare was shot. An application for a Temporary Restraining Order/Preliminary Injunction was filed yesterday by the plaintiffs, Habitat for Horses, American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), The Cloud Foundation, Toni and Don Moore, DVM in order to stop the roundup. This legal action is co-funded by Habitat for Horses Advisory Council and the ASPCA.

“The wild horses already rounded up need to be returned to the range now. The BLM must take responsibility for the violent treatment and death of the Colorado mare and the hundreds of mustang deaths this year alone,” asserts Cloud Foundation Director, Ginger Kathrens.

A hearing has been scheduled in the U.S. District Court in New York City for October 20^th where the BLM will be required to defend its North Piceance roundup which is in violation of multiple federal laws .

Wild horses and burros are now mismanaged at levels far below genetic viability across the West, contrary to the guidelines in BLM’s own management handbook. The BLM selectively uses and repeatedly distorts the actual number of wild horses and burros on the range while dismissing their most effective natural predator—the mountain lion—as non-existent. Wild horses are a return-native species to North America and add to the biodiversity of our public lands, improving their ecosystem. There are currently more than 40,000 wild horses and burros in government holding and BLM continues with plans to roundup and remove more than 11,000 this fiscal year. The herds are often replaced with energy development and welfare cattle. More than 100 herds have been completely eliminated since the passage of the Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act of 1971, along with the theft of more than 24 million acres of land designated for their use.

54 members of Congress asked the BLM to cease roundups in July, joining the call for an immediate moratorium on roundups. A congressionally-requested National Academy of Sciences investigation will begin early in 2011 but will come too late for thousands of wild horses and burros without an immediate halt to the taxpayer-funded roundups.

Kathrens continues, “In my opinion the BLM has lost the privilege of managing America’s wild horses and burros. It is time to create a new Bureau that works to sustain and protect our celebrated herds—not eradicate them.”

###

Links of interest:

Legal documents at HfH Advisory Council http://bit.ly/HfHACdocs

Lawsuit filed to save Colorado herd http://bit.ly/COmustangSuit

French TV reports on wild horses http://t.co/4jKWYJg

Congress Sends Letter to stop roundups to Secretary Salazar http://bit.ly/54sign

Roundup Schedule http://bit.ly/roundupsched

Unified Moratorium on Roundups Letter http://bit.ly/MoratoriumLtr

Stampede to Oblivion: An Investigate Report from Las Vegas Now  http://bit.ly/Stampede2Oblivion

Short link to this release http://bit.ly/NYsuit

Photos, video and interviews available by request from the Cloud Foundation

The Cloud Foundation is a 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, p. 719-633-3842

The Habitat for Horses Advisory Council is the “The Legal Voice of the American Equine” and is comprised of like-minded equine welfare oriented organizations and individual advocates. The Council works to progress relevant issues imperative to furthering the safety and well being of horses, both domestic and wild, in the United States. Habitat for Horses Advisory Council is a registered 501c4 non-profit corporation. P.O. Box 213, Hitchcock, TX 77563, p.1-800-974-FOTH  www.hfhadvisorycouncil.org

Media Contacts:

 

Makendra Silverman

Makendra@TheCloudFoundation.org

Tel: 719-351-8187

 

Anne Novak

Anne@TheCloudFoundation.org

Tel: 415-531-8454

People CRY and Mustangs Still DIE!!!

For Immediate Release 

Destruction of Largest Wyoming Wild Horse Herd Underway Despite Public
Outcry

Wild horse mare dies in costly and unnecessary roundup

Rock Springs, WY (October 12, 2010)-Amid nationwide protests, today 122 more
healthy wild horses were rounded up by helicopter in the Adobe Town/Salt
Wells Wild Horse Herd Management Area Complex
<http://www.wildhoofbeats.com/blog/>; . The current three-day roundup total
is 320, not including one mare who died on the run yesterday. The National
Academy of Sciences will begin it’s Congressionally-requested investigation
of the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) wild horse and burro program in
2011 but it will too late for the Red Desert herds without an immediate
moratorium on roundups.

This removal is estimated to cost at least $3.5 million in taxpayer dollars
and will leave the celebrated Adobe Town/Salt Wells Wild Horse Range
<http://www.wildhoofbeats.com/blog/>; -already populated with oil and gas
wells <http://www.hcn.org/issues/163/5290>; -nearly devoid of mustangs. Some
40,000 cattle per year are allocated to graze on the 1.5 million acres
Complex as well, leaving little room for wild horses according to BLM’s
multiple-use interpretation. The BLM plans to continue their operation for
six weeks in order to roundup 1950 horses, removing 1580 of them permanently
from the Complex. The majority of horses removed will be shipped to the
Colorado State Penitentiary in Canon City which doubles as a holding
facility for thousands of captured mustangs.

Carol Walker, author/photographer of Wild Hoofbeats: America’s Vanishing
Wild Horses, has been documenting the mustangs of Wyoming’s Red Desert for
seven years. “I am witnessing the end of the wild West here as family after
family of wild horses are driven into the trap, the majority of which will
never return. These are magnificent animals who deserve to live their lives
in freedom with their families. They should not be stockpiled with the more
than 40,000 wild horses and burros now in government holding.”

According to the National Wildlife Federation, Wyoming’s Red Desert is one
of the last high-desert ecosystems in North America with varied landscapes,
including the sagebrush steppe. In addition to pronghorn, mountain lion
<http://www.thecloudfoundation.org/index.php/news-events-a-media/news/resour
ces/450-natural-predators> , desert elk, pygmy rabbits, greater sage grouse,
black-footed ferrets and golden eagles, reside Wyoming’s last great herd of
wild horses. These mustangs trace back to the horses of the Spanish conquest
and before that to their almost genetically-identical ancestors who died out
in North America some 7,000 years ago.

BLM expects to leave no more than 861 wild horses (3,000 acres per horse) on
the range that will include 100 mares treated with an experimental two-year
infertility drug, PZP-22
<http://www.thecloudfoundation.org/index.php/news-events-a-media/news/wild-h
orse-issues/454-position-paper-on-pzp-22-contraceptive-drug> . Going against
their Environmental Assessment <http://bit.ly/AdobeSWea>; , BLM will
manipulate the sex ratios to nearly 67% male: 33% female by releasing 274
stallions and only 100 mares. These numbers exceed the publicized 60% male
to 40% female ratio.

“Skewing the sex ratio to this extent and returning 100 drugged mares who
will cycle monthly is a recipe for social disaster” explains Cloud
Foundation Director Ginger Kathrens
<http://www.thecloudfoundation.org/index.php/about-us/board-of-directors>; ,
who has spent more than 16 years observing and documenting wild horse
behavior across the West. “BLM is in the business of removal and
destruction, not management.”

BLM has set up an observation site for the public and media on an oil and
gas pad more than one mile from the partially visible trap site. The
Foundation encourages members of the public to witness this roundups,
updates on trap location and observing the roundup can be found on the BLM
website
<http://www.blm.gov/wy/st/en/programs/Wild_Horses/fallgather/public-observ.h
tml> .

Makendra Silverman, on site for The Cloud Foundation reports: “The noise of
the chopper fills the air before you see a cloud of dust and running
mustangs. I watched some of the last wild horses swept off our public lands
with a backdrop of oil and gas wells-this absolutely must stop.”

Concurrently BLM contractors are rounding up wild horses in Colorado’s North
Piceance Herd Area, despite a lawsuit
<http://www.thecloudfoundation.org/index.php/news-events-a-media/press-relea
ses/486-npiceancesuit> filed by the Habitat for Horses Advisory Council,
the ASPCA <http://www.aspca.org> and The Cloud Foundation
<http://www.thecloudfoundation.org> last week. Eyewitnesses today say a
mare and her baby tried to escape but the mare was roped and dragged into a
trailer. The condition of the mare has not yet been disclosed.

###

Professional photographs (Living Images by Carol Walker
<http://www.livingimagescjw.com/>; ) as well as video and interviews
available by request from the Cloud Foundation

Links of interest:

Adobe Town-Salt Wells Environmental Assessment http://bit.ly/AdobeSWea
<http://bit.ly/AdobeSWea>;

High Country News: The Red Desert- Wyoming’s endangered country
http://www.hcn.org/issues/163/5290 <http://www.hcn.org/issues/163/5290>;

Wild Hoofbeats blog by Carol Walker (Adobe Town/Salt Wells Horses)
http://www.wildhoofbeats.com/blog/

Lawsuit filed to save Colorado herd http://bit.ly/COmustangSuit

French TV reports on WildHorses http://t.co/4jKWYJg

CNN Report on Nevada Roundup with Jane Valez-Mitchell http://bit.ly/dvl7NE

Wild Horse Predators http://bit.ly/WHpredators

Congress Sends Letter for Wild Herds to Secretary Salazar
http://bit.ly/54sign

Roundup Schedule- http://bit.ly/roundupsched

American Herds – AdobeTown/Salt Wells – A Tale of Tallies”
http://bit.ly/AdobeNumbers

Unified Moratorium on Roundups Letter http://bit.ly/MoratoriumLtr

Mestengo. Mustang. Misfit. America’s Disappearing Wild Horses – A History
http://bit.ly/8ZCk8e

Stampede to Oblivion: An Investigate Report from Las Vegas Now
http://bit.ly/Stampede2Oblivion

Shortlink to this release: http://bit.ly/AdobeTownDest

The Cloud Foundation <http://www.thecloudfoundation.org> is a 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, p. 719-633-3842
www.thecloudfoundation.org <http://www.thecloudfoundation.org/>;

Media Contacts:Makendra Silverman
Makendra@TheCloudFoundation.org
Tel: 719-351-8187

Anne Novak
Anne@TheCloudFoundation.org
Tel: 415-531-8454

COALITION TO SAVE COLORADO MUSTANGS!!!

 

For Immediate Release

Group Lawsuit Filed to Stop Destruction of Colorado Mustang Herd

Suit seeks immediate injunction, cites BLM’s violations of four Congressional Acts

New York City, NY (October 7, 2010)— A case filed today against Secretary of Interior Ken Salazar in federal court aims to stop the elimination of wild horses from Colorado’s North Piceance herd area. Plaintiffs Habitat for Horses (HfH), the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), The Cloud Foundation (TCF), Toni Moore and Dr. Don Moore challenge the BLM’s ongoing illegal treatment of wild horses residing on public lands and it’s intention to completely remove all wild horses from this area beginning October 11, 2010.

The Plaintiffs’ attorneys, Bruce Wagman (Schiff Hardin) and Valerie Stanley, are asking the court for an injunction to stop BLM from removing any of these wild horses pending a complete judicial review of the BLM’s conduct. The complaint cites four counts and violations committed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM): violation of the Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act, the National Environmental Policy Act, the Information Quality Act and the Federal Land Policy Management Act. The suit has been brought against BLM Director Robert Abbey and Field Manager of the Colorado White River Field Office Kent Walter, in addition to Secretary Salazar.

“The BLM’s ‘shoot from the hip’ policy of indiscriminately destroying and removing long standing wild horse herds has to come to an end,” says R.T. Fitch, Volunteer Executive Director of co-supporting organization HfH Advisory Council, “Poor accounting, outdated data and disengagement from the reality of the range is the hallmark of the BLM’s business plan. They must be stopped.”

On September 10th, 2010 the White River Field office of the BLM issued its final decision to completely and permanently eliminate the herd of wild horses which has lived in partnership with the natural environment in the Herd Area for centuries.

“BLM and other public agencies have eliminated over a third of wild horse herds designated for protection by Congress in 1971,” explains Cloud Foundation Volunteer Executive Director, Ginger Kathrens. “Colorado has only a few hundred wild horses remaining and the destruction of yet another herd is unthinkable—cruel, costly and completely unnecessary. It is a managing to extinction policy that must stop.”

This action is co-funded by HfH Advisory Council and the ASPCA. A suit filed last week to protect the nearby West Douglas wild horse herd has so far resulted in a one-year postponement of that “zeroing out action.” The case remains in court.

The Cloud Foundation, HfH Advisory Council, ASPCA and over 200 other organizations and tens of thousands of members of the public continue to call for an immediate moratorium on BLM wild horse and burro roundups. To date the BLM has not changed course and plans to roundup and remove a total of 3,295 wild horses and burros before the end of the year. Currently, nearly 40,000 wild horses and burros are held in pens and pastures at taxpayer expense.

Links of interest:

Legal documents filed today: http://bit.ly/d7ePWk

Congress Sends Letter for Wild Herds to Secretary Salazar http://bit.ly/54sign

Roundup Schedule- http://bit.ly/roundupsched

American Herds – “What’s Left?” http://bit.ly/WhatsLeft

Unified Moratorium on Roundups Letter http://bit.ly/MoratoriumLtr

Mestengo. Mustang. Misfit. America’s Disappearing Wild Horses – A History http://bit.ly/8ZCk8e

Stampede to Oblivion: An Investigate Report from Las Vegas Now http://bit.ly/Stampede2Oblivion

Shortlink to this release: http://bit.ly/COmustangSuit

Photos, video and interviews available by request from the Cloud Foundation

The Cloud Foundation is a 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, p. 719-633-3842 www.thecloudfoundation.org

The Habitat for Horses Advisory Council is the “The Legal Voice of the American Equine” and is comprised of like-minded equine welfare oriented organizations and individual advocates. The Council works to progress relevant issues imperative to furthering the safety and well being of horses, both domestic and wild, in the United States. Habitat for Horses Advisory Council is a registered 501c4 non-profit corporation. P.O. Box 213, Hitchcock, TX 77563, p.1-800-974-FOTH www.hfhadvisorycouncil.org

American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) was the first humane organization in the Western Hemisphere. Our mission, as stated by our founder, Henry Bergh, in 1866, is “to provide effective means for the prevention of cruelty to animals throughout the United States. 424 E. 92nd St New York, NY 10128-6804, p. 212-876-7700 www.aspca.org

Media Contacts:

Makendra Silverman
Makendra@TheCloudFoundation.org
Tel: 719-351-8187

Terry Fitch
Info@hfhadvisorycouncil.org
Tel: 832-367-4849

Rebecca McNeill
RebeccaM@aspca.org
Tel: 212-876-7700 x4582

 

JOIN THE NATIONWIDE PROTEST!!!!!!!!!

*********************************

For Immediate Release

Nationwide Protests Planned to Halt Mustang & Burro Roundups

BLM’s failure to instate even a partial moratorium inspires protests around US

Boston, MA (October 7, 2010)— Following over 35 protests in late 2009/2010, rallies will resume this month in at least seven states nationwide to draw attention to the plight of America’s wild horse and burro herds. Protests in 12 more states are in the works. Currently nearly 40,000 wild horses and burros are held in pens and pastures at taxpayer expense while the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) private contractors rush to roundup over 3,200 more wild horses and burros before the end of the year. Despite the delivery of a Unified Moratorium Letter last fall to President Obama, Interior Secretary Salazar and BLM Director Bob Abbey which called for an immediate freeze on all non-emergency roundups—the BLM has not changed course. On July 30^th, 54 Congressional Representatives sent a letter to both Secretary Salazar and Director Abbey demanding a moratorium and review of the wild horse and burro program.  Regardless of public and political outrage the BLM has not made an honest effort to work with Congress or the public on solutions and improved management of all of America’s remaining wild horse and burro herds.

“There is no excuse for BLM’s inability to manage America’s wild horses and burros,” explains Cloud Foundation Director and Emmy-award winning filmmaker Ginger Kathrens. “If the BLM wants to work with the interested public on solutions then our wild horses and burro herds require a ceasefire. Ground the helicopters and let’s talk about fixing things. Continuing the costly, poor management practices of BLM that is leading to the total annihilation of the last of our wild mustang and burro herds is inexcusable.”

Members of the public are encouraged to start protests in their hometowns and join those already planned. The media is asked to cover protests and learn more about the American mustangs and burros facing management to extinction by the Bureau of Land Management.

###

Protests Planned to Date:

BOSTON Freedom Friday Protest

WHERE: Massachusetts State House, behind the Boston Common in front of the State House

WHEN:  Friday, October 8, 2010 at 10:00am-2pm.

Come for an hour or spend the afternoon….bring a sign!

Contact: Carol Poole at mustangalley@hotmail.com for more info.

CONNECTICUT Protest:

WHERE: Downtown Stamford CT, on the Ferguson Library steps

WHEN: Saturday, October 9, 2010 at 2:00pm

Contact: Isabella Houghton: saverhorses@gmail.com

LAS VEGAS Rally:

Plus free concert: Grey Beard Bandit (Wild Horses Need our Voices)

Real (gentled) wild mustangs and guest speakers

WHERE:Horseman’s Park, 5800 E Flamingo Rd Las Vegas, NV 89122

WHEN: Monday, October 11 · 3:00pm – 6:00pm

Contacts:Shelly Smith shelly5711@yahoo.com or Katie Ellen Barron lotrfla300@yahoo.com

ARIZONA Protest:

WHEN: Helldorado Weekend, Oct.16 & 17th.  10:00am

WHERE: Downtown Tombstone, Arizona

CONTACT: Deb Catlett deborahcatlett@aol.com for more info

UTAH Protest:

WHEN: Saturday, October 16, 2010 at 11:00am

WHERE: County Bldgs (the old courthouse). 179 N. Main St., Logan, Utah

Contact: Kristy Amado kfamado@msn.com

COLORADO Protest:

WHEN: Saturday, October 16, 2010,11:00am- 2:00pm

WHERE: Southwest corner of Canyon & Broadway

Contacts: Linda Hanick vlhanick@gmail.com or Cathy Bryarly robcathyderek@peoplepc.com or 303-746-4729

SACRAMENTO Protest

WHEN: October 23, 10am-2pm

WHERE: at the West Steps of Capitol Bldg (10th and Capitol Mall) Contact: Janet Schultz: 1fastback@att.net

Additional protests are being planned for: Iowa, Georgia, Maryland, Virginia, New Hampshire, Maine, South Carolina, Wyoming, Colorado, Texas, Florida and Vermont.

Links of interest:

Congress Sends Letter for Wild Herds to Secretary Salazar http://bit.ly/54sign

Roundup Schedule- http://bit.ly/roundupsched

American Herds – “What’s Left?” http://bit.ly/WhatsLeft

Unified Moratorium on Roundups Letter http://bit.ly/MoratoriumLtr

Mestengo. Mustang. Misfit.  America’s Disappearing Wild Horses – A History http://bit.ly/8ZCk8e

Stampede to Oblivion: An Investigate Report from Las Vegas Now  http://bit.ly/Stampede2Oblivion

Shortlink to this release http://bit.ly/WHrally2

Photos, video and interviews available by request.

Media Contact:

Makendra Silverman

Makendra@TheCloudFoundation.org

Tel: 719-351-8187

The Cloud Foundation is a 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 ~ www.thecloudfoundation.org

BAD NEWS…Judge lifts TRO

July 16, 2010

Bulletin

A Nevada federal judge has declared the Bureau of Land Management ban on public and media observers of its wild horse roundups unconstitutional, yet has lifted an injunction stopping a “gather” near Elko after at least 12 horses died of heat stroke. Judge Larry Hicks ruled the roundup my proceed in high summer heat. For more details go to www.horsebackmagazine.com.

GOOD NEWS TRO FOR ROUNDUP

Media Advisory

Judge Grants Temporary Restraining Order So Wild Horse Suit Can Be Heard

BLM Directory Abbey’s attempt to resume roundup prior to hearing blocked

Reno NV (July 15, 2010)—The Cloud Foundation learned that United States District Judge Larry R. Hicks yesterday granted an immediate injunction preventing continuation of the Tuscarora Wild Horse Roundup in NE Nevada by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) until further order of the court. The Cloud Foundation Herd-Watch Program Coordinator Laura Leigh filed a Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) to halt the already fatal Tuscarora Roundup in Elko County Nevada on July 12. One dozen wild horses, including three foals, have died as a result of the BLM’s July 10 roundup of 228 animals staged on private land with public oversight prohibited. Originally BLM Director Bob Abbey suspended the roundup until July 18 but the court learned late yesterday that Abbey had authorized roundup crews to resume the removal operation eight hours before the scheduled hearing. Based on this change in BLM’s position, Judge Hicks granted Leigh the TRO.

The hearing for Laura Leigh v. Ken Salazar (3:10-cv-00417-LRH-VPC) will be held Thursday, July 15 at the US District Court, 400 S. Virginia Street in Reno, beginning at 2:30 p.m.

###

Links of interest:

Court Order Granting Injunction http://bit.ly/doc10LeighvSalazar

‘Herd-Watch: Public Eyes for Public Horses’ http://bit.ly/9Wvh58

Grass Roots Horse http://www.grassrootshorse.com/

Restraining order sought – AP article http://bit.ly/TROsought

Tuscarora Mustangs fenced out of water http://bit.ly/Livestockfences

Roundup Schedule- updated July 12, 2010  http://bit.ly/roundupschedule

Disappointment Valley… A Modern Day Western Trailer- excellent sample of interviews regarding the issues http://bit.ly/awFbwm

Fact Sheet on Wild Herds & The Salazar Plan http://bit.ly/bfdX1y

Wild Horse and Burro Act http://bit.ly/a7hOeS

Link to this press release online http://bit.ly/LvSinjunction

Past Cloud Foundation press releases http://bit.ly/TCFpress

Photos, video and interviews available from:

The Cloud Foundation ~ Makendra@TheCloudFoundation.org

The Cloud Foundation is a 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

Media Contacts:

Anne Novak

Anne@TheCloudFoundation.org

Tel: 415-531-8454

Makendra Silverman

Makendra@TheCloudFoundation.org

Tel: 719-351-8187

Jailed Mustangs denied water…..

TWELVE DEAD!!!

For Immediate Release:

Mustangs Fenced Out of Water- NV Roundup Death Toll Rises to 12

Independent Investigation requested to uncover cause of mustang deaths and inability to access water

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.”

“Why didn’t BLM know the water situation before going in and running 228 horses, at least 5% of them to subsequent death? The public deserves answers, not excuses,” explains Cloud Foundation Director Ginger Kathrens who has 16 years experience with wild horses across the ten western states. “The idea that wild horses are not capable of finding their way ten miles to a river to drink is absolute myth—mustangs regularly travel distances farther than that if allowed their free-roaming behavior. Distance or standard drought levels are not the issue, the real question is what is preventing these mustangs from using traditional perennial water sources.”

BLM has ‘pasturized’ the Tuscarora horses into cattle allotments to facilitate the grazing of 4,000 head of cattle in an area they say can support only 400 horses. The public has no way of knowing which gates are open and which are closed, and nor do the horses. For individual gain, BLM allows private interest to prevent the wild horses from accessing the water – rivers, creeks, reservoirs and water holes- that are present in this herd complex. Carving up herd management areas with fences is typical and prevents wild horse movement within their ranges set forth by the Free-Roaming Wild Horses and Burros Act of 1971.

“BLM has reduced our wild horses to a labyrinth of cattle pastures and has no regard for their needs,” explains Kathrens.

The Cloud Foundation’s Herd-Watch Program Coordinator Laura Leigh filed a Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) to halt the Tuscarora Roundup on July 12 and United States District Judge Larry R. Hicks yesterday granted the injunction. Until further order of the court BLM is prevented  from continuing their removal operation. The hearing for Laura Leigh v. Ken Salazar (3:10-cv-00417-LRH-VPC) will be held Thursday, July 15 at the US District Court, 400 S. Virginia Street in Reno, beginning at 2:30 p.m. Leigh’s legal efforts are being funded by GrassRootsHorse.com, a collection of independent grassroots wild horse advocates.

The Cloud Foundation calls for an immediate independent investigation into the current situation in the Owyhee Complex. Bringing in BLM to analyze how their agency has failed yet more wild horses is not the answer; there needs to be an advocate for the wild horses participating in the current review of the Tuscarora disaster. It is essential that this person understand the needs and nature of wild horses.

“Has the BLM allowed pre-roundup hazing of the horses to position them closer to trap sites and farther away from where they would typically be?” questions author/advocate R.T. Fitch.

###

Links of interest:

‘Herd-Watch: Public Eyes for Public Horses’ http://bit.ly/9Wvh58

Court Order Granting Injunction http://bit.ly/doc10LeighvSalazar

Restraining order sought – AP article http://bit.ly/TROsought

Grass Roots Horse http://www.grassrootshorse.com/

Roundup Schedule- updated July 12, 2010  http://bit.ly/roundupschedule

The Mustang Conspiracy: Sex, Drugs, Corruption, and BP – investigative report http://www.abovetopsecret.com/mustangconspiracy/

Wild Horse and Burro Act http://bit.ly/a7hOeS

Tuscarora/Owyhee Complex Roundup Information from BLM http://bit.ly/Tuscarora

Disappointment Valley… A Modern Day Western Trailer- excellent sample of interviews regarding the issues http://bit.ly/awFbwm

PR Firm Hired for the Destruction of America’s Wild Horse and Burro Herds http://bit.ly/czf3HB

Fact Sheet on Wild Herds & The Salazar Plan http://bit.ly/bfdX1y

Link to this press release online http://bit.ly/Livestockfences

Past Cloud Foundation press releases http://bit.ly/TCFpress

Photos, video and interviews available from:

The Cloud Foundation

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

Anne Novak

Anne@TheCloudFoundation.org

Tel: 415-531-8454

Makendra Silverman

Makendra@TheCloudFoundation.org

Tel: 719-351-8187

NEVADA LAW SUIT TO STOP ROUNDUPS

For Immediate Release:

Mustang Advocate Finds BLM Violates Own Rules, Files Lawsuit

Hundreds of young wild horse foals risk death in imminent Nevada roundup

Reno NV (July 9, 2010)—One woman from Herd-Watch, a program of The Cloud Foundation, studied the newly published Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Wild Horse and Burro handbook and caught BLM in the act of violating their own protocol for the Tuscarora (Owyhee Complex) roundup. The handbook states roundups are prohibited until six weeks after foaling season which ends on June 30th. Therefore the earliest date to start the roundup is August 11th. Laura Leigh, Project Manager of Herd Watch filed a lawsuit today in US District Court in Nevada to stop the roundup.

“I found their error right in the BLM’s management handbook,” explains Leigh adding, “The BLM disregards their own rules when it comes to ‘managing’ wild horse population.”

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 not humane treatment of wild horses—especially foals, some of whom may be only weeks or days old.

The Foundation is requesting that humane observers and members of the public be present during all phases of all the roundups. Since the deadly Calico roundup in NW Nevada, BLM has tightened restrictions, preventing the public and humane observers from viewing the horses adequately. In the case of Tuscarora, the public will not be allowed to view any round up activities for the first two weeks.

Ginger Kathrens, Executive Director of The Cloud Foundation, shares Leigh’s concerns that “more foals may have their feet literally run off because they are too young to be chased by helicopter over sharp, volcanic terrain for miles in the hottest month of the year. At least two foals died a horrible death like this in the Calico roundup. Didn’t BLM learn anything from Calico?”

More than 100 wild horses died and over 40 spontaneous abortions occurred as a result of the Calico roundup.

“Currently, the only way to gain accountability—with an agency apparently left to police itself—is for a member of the public to file suit,” remarks Leigh. Leigh’s efforts are being supported by Grassroots Horse, an organization based in grassroots activism to prevent cruel wild horse roundups.

“If this roundup were being conducted in a safe manner,” says Leigh’s attorney Gordon Cowan of Reno, Nevada “one would make the assumption that the BLM would want the public to witness its entirety. Barring observers and press raises concerns.”

# # #

Links of interest:

‘Herd-Watch: Public Eyes for Public Horses’ http://bit.ly/9Wvh58

Grass Roots Horse http://www.grassrootshorse.com/

BLM Wild Horse and Burro Management Handbook http://bit.ly/BLMhandbook

BLM Contacts & El Paso Gas’ Ruby Pipeline http://bit.ly/cT6e0a

The Mustang Conspiracy: Sex, Drugs, Corruption, and BP – investigative report http://www.abovetopsecret.com/mustangconspiracy/

Tuscarora/Owyhee Complex Roundup Information from BLM http://bit.ly/Tuscarora

After campaigning for Obama, Sheryl Crow at odds over his administration’s wild-horse plan (Associated Press)

http://bit.ly/6UQleO

CNN Report, Issues with Jane Valez-Mitchell, March 25^th http://bit.ly/dvl7NE

Disappointment Valley… A Modern Day Western Trailer- excellent sample of interviews regarding the issues http://bit.ly/awFbwm

PR Firm Hired for the Destruction of America’s Wild Horse and Burro Herds http://bit.ly/czf3HB

Elyse Gardner’s Humane Observer Blog http://humaneobserver.blogspot.com/

American Herds Blog http://americanherds.blogspot.com/

Roundup Schedule- updated July 2010 http://bit.ly/2010roundup

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:

The Cloud Foundation ~ Makendra@TheCloudFoundation.org

The Cloud Foundation is a 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

Media Contacts:

Makendra Silverman

Makendra@TheCloudFoundation.org

Tel: 719-351-8187

Anne Novak

Anne@TheCloudFoundation.org

Tel: 415-531-8454

BLM’S “RECKLESS AGENDA” KILLS SEVEN IN ROUNDUP

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.”

###

Links of interest:

‘Herd-Watch: Public Eyes for Public Horses’ http://bit.ly/9Wvh58

Roundup Schedule- updated July 12, 2010  http://bit.ly/roundupschedule

BLM Wild Horse and Burro Management Handbook http://bit.ly/BLMhandbook

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)

http://bit.ly/6UQleO

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

http://www.wildhorsepreservation.com/resources/wild.html

Fact Sheet on Wild Herds & The Salazar Plan http://bit.ly/bfdX1y

Wild Horse and Burro Act http://bit.ly/a7hOeS

Link to this press release online http://bit.ly/day1Tuscarora

Past Cloud Foundation press releases http://bit.ly/TCFpress

Photos, video and interviews available from:

The Cloud Foundation

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:

Makendra Silverman

Makendra@TheCloudFoundation.org

Tel: 719-351-8187

Anne Novak

Anne@TheCloudFoundation.org

Tel: 415-531-8454