*NEW* Press Release Sent Out by the BLM Today, July 14th.
Dear Friends,
This just in from the BLM!
The BLM has realized that we’re not going to stand by and see our beautiful horses and foals just die from these roundups. This past weekend, on July 10th, in the blazing heat of the desert, the BLM went along with their planned roundup of 1,100 wild mustangs, days after foaling season. They have just submitted this press release this afternoon regarding the 10 horses that have died of dehydration and heat exhaustion. They have finally made the decision to haul in gallons of water for these horses. This comes after they originally acknowledged that water sources were scarce and expressed concern about the welfare of the horses if left on the range. What would have been wrong with just postponing the gather when they recognized there was a shortage of water? Either way, there will no doubt be more deaths if they resume this gather in a few days. Remember, they also said that the horses were in very good condition, 4 to 5’s. This is just pure nonsense when you look at what is happening. The BLM is dramatically altering these horses’ day to day routines and the mares and foals are not strong enough to be put in these stressful conditions. These roundups need to be suspended and if they are not, it will result in more needless deaths. These horses belong to the American people, not the BLM. It is obvious that the BLM still does not listen to the wishes of the American people. These roundups are all happening behind closed doors. The American people, humane observers, and wild horse advocates
have been denied access to these gathers under the guise of conducting them on private lands. How long will the government continue to ignore the wishes or millions of people who want to preserve and protect these wild horses. As long as there is no transparency, we will be blinded.
It’s still amazing to me that after yesterday’s press release, the millions of viewers watching about the roundups, and thousands of people sending letters to President Obama and Secretary Salazar that we still are not being heard by the government.
We cannot be ignored any longer! We ALL need to write more letters and step up the efforts to push for a summer moratorium on gathers. We already got the ball rolling by creating a letter to President Obama and Secretary Salazar. Send that, send others, get the word out, tell everyone you know. This will be stopped, but we need YOUR help! How many more wild horses have to die before we get this right?
We are the voice of the wild horses, let’s be LOUD!!!!
Sincerely,
Madeleine
BLM Nevada News
NEVADA STATE OFFICE No. 2010-025
BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT For immediate release: Wednesday, July 14, 2010
Contact: Heather Emmons, 775-861-6594, heather_emmons@blm.gov; JoLynn Worley, 775-861-6515, jolynn_worley@blm.gov
BLM Takes Emergency Actions to Provide Water to Wild Horses
Reno , Nev. — Due to escalating drought conditions, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has implemented emergency actions to provide water to wild horses within the Tuscarora gather area, which encompasses the Owyhee, Rock Creek, and Little Humboldt Herd Management Areas (HMAs) located in northern Elko County , Nev.
The BLM gather contractor conducted an aerial flyover of the Owyhee HMA at 7:00 a.m. Tuesday morning, July 13, and located two large groups of wild horses: the Dry Creek group consisting of approximately 125 wild horses; and the Star Ridge group consisting of approximately 400 animals.
The Star Ridge group is located around a dry reservoir and making no attempt to move to the nearest water source located approximately 10 miles away at the South Fork Owyhee River . The animals are considered at risk of dying from complications of water starvation/dehydration. While some of the Dry Creek group has recently watered, the BLM remains concerned and will continue to monitor the group.
“BLM Nevada considers this an emergency situation,” said Ron Wenker, BLM Nevada State Director. “Yesterday afternoon the BLM implemented a short-term emergency strategy to provide the animals water during the next four to five days in an effort to stabilize their health condition.”
The BLM installed six water troughs with a combined capacity of 3,000 gallons near and around a reservoir located about two to three miles from where the Star Ridge group is located, and used a water tanker to fill the troughs. If the wild horses do not independently travel to this water, the BLM will assess having the gather contractor use his helicopter to gently and slowly guide the animals toward the water with the hope that they will drink.
“A large number of these excess wild horses could die if they are not gathered,”
added Wenker. “Therefore, BLM Nevada’s goal is to gather these animals within four to five days after stabilizing their immediate water starved condition.”
The BLM cannot sustain this level of support to provide water to the animals
over the long-term because of the limited road access and the poor condition of
roads in this area. This drought condition scenario was considered and analyzed
by the BLM in the environmental assessment prepared for the gather.
The BLM also has organized a review team consisting of BLM and independent
experts to analyze the on-the-ground conditions of wild horses and the public
rangelands. Team members include Mike Mottice, BLM Oregon/Washington Associate
State Director (Team Leader); Tom Pogacnik, BLM California Deputy State
Director, Natural Resources; Dr. Boyd Spratling DVM & BLM’s National Wild Horse
Advisory Board; Eric Reid, Wild Horse/Burro Specialist, Fillmore , Utah ; Dr.
Klell Ekins, Equine DVM; and Robin Lohnes, American Horse Protection Association
& BLM National Wild Horse Advisory Board.
BLM Nevada has been coordinating closely with Review Team members regarding the
current drought conditions and related impacts on the wild horses. The Team
currently is in Nevada and will be assessing overall gather operations. The
Team will develop a report and provide recommendations to the BLM Director as to
if and/or when planned gather operations should be resumed, and under what
conditions.
The BLM continues to provide food, water and veterinary care for the 216 wild
horses in the on-site temporary holding corrals. No wild horses died on Tuesday
and the health conditions of the animals appear to be stabilizing. Given the
overall improvement of the condition of the animals that were gathered last
Saturday, the BLM today shipped three truckloads with 88 mares and 41 foals
(129) to the Palomino Valley Center (PVC) regional adoption facility, located 20
miles north of Sparks , Nev.
The BLM initiated gather operations on Saturday, July 10, and gathered 228
excess wild horses. To date, eleven horses have died from complications related
to water starvation/dehydration or subsequent water intoxication. Based on
necropsies of the dead horses by the on-site veterinarian, the BLM has
determined the mortalities were a direct result of a lack of water in the
immediate areas occupied by the horses. One horse was euthanized shortly after
being gathered due to a fractured leg that occurred in the temporary holding
corrals.
As more information becomes available it will be posted at the website:
http://www.blm.gov/nv/st/en/fo/elko_field_office/blm_programs/wild_horse_and_burro/owyhee_rock_creek.html.
For further comments and questions, the public may call 1-866-468-7826.
-BLM-
