Horses Belong in Pastures: Protest Sunday 2-7-10 @ 1:00 PM-Action Alert!

****Cross Post Freely****

Horses Belong in Pastures...




...not on the streets of New York City

Protest: Sunday, Feb. 7, 2010 @ 1:00 PM

Since we began our focused Carriage Horse campaign, we have been at the
hack line multiple times and when not there visibly, we have had
volunteers monitoring the activities of the carriage drivers covertly.
On January 27, 2010, an inspection of the water troughs, revealed that
water was unavailable to the horses. The water troughs were either
empty, had a small amount of dirty water or were strewn with garbage.
Horses were not being watered with buckets or from hydrants. This is in
direct violation of city regulations.

Upon inspection, activists have found carriage horse drivers to be
non-compliant with many of the regulations. No rest stops, dry water
troughs, exposed to the freezing cold and icy rain and overcharging
passengers. Our experiences have shown us, that for the most part, the
drivers are rude, obnoxious thugs who care little for the welfare of the
horses, who provide them with their income. Activists have been
attacked, spat upon, whipped and verbally assaulted with the most vile
and abusive language. Carriage drivers have dropped their pants with
children watching from the seats of their cabs. Horses have been
whipped and abused in our presence....all of this, in the direct view of
New York City's tourists.

Clearly, the people who make their living off of the toil and suffering
of these poor pitiful horses are angry about our regular presence. At
our last protest, an industry representative parked illegally in a
crosswalk, walked her dog over to the protesters in an attempt to get
her dog to "water" the activists. When her dog failed to perform, she
rolled her windows down and blasted obnoxiously loud music in an effort
to drown out the free speech of the protesters....that didn't work
either. NYPD tried to move her out of her illegal parking spot several
times, but were unsuccessful and choose to harass peaceful protesters
instead.

Consequently, New York activists will be gathering at the hack line
again, this Sunday and regularly thereafter. Please join us at our next
scheduled protest:

When: Sunday, February 7, 2010
Time: 1:00 PM (Other Protests to Follow)
Where: Grand Army Plaza, New York City
59th Street & 5th Avenue at the Hack Line

If you are coming to the protest, please dress warmly as it is often
very cold and windy at Central Park. Hats, gloves, scarves and any
other cold weather gear are encouraged. Dress in layers. Double layers
of socks and gloves. You can find hand and toe warmers at many area
sporting goods stores and drug stores are even starting to carry them.
They are inexpensive and will help you keep warm and stay out longer.
Don't forget water. Cold weather is just as dehydrating as hot weather
and just like the horses, humans need water too. After the carriage
horse protest we will be doing other protests for the rest of the
afternoon.

Actions Needed:

1. Pass this information along to anyone you know who may be
visiting New York City. Ask them not to support this cruel and
inhumane tradition. The upcoming Valentine's Day Weekend is a huge
one for the carriage horse trade. WAR will be organizing a full
weekend of activities, February 12 - 14, 2010. Stay tuned for
announcements.

2. Contact New York City officials to tell them how you feel about
the carriage horse trade:

Call/write/e-mail:
Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg
City Hall
New York, NY 10020-1175

PHONE 311 (or 212-NEW-YORK outside NYC)
FAX (212) 788-2460

e-mail: http://www.nyc.gov/html/mail/html/mayor.html


If you live in New York City, you can also write to your
City Council Representative.
Locate your representative here:

http://www.nyccouncil.info/constituent/member_list.cfm


3. If you live in New York City volunteer to monitor the hack line
to document abuse. Or you can hand out flyers to potential
customers. (We can provide you with signs and literature and tell
you more about how you can do this)

4. Host a showing of Blinders, the film produced by Donny Moss, to
raise awareness of this issue. You can purchase a DVD at the
Blinders website. If you would like to have a speaker at your film
showing, contact us at Win Animal Rights.
http://www.blindersthemovie.com/


The WAR Open House tentatively scheduled for February 6th has been
postponed. As soon as we secure an appropriate venue, we will
reschedule this event whose focus will be on horses, with a
screening of Blinders. If anyone knows of a meeting place with
equipment for a screening, please let us know.

Visit the WAR Calendar for future events:
http://calendar.yahoo.com/winanimalrights

Visit the WAR MySpace page: http://www.myspace.com/winanimalrights

Visit the WAR Facebook page:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Win-Animal-Rights/25169195791


For more info contact Win Animal Rights at: centcom@war-online.org

Call: 646.267.9934 or visit the WAR website at: http://war-online.org

Lawsuit Filed to Halt Huge Wild Horse Roundup

Mass roundup of Nevada Wild Horses Inhumane and Illegal, Suit Charges


Washington, DC - In Defense of Animals (IDA) and ecologist Craig
Downer today filed suit, in the federal U.S. District Court for the
District of Columbia, to stop the Bureau of Land Management's proposed
massive roundup and removal of more than 2,700 wild horses from public
lands in Nevada. The roundup, slated to begin in early December, will
take virtually every wild horse living in the Calico Complex Herd
Management Area in northwestern Nevada. It is by far the largest of
any wild horse roundup planned by the BLM for Fiscal Year 2010.

"This suit aims to halt the inherent cruelty of the BLM's wild horse
roundups, which traumatize, injure and kill horses, subvert the will
of Congress and are entirely illegal," said William Spriggs, Esq., a
partner at Buchanan, Ingersoll & Rooney and lead counsel on the law
suit. The firm is representing IDA and Mr. Downer on a pro bono basis.

The suit alleges that the BLM plan to utilize helicopters to
indiscriminately chase as many as 2,738 of the estimated 3,095 Calico
horses into holding pens violates the Wild Free Roaming Horse and
Burro Act, passed unanimously in 1971. The Act designated America's
wild horses and burros as "living symbols of the historic and pioneer
spirit of the West," specifying they "shall be protected from capture,
branding, harassment, or death … [and that] to accomplish this they
are to be considered in the area where presently found, as an integral
part of the natural system of public lands.”

"Americans strongly support protecting wild horses on their natural
ranges in the West." Mr. Spriggs continued. "We hope to stop the cruel
roundups and mass stockpiling of wild horses and burros in government
holding facilities while the Obama Administration crafts a new policy
that protects these animals and upholds the will of Congress and the
public’s desire to preserve this important part of our national
heritage."

Since 1971, the BLM has removed over 270,000 horses from their Western
home ranges and taken away nearly 20 million acres of wild horse
habitat on public lands that were protected by Congress as being
"necessary to sustain an existing herd or herds of wild horses and
burros ... and ... is devoted principally ... to their welfare." The
policy is based on the unsupportable claim that Western ranges cannot
sustain wild horses and burros. These animals comprise a tiny fraction
of animals grazing the range. An estimated 8 million livestock, but
only 37,000 horses and burros, graze on public lands.
Thirty-two thousand wild horses who have been removed from the range
are already held in government holding facilities, and the BLM intends
to round up 12,000 more horses in FY 2010.

THE ROAM ACT-2009

Includes previous revisions to the Wild Free-Roaming Horse and Burro Act (Public
Law 92-195) and modifications by the Public Rangelands Improvement Act of 1978;
as well as modifications by the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976.
Current revisions include the ROAM ACT of 2009.
111TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSIONH. R. 1018
To amend the Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act to improve the
management and long-term health of wild free-roaming horses and burros,
and for other purposes.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
FEBRUARY 12, 2009
Mr. RAHALL (for himself and Mr. GRIJALVA) introduced the following bill;
which was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources
A BILL
To amend the Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act
to improve the management and long-term health of
wild free-roaming horses and burros, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives
of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. REFERENCE.
Except as otherwise expressly provided, whenever in this Act an amendment or
repeal is expressed in terms of an amendment to, or repeal of, a section or other
provision, the reference shall be considered to be made to a section or other
provision of the Act of December 15, 1971 (commonly known as the Wild Free-
Roaming Horses and 2 Burros Act; 16 U.S.C. 1331 et seq.).
16 USCS § 1331 SEC. 2. POLICY
To require the protection, management, and control of wild free-roaming horses and
burros on public lands. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled, That Congress finds and
declares that wild free-roaming horses and burros are living symbols of the historic
and pioneer spirit of the West; that they contribute to the diversity of life forms
within the Nation and enrich the lives of the American people; and that these horses
and burros are fast disappearing from the American scene. It is the policy of
Congress that wild free-roaming horses and burros shall be protected from capture,
branding, harassment, or death; and to accomplish this they are to be considered an
integral part of the natural system of the public lands.
16 USCS § 1332 SEC.3. DEFINITIONS.
As used in this Act [16 USCS §§ 1331 et seq.]--
(a) "Secretary" means the Secretary of the Interior when used in connection with
public lands administered by him through the Bureau of Land Management and the
Secretary of Agriculture in connection with public lands administered by him through
the Forest Service;
(b) "wild free-roaming horses and burros" means all unbranded and unclaimed
horses and burros on public lands of the United States;
(c) "range" means the amount of land necessary to sustain an existing herd or
herds of wild free-roaming horses and burros, and which is devoted principally but
not necessarily exclusively to their welfare in keeping with the multiple-use
management concept for the public lands;
(d) "herd" means one or more stallions and his mares;
(e) "public lands" means any lands administered by the Secretary of the Interior
through the Bureau of Land Management or by the Secretary of Agriculture through
the Forest Service ;
(f) "excess animals" means wild free-roaming horses or burros which must be
removed from an area, in accordance with section 3(d), in order to preserve and
maintain a thriving natural ecological balance and multiple-use relationship in that
area."
16 USCS § 1333 SEC. 4. INVENTORY AND DETERMINATIONS
(a) All wild free-roaming horses and burros are hereby declared to be under the
jurisdiction of the Secretary for the purpose of management and protection in
accordance with the provisions of this Act [16 USCS §§ 1331 et seq.]. The Secretary
shall—
"(1) protect and manage wild free-roaming horses and burros as components of the
public lands;
"(2) designate and maintain specific ranges on public lands as sanctuaries for their
protection and preservation, where the Secretary after consultation with the wildlife
agency of the State where any such range is proposed and with the Advisory Board
established in section 7 considers such action desirable.
"(3) manage wild free-roaming horses and burros in a manner that is designed to
achieve and maintain a thriving natural ecological balance on the public lands;
"(4) consider the recommendations of qualified scientists in the field of biology and
ecology, some of whom shall be independent of both Federal and State agencies and
may include members of the Advisory Board established in section 7;
"(5) ensure that management activities are at the minimal feasible level and carried
out in consultation with the relevant State wildlife agency in order to protect the
natural ecological balance of all wildlife species, particularly endangered wildlife
species; and
"(6) ensure that any adjustments in forage allocations are made after taking into
consideration the needs of other wildlife species.
"(b) In order to determine if an overpopulatoin of wild free-roaming horses and
burros exists, the Secretary shall--
"(1) maintain a current inventory of wild free-roaming horses and burros on the
public lands;
‘‘(2) update the inventory annually; and
‘‘(3) make the inventory by herd management area available to the public on the
Website of the Bureau of Land Management at no cost.
‘‘(c) In order to better manage wild free-roaming horses and burros, the Secretary,
not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this section, shall take the
following actions:
‘‘(1) Adopt and employ the best scientific, peer reviewed methods to accurately
estimate wild free-roaming horse and burro populations on public lands.
‘‘(2) Employ scientifically sound methods to develop a policy for setting consistent,
appropriate management levels.
‘‘(3) Provide a public process, including a period for notice and comment, for
finalizing appropriate management level standards.
‘‘(4) Publish and distribute these standards to each field office so that the
methodology for estimating population and determining appropriate management
levels is consistent across public lands.
‘‘(5) Train Bureau of Land Management personnel on the use of these standard
techniques to estimate population and determine appropriate management levels.
‘‘(6) Consult with—
‘‘(A) the United States Fish and Wildlife Service;
‘‘(B) wildlife agencies of the State or States where wild free-roaming horses and
burros are located;
‘‘(C) individuals independent of Federal and State governments who have been
recommended by the National Academy of Sciences; and
‘‘(D) individuals who the Secretary determines to have scientific expertise and
special knowledge of wild horse and burro protection, wildlife management, and
animal husbandry related to rangeland management.
‘‘(7) Identify new, appropriate rangelands for wild free-roaming horses and burros,
including use of land acquisitions, exchanges, conservation easements, and
voluntary grazing buyouts, and negotiate with private landowners to allow for the
federally supervised protection of wild horses and burros on private lands.
‘‘(8) Establish sanctuaries or exclusive use areas; and
‘‘(9) Research, develop, and implement enhanced surgical or immunocontraception
sterilization or other safe methods of fertility control.
‘‘(d) If the Secretary has exhausted all practicable options of maintaining populations
of wild free-roaming horses and burros on the range, the Secretary may provide that
excess wild free-roaming horses and burros are humanely captured and removed for
private maintenance and care, so long as the Secretary has determined an adoption
demand exists by qualified individuals and the Secretary can ensure humane
treatment and care by requiring that—
‘‘(1) no more than four wild free-roaming horses and burros may be adopted per
year by any individual, unless the Secretary determines, in writing, that the
individual is capable of humanely caring for more than four wild free-roaming horses
and burros, including the transportation of such animals by the adopting party;
‘‘(2) each individual adopter shall execute an appropriate attestation, pursuant to
section 1001 of title 18, United States Code, affirming that adopted animals shall not
be used for purposes of slaughter for human consumption;
‘‘(3) methods for removing wild horses and burros shall not include the use of
helicopters or any other airborne devices; and
‘‘(4) wild horses and burros shall not be contained in corrals or other holding facilities
for more than 6 months, while awaiting disposition.
‘‘(e) When an excess wild free-roaming horse or burro has been transferred to a
qualified individual for adoption and private maintenance pursuant to this Act and the
Secretary determines that such individual has provided humane conditions,
treatment, and care for such animal for one year, the Secretary may, upon
application by the transferee, grant the transferee title to that animal.
‘‘(f) Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this subsection, for
the purposes of carrying out a successful wild free-roaming horse and burro adoption
program the Secretary shall—
‘‘(1) implement creative and more aggressive marketing strategies for the adoption
program, including the use of the Internet or other media to showcase horses and
burros and the adoption program;
‘‘(2) explore public outreach opportunities, including agreements with local and State
organizations that are using horses and burros for rehabilitation, therapy, or prisoner
programs;
‘‘(3) provide resources to properly screen and train potential adopters;
‘‘(4) conduct tours of Bureau of Land Management facilities for interested parties;
and
‘‘(5) develop volunteer mentor and compliance check programs for assisting the
agency in facilitating successful adoptions.
‘‘(g) The Secretary may not destroy or authorize the destruction of wild free-roaming
horses or burros unless the Secretary—
‘‘(1) determines that the wild free-roaming horse or burro is terminally ill; and
‘‘(2) ensures that the terminally ill wild free roaming horse or burro will be destroyed
in the most humane manner.
‘‘(h) If the immediate health or safety of wild free roaming horses or burros is
threatened, such as in severe drought conditions, the Secretary shall temporarily
remove animals from the range.
‘‘(i) Except in cases of removal under subsection (g) or subsection (h), if the
Secretary removes wild free-roaming horses or burros from the range or decreases
the range of the wild horses and burros, the Secretary shall provide a public notice
on the Website of the Bureau of Land Management 30 days prior to the planned
removal.
‘‘(j) The Secretary shall—
‘‘(1) track the number of wild free-roaming horses and burros injured during
gathering or holding in a centralized database system;
‘‘(2) determine what information on the treatment of gathered wild free-roaming
horses and burros in holding and adopted wild free-roaming horse and burros could
be provided to the public to help inform the public about the treatment of wild free
roaming horse and burros; and
‘‘(3) ensure that such information is easily accessible on the Website of the Bureau of
Land Management.’’.
16 USCS § 1334. SEC. 5. PRIVATE MAINTENANCE.
Private maintenance; numerical approximation; strays on private lands; removal:
destruction by agents
If wild free-roaming horses or burros stray from public lands onto privately owned
land, the owners of such land may inform the nearest Federal marshal or agent of
the Secretary, who shall arrange to have the animals returned to public lands;
Nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit a private landowner from
maintaining wild free-roaming horses or burros on his private lands, or lands leased
from the Government, if he does so in a manner that protects them from
harassment, and if the animals were not willfully removed or enticed from the public
lands. Any individuals who maintain such wild free-roaming horses or burros on their
private lands or lands leased from the Government shall notify the appropriate agent
of the Secretary and supply him with a reasonable approximation of the number of
animals so maintained.
16 USCS § 1335 Recovery rights
A person claiming ownership of a horse or burro on the public lands shall be entitled
to recover it only if recovery is permissible under the branding and estray laws of the
State in which the animal is found.
16 USCS § 1336 SEC. 6. COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS.
The Secretary is authorized to enter into cooperative agreements with other
landowners and other private entities and with the State and local governmental
agencies and may issue such regulations as he deems necessary for the furtherance
of the purposes of this Act [16 USCS §§ 1331 et seq.].
16 USCS § 1337 SEC. 7. JOINT ADVISORY BOARD.
§ 1337. Joint advisory board; appointment; membership; functions; qualifications;
reimbursement limitations
The Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture are authorized and
directed to appoint a joint advisory board of not more than 12 members to advise
them on any matter relating to wild free-roaming horses and burros and their
management and protection. They shall select as advisers persons who are not
employees of the Federal or State Governments and shall include at a minimum
three representatives of the livestock industry; three representatives of the
environmental community; three representatives of the humane community; and
three scientists with doctorate degrees who have expertise in wildlife management.
Selection of members of the board shall be conducted by notice and comment
rulemaking in accordance with the Administrative Procedure Act (5 U.S.C. et seq.)
shall be for a term of four years. No individual shall serve more then two consecutive
terms.
16 USCS § 1338 SEC. 8. CRIMINAL PROVISIONS.
(a) Violations; penalties; trial. Any person who--
(1) willfully removes or attempts to remove a wild free-roaming horse or burro
from the public lands, without authority from the Secretary, or
(2) converts a wild free-roaming horse or burro to private use, without authority
from the Secretary, or
(3) maliciously causes the death or harassment of any wild free-roaming horse or
burro, or
(4) except as provided in section 3(d) [16 USCS § 1333(e)], processes, transports
for processing, or permits to be processed into commercial products a live or
deceased wild free-roaming horse or burro, or
(5) sells, directly or indirectly, a wild free-roaming horse or burro maintained on
private or leased land pursuant to section 4 of this Act [16 USCS § 1334], or the
remains thereof, or
(6) willfully violates a regulation issued pursuant to this Act [16 USCS §§ 1331 et
seq.], shall be subject to a fine of not more than $ 2,000, or imprisonment for not
more than one year, or both. Any person so charged with such violation by the
Secretary may be tried and sentenced by any United States commissioner or
magistrate [magistrate judge] designated for that purpose by the court by which he
was appointed, in the same manner and subject to the same conditions as provided
for in section 3401, title 18, United States Code.
(b) Arrest; appearance for examination or trial; warrants: issuance and execution.
Any employee designated by the Secretary of the Interior or the Secretary of
Agriculture shall have power, without warrant, to arrest any person committing in
the presence of such employee a violation of this Act [16 USCS §§ 1331 et seq.] or
any regulation made pursuant thereto, and to take such person immediately for
examination or trial before an officer or court of competent jurisdiction, and shall
have power to execute any warrant or other process issued by an officer or court of
competent jurisdiction to enforce the provisions of this Act [16 USCS §§ 1331 et
seq.] or regulations made pursuant thereto. Any judge of a court established under
the laws of the United States, or any United States magistrate may, within his
respective jurisdiction, upon proper oath or affirmation showing probable cause,
issue warrants in all such cases.
16 U.S.C.S. § 1338a SEC. 9. TRANSPORTATION OF CAPTURED ANIMALS.
In administering this Act, the Secretary may use or contract for the use of motor
vehicles for the purpose of transporting captured animals. Such use shall be
undertaken only after a public hearing and under the direct supervision of the
Secretary or of a duly authorized official or employee of the Department. Such use
shall be in accordance with humane procedures prescribed by the Secretary.
16 USCS § 1339 SEC. 10. REPORTS
(a) (1) After the expiration of thirty calendar months following the date of enactment
of this Act, and every twenty-four calendar months thereafter, the Secretaries of the
Interior and Agriculture will submit to Congress a joint report on the administration
of this Act, including a summary of enforcement and/or other actions taken
thereunder, costs, and such recommendations for legislative or other actions he
might deem appropriate.
(2)The Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture shall consult with
respect to the implementation and enforcement of this Act and to the maximum
feasible extent coordinate the activities of their respective departments and in the
implementation and enforcement of this Act. The Secretaries are authorized and
directed to undertake those studies of the habits of wild free-roaming horses and
burros that they may deem necessary in order to carry out the provisions of this Act.
‘‘(b)(1) Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this subsection
and annually thereafter, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Natural
Resources of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Energy and
Natural Resources of the Senate a report that contains the following:
‘‘(A) The number of acres managed by the Bureau of Land Management for wild
free-roaming horses and burros.
‘‘(B) The appropriate management levels on public rangelands.
‘‘(C) A description of the methods used to determine the appropriate management
levels and whether it was applied consistently across the agency;
‘‘(D) the number of wild free-roaming horses and burros on public lands;
‘‘(E) a description of the methods used to determine the wild free-roaming horse and
burro population;
‘‘(F) any land acquisitions, exchanges, conservation easements, and voluntary
grazing buyouts that the Bureau of Land Management has acquired or pursued for
wild free-roaming horses and burros;
‘‘(G) any sanctuaries or exclusive use areas established for wild free-roaming horses
and burros;
‘‘(H) programs established for enhanced surgical or immunocontraception
sterilization research and development;
‘‘(I) the extent to which fertility control is being used by the Bureau of Land
Management to control the population of wild free-roaming horses and burros;
‘‘(J) the percentage of the Bureau of Land Management budget devoted to
contraception annually;
‘‘(K) the ratio of horses the agency has contracepted and put back on the range; and
‘‘(L) which herds contraception has been administered and with what results.
‘‘(2) Each report submitted under paragraph (1) shall be made available to the public
on the Website of the Bureau of Land Management.’’

Wild horse debate gallops on

LOS ANGELES — The Obama administration's first try at resolving the debate over the wild horses of the West has not gone over well with some.
Animal rights groups say that Interior Secretary Ken Salazar's proposal to relocate thousands of mustangs to preserves in the East and Midwest would compound years of federal mismanagement of the horses.

They want the 37,000 horses now roaming federal lands in the West to remain despite the risk of starvation and conflicts with cattle. In response to Salazar's proposal, they reiterated their stand during the Bush administration: let the mustangs run loose on millions of acres of federal land where beef cattle are raised.

"Why are we, a cowboy nation, destroying the horse we rode in on?" asks Deanne Stillman, author of Mustang: The Saga of the Wild Horse in the American West. "We may be heading toward the point where we only have wild horses in zoos."

Tom Gorey, spokesman for the Bureau of Land Management, the agency that manages the rangelands, said the federal government is aware "of the heritage and symbolic importance of these horses." Even so, the bureau says, the cost of keeping the horses at a sustainable population is far too much.

"We're protecting horses, rangelands and the taxpayer," Gorey said.


TAX BURDEN: Wild horses face slaughter
Full article:http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/environment/2009-10-26-wild-horses_N.htm?csp=usat.me&POE=click-refer

STOP THE WILD HORSE WIPE-OUT -PETITION TO SIGN!

We, the Undersigned, endorse the following petition:
American Wild Horse Preservation Campaign
Target: U.S. Congress
Sponsor: AWHPC, American Wild Horse Preservation Campaign




STOP THE WILD HORSE WIPE-OUT – http://www.wildhorsepreservation.org/

America’s wild horses are being eradicated in violation of the Wild Free-Roaming Horse & Burro Act, which protects them as “living symbols” of our Nation's spirit. From over 2 million in the 1800s, fewer than 25,000 remain on our public lands. There are now more wild horses in government holding pens than remain in the wild. Still, the round-ups continue, and a recent change in the law opens the door to thousands being sent to slaughter.

Although in-the-wild management would save millions of tax-dollars, special interests have been successful in pressuring the government to systematically remove wild horses from public lands - specifically corporate cattle interests who want our horses replaced with private cattle for subsidized grazing.

AWHPC is coordinating a letter-writing campaign: In addition to signing this petition, it is important that you please send individual letters to your federal legislators calling for a Congressional inquiry into the government’s wild horse management practices. Tell them that our national heritage does not belong on European dinner tables.

For more information and to sign up for email updates, please visit www.wildhorsepreservation.org

MUSTANGING THE WEST-

In 1971, the Congress of the U.S. recognized mustangs as "living symbols of the historic and pioneer spirit of the West, which continue to contribute to the diversity of life forms within the Nation and enrich the lives of the American people."



Since 1971, the fate, control, & population of the feral mustang and burros is in the hands of the Bureau of Land Management through the Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act.



Some of the things they have accomplished have been for the horses' protection, like making it a criminal felony to shoot or poison the animals. In the 1976 Federal Land Policy and

Management Act was written to ensure that the herds stayed healthy and could thrive on good rangelands.


They determined guidelines for the techniques used to round up the Mustangs, ensuring they were humane. One method was by the use of the Judas horse, who peacefully led rounded-up horses already frightened into the corrals.



Adoption practices were determined to provide the horses with homes and long-term care. Those who wished to adopt a mustang were required to pay a small fee, ranging from $25 to $125. Some abused this provision, however, purchasing the feral horses to be immediately re-sold to the slaughter houses. Because of that, an amendment to the bill was instituted preventing them from re-selling within a year's time - except under certain criteria.
To read and learn more about the issue,please visit:
http://www.mustangingthewest.com/The-History-of-the-Mustang.php

Take Action Today on Wild Horse Bill (S. 1579)

Call Your U.S. Senator Today!


The Restore Our American Mustangs (ROAM) Act (S. 1579), recently introduced by Senator Robert C. Byrd (D-WV) will restore protections for our country's wild horses and burros that were stripped away in recent years.

Not only will the ROAM Act ensure that our mustangs and burros are once again protected from slaughter, but it seeks to reclaim land - some 19 million acres - taken away from these magnificent animals. Please take a moment to contact your U.S. Senators today and ask them to cosponsor this vital legislation.

Read about this bill http://capwiz.com/compassionindex/issues/alert/?alertid=14082831

The canning of America's heritage

Today, America's wild horses are still being rounded up and sent to slaughter.

It was horse slaughter on an unimaginable scale - a United States industry built around the processing and canning of horses as dog food.
Train-loads of horses arrived at slaughter plants as the Ken-L-Ration company bled the west dry of horses in its quest for even greater profits.

The town of Rockford, Illinois, witnessed what writer CuChullaine O'Reilly described as the most astonishing series of equestrian-related crimes perpetrated in early 20th-century America.

The company canned just under 150,000 pounds of horse meat in 1923. By 1933, it was putting nearly 30 million pounds of horse meat into cans each year.

In the 10 years from 1923, the company produced nearly 58 million cans of dog food.

When local horses dried up, the company turned to the wild horses of the western rangelands. When they, too, became scarce the company set up its own 1.6 million acre farm across Wyoming and Montana, where it farmed horses for their meat.

O'Reilly's account of the rise and fall of the Ken-L-Ration company includes the story of Frank Litts, a miner determined to stop the slaughter by targeting the company's prized Rockford plant - and he had the dynamite to do it.

Read CuChullaine O'Reilly's account
Full story:
http://www.horsetalk.co.nz/news/2009/09/189.shtml

FOR ADOPTION:ICONS OF THE AMERICAN WEST

Wild horses are, by definition, wild and free, right? uF06C They live on the open range, they fight nothing but the elements and the occasional cougar, they gallop through film and literature as the romantic symbol of the untamed American West.

They're legendary and, since 1971, they have been protected on public lands in 10 Western states. But what advocates call mismanagement has led to 33,000 wild horses in federal captivity, and their numbers are steadily growing, thanks to continual roundups.

Desperate to be rid of them, the government will offer wild horses and burros for adoption on Saturday at sites across the country, including Northern Virginia. The event coincides with a rally on Capitol Hill for increased protection and better management of wild horses, and with a meeting in Arlington of the National Wild Horse and Burro Advisory Board, which is considering alternatives for dealing with the excess animals.

Whoa. Did someone just say "slaughter "?



Millions of people around the world know about America's wild horses, thanks in large part to a PBS documentary that aired in 2001. Called "Cloud: Wild Stallion of the Rockies," it followed a palomino from birth to herd leader in the Pryor Mountain Wild Horse Range on the border of Montana and Wyoming.

Legions of little girls - and adults, too - collected Breyer models of Cloud and his band, read the companion book and, in 2002, eagerly watched the sequel "Cloud's Legacy: The Wild Stallion Returns." A visitor center on the mountain directs tourists to where they can see Cloud and his famous family in the wild.

A third Cloud film is set to air in October, and the second Breyer set is due, but many of the featured horses are no longer free. In early September, the federal government chased America's most famous wild horses off their mountain with a helicopter, freeze-branded them and put 57 into captivity, citing insufficient food and water on the range, a charge that advocates dispute.

"It's a bottomless pit of lies that they spread about the horses are going to starve if they don't remove them," said Ginger Kathrens, who filmed the Cloud documentaries and heads the non profit Cloud Foundation. "We're dealing with horses that are in extraordinary condition and a range that's better than it has been in years. It's a sad commentary on the management of wild horses on our public lands."

The Bureau of Land Management, on its Web site, says: "We've been hearing statements that the range is in excellent shape. This is simply not true. Several studies over the past few years show that parts of the range are in very poor condition."

The dispute dates to the 1950s, when a woman nicknamed Wild Horse Annie drew the public's attention to the hunting of mustangs for slaughterhouses. Public outrage led to a 1971 law protecting mustangs and burros on 53.5 million acres of public lands. The BLM and the U.S. Forest Service were put in charge.

But public lands are also used for other things, including cattle grazing, oil and gas production, mining and recreation, which have taken space away from wild horses. Today, the amount of land actually available to the mustangs is down to 34.3 million acres, according to the Government Accountability Office.

The BLM, saying the reduced acreage can support only 27,000 wild horses instead of the 34,000 that live there, removes what it considers the excess. Captives nearly equal free-roaming horses now, and the GAO says the cost of their care is spiraling out of control. The program's direct costs for holding animals off the range increased from $7 million in 2000 to $21 million in 2007. For 2008, these costs could account for 74 percent of the program's budget.

A 2004 change in the law allows the BLM to kill or sell "without limitation" horses more than 10 years old or those that have not been adopted after three offerings. That means they could once again be sold for slaughter. The BLM says it has not done so. Instead, wild horses removed from the range are kept mostly on private ranches, which receive government payments for their care.

The GAO issued a report last year saying the BLM must get a handle on its mustang problem. Since then, the National Wild Horse and Burro Advisory Board has looked at a range of alternatives, from contraception to euthanasia, but no decisions have been made. The issue could come up when the board meets in Arlington on Monday, in conjunction with the adoption event in nearby Lorton. The next day, wild horse advocates will rally on Capitol Hill.



American mustangs are considered to be Spanish colonial horses - descendants of animals brought by explorers in the 1500s. Virginia's Chincoteague ponies and the Corolla horses of North Carolina's Outer Banks are also considered Spanish colonials, which are listed in critical danger of extinction by the American Minor Breeds Conservancy.

Mustangs have interbred with various horse breeds, but Cloud's herd and others on the Pryor Mountain Wild Horse Range, because of their isolation, are closer to the Spanish type. Many of them have primitive "zebra striping" on their legs and dark stripes down their backs.

However, the BLM states: "The horses carry no genetic markers that other horse breeds don't carry."

Chincoteague keeps its pony numbers in control with an annual auction of foals and a buyback program, in which the public bids for naming rights for foals that are returned to the herd to keep the bloodlines going. Assateague uses contraceptives to prevent too many births. Corolla's herd is managed with a combination of contraceptives and adoptions, but the BLM, which is experimenting with birth control, relies on the public to take wild horses off its hands.

"These wild horses really have become an American legend because they are so much a part of how we identify ourselves as a nation," said BLM spokesperson Davida Carnahan. "We do bring them to all of the Eastern states periodically so that everyone has an opportunity to adopt one of these amazing animals."

Forty wild horses - 10 mares, 10 geldings, 20 yearlings of both sexes - and four wild burros will be offered for adoption in Lorton. For $125 (or just $25 for a second or older horse), anyone can own a mustang. Adopters must have suitable shelters and fencing, plus lots of time and patience to earn the trust of their wild horse.

But adoptions have dropped since 2004. The recession has hurt - fewer people can afford to own horses. In the meantime, the pace of roundups has increased.



The BLM says helicopters drive wild horses "at an easy pace" toward corrals, but film of the roundup shows foals barely able to walk afterward, Kathrens said. In addition, she said, one entire herd was removed from Forest Service land.

A BLM spokeswoman said she did not know whether an entire herd was removed, but that 29 horses were taken from Forest Service land. Advocates are asking that 13 of the older horses be returned to the wild, including the 19-year-old stallion and a 21-year-old mare from his band. At the moment, they are up for adoption, although BLM acknowledges that it is unlikely that such old horses will find homes.

"Band stallions do not make appropriate adoption animals," Kathrens said. "He now has a tag around his neck with a number on it, and the light has just gone off in his beautiful eyes."

A bill called the Restore Our American Mustangs Act passed the House earlier this year and is awaiting Senate action. The ROAM Act would remove the 2004 amendment that allowed the unrestricted sale of older or unadopted wild horses. It would also ban the killing of healthy horses, emphasize contraceptives over roundups and captivity, increase the amount of acreage where wild horses can roam, and improve the adoption process.

A support rally will take place at Capitol Hill next Tuesday, three days after the Northern Virginia adoption. Advocates, including the Cloud Foundation, will attend the advisory board meeting and meet with senators.

"We really need some intervention from higher up," Kathrens said, "like God, for instance, or the presidential level."

Diane Tennant, (757) 446-2478, diane.tennant@pilotonline.com
Full article:
http://hamptonroads.com/2009/09/adoption-icons-american-west

Saving America's Horses, A Nation Betrayed

Animal Law Coalition is on the advisory board for this landmark film.

WFLF Humanion Films has announced the release of their Issue Trailer for Saving America's Horses, A Nation Betrayed. The focus of the issue trailer is to clearly define the mission of the film production which is to protect ALL HORSES from slaughter. Representatives are confident that the trailer will raise awareness and support for the CAUSE and hope to inspire more support for the making of the film through completion.

Watch the Issue Trailer Now!

The Official Film Trailer will be released later in November and will reflect the tone of the film with an introduction to the story lines.

Please tell your friends and family about SAVING AMERICA'S HORSES, A NATION BETRAYED. Please support this film project and help us to save America's Horses. We are their voice and they need to be heard.

Director, Producer ~ Katia Louise
Associate Producer ~ Debra Lopez

Executive Advisory Board
Paula Bacon
Laura Allen, Executive Director, Animal Law Coalition
Dr Nena Winand
John Holland
Julie Caramante
Shelley Abrams

Other Ways To Help

1) Tell-A-Friend
SAVING AMERICA'S HORSES also relies on you to spread the word about our project. Asking a friend or family member to sign up for our action alert is a great way to help the horses!

Learn more.

2) Support this Film

Saving America's Horses, the documentary film allows you to help save horses by helping us to give them a voice. In addition to donations, you can collaborate! From sharing your personal stories, to banner exchange, to sponsorships, to submitting a statement, to contributing goods and services to in-kind support, our film website has it all.

Learn more

3) Visit http://wflendangeredstreamlive.org/
to help expose the truth behind inhumane treatment of horses and bring them the support they need. Listen to our audio documentaries and radio programming for animal protection at WFL Endangered Stream Live.

Listen to Ginger Kathrens on "The Future of Cloud's Herd"

ACTION ALERT: CLOUD CAPTURED - PLEASE HELP THESE HORSES

PLEASE FORWARD FAR AND WIDE.

By now you have all heard about the round up of the Pryor Range horses and that Cloud has been captured. It is heartbreaking but we must take action. This is new information I have received that is very helpful in what to say when you make the calls. I am cutting and pasting to make it more concise I did not write it.

Maybe Cloud will be returned (maybe) but the other horses will be sold and that means slaughter. We need EVERYONE to pitch in and make the calls. If the lines are busy - try again later.

People to call – read talking points below first:

- President Obama and VP Biden – 202-456-9000 and 202-456-1111

- White House switchboard number is 202-456-1414 – call your Senators and Congressmen

- Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel's number is 202-456-6798.

- Michelle Obama's number is 202-456-7064.

- BLM Director Abbey - 202-208-3801

These talking points will help in a couple of ways: 1) they should help you stay on track when you make your calls. Bold sentences are your main point. Supporting stuff is underneath each main point.

2) When you make calls, you will have limited time to make your case and this should help...even if you leave it on a voice mail at a TV station.

3) We will be a unified voice. It will be easier for us to be recognized in our message if we are saying the same things....over and over and over again.

TALKING POINTS – choose one or two

a.. Pryor Mountain Wild Horse Range Gather, herd of PBS', Cloud, wild stallion of the Rockies - Release Cloud the stallion's herd and all the others back to their home
b.. We demand the release of the wild horses that have been illegally torn away from their home in the Pryor Mountain Wild Horse Range, designated as such in 1968 for the purpose of legally declaring this Federal land as wild horse range.
c.. Put the wild horses already gathered back where they belong. The BLM has removed them illegally. They have a home-the 38,000 acres of rangeland in the Pryor Mountain Wild Horse Range. The Cloud Foundation is working on a plan b, but the horses need to go back to their home.
d.. The Cloud Foundation is working on keeping the horses and the family bands intact
e.. These families are well-known to all and we do not want to see them torn apart.
f.. We will never give up on the wild horses, especially these. This herd is the last of a line that is the lineage of the horses of the Spanish Conquistadors. BLM is wiping away their genetic viability. This herd is too special to lose. It is our heritage
g.. Bureau of Land Management is operating autonomously, against the will of Congress and Americans, ignoring massive public outcry and the law. They do not respond to FOIA requests, phone calls, letters and even a direct letter from the chairman of the Congressional subcommittee on public lands to suspend what they are doing and show their plans. An audit is needed to reign in this rogue government agency. Americans are being lied to by BLM; being duped into believing that this gather and others are "necessary," when there is plenty of open range. (BLM has in many cases fenced horses away from essential water and then used the word "necessary" when they died of thirst.)

You can't leave a message at Obama's number but you can email.
E-mail Obama

You can leave a message for the BLM through Salazar's number.

202-208-3100 press 5 and leave a message telling them to stop the roundup of the Pryor Mountain Wild Horses immediately.

You can leave a message for BLM Director Abbey. They tell you to call another number but leave a message anyway.

202-208-3801

This is the number Abbey's office tells you to call. A lady named Debbie answers and will argue with you for 20 minutes if you have the time.

866-468-7826

............ ......... ......... ......... ......... ......... ......... ......... .

Cloud blog / news / video http://thecloudfoundation.wordpress.com/

After a long day in the Pryor Mountains, Ginger Kathrens, producer of the Cloud PBS Nature series (Director, www.thecloudfoundat ion.org ) took the time to appear on Blog Talk Radio Monday night. She is inspirational!
"I think we can do it, we just have to do it together." - Ginger Kathrens.
You can listen to the show later at http://www.blogtalkradio.com/wflendangeredstreamlive/2009/09/08/The-Future-of-Clouds-Herd
Ginger said, "They say there are no accidents." Monday on the Pryor Mountains, Ginger tells us, an unusually fierce wind blew down the mountain just when Cloud was being herded towards the chute. As soon as he stepped into the pen, the wind stopped.

Photo: Cloud and his black mare - as they were rounded up Sept 7 2009
GOOD NEWS - UPDATE ON CLOUD FROM GINGER:

Cloud will be released – as long as members of his band are healthy he will be released. Maybe not tomorrow but in a couple of days.

I know many of us are feeling discouraged, after all the calls - It feels as if what we're doing isn't working.
Here is what Ginger said about getting discouraged. Just hit redial. Get over it and get on the phone. Keep calls, emails coming in, send notices out to everybody.
These things take time. If somebody says they don't want to talk with you - and she has trouble with that too - "don't go hide in a corner, call back again!"
"Don’t feel helpless - it doesn’t do any good. Lift yourself up and say how many people do I know, how many can I call on to make a difference." Radio, local papers, try to get a hold of these people, she suggests. Cloud is a great human interest story!

PBS gives permission - media outlets can use images from the PBS Cloud series if they want beautiful pictures of the herd.
Children are enamored of the Cloud story around the world. They are in the Breyer models that kids play with. Saving Cloud's herd will make a huge difference for other wild horses.
The Cloud Foundation is spending a lot of money on the legal battle. They have a donate page on the website if you want to help. http://www.thecloudfoundation.org/index.php/donate-now
---
Strategy: We are no longer wasting our time calling the BLM wild horse and burro number. We are calling the President, VP, Salazar and Abby, our legislators.
If Ginger can do this, we can too. Cloud does not look defeated in his picture above. He looks like a leader.

There is very little time left. If each person on the NY team recruited just one more voice, New York would roar all the way to Billings MT!
Thanks for all you do,
Cheers Susan
OBAMA / BIDEN NUMBERS TO CALL (leave a message for both)

202-456-9000 or 202-456-1111
email the President: http://www.whitehouse.gov/contact/
Secretary of Interior Ken Salazar
Call: 202-208-3100
email: feedback@ios.doi.gov
BLM (Bureau of Land Management) Director Bob Abbey
Call: 202-208-3801 or 866-468-7826
Fax: 202-208-5242
e-mail Robert_Abbey@blm.gov
............ ......... ......... ......... ......... ......... ......... ......... .........

This is heartbreaking!
Why hasn't the Obama administration listened to us? We were there for him.
What can we do now?

From: rjyager
Date: Mon, Sep 7, 2009 at 8:54 PM

Cloud has been captured. The rules keep changing. First only the horses within the range area were to be rounded up. Now others are being sought. Horses over 10 were to be adopted - now they will be sold after 9/26.
Read the latest news at Cloud Foundation blog
http://thecloudfoundation.wordpress.com/
Please call your reps and media contacts and forward to your lists
Robin

BREAKING NEWS! CLOUD AND HERD TARGETED ON MONDAY FOR HELICOPTER
CHASE DOWN DANGEROUS MOUNTAIN TERRAIN Nature News Famous
Mustangs Torn From Their Home
More Legends of the West Being Lost to A Rogue Government Agency
Lovell, Wyoming 9/04/2009 04:57 PM GMT (TransWorldNews)

In the searing 90-plus degree heat the first five mustangs, of
less than 200 remaining in Montana's only wild horse herd, are
driven into corrals by a helicopter, forcibly removed from the
rangeland they have occupied for hundreds of years. The Pryor
wild horses and one palomino stallion in particular, Cloud, have
been made world famous by the PBS Nature documentaries, the third
of which will air this fall.

Despite public outcry over their reasons for this action, and
clear failures in NEPA (National Environmental Policy Act)
compliance, BLM is moving forward with the controversial
helicopter roundup expected to last 4-10 days. "This unique
little herd is being destroyed starting now," says Ginger
Kathrens, Volunteer Executive Director of The Cloud Foundation.
"70 horses and some foals are to be removed from their
spectacular home in the wild and this will leave us with a
non-viable herd."

Dr. Gus Cothran, Ph.D. of Texas A&M University said today that
this roundup "is overkill." Critics of the removal say that it is
clear that the BLM is refusing to listen to science and the
wishes of the American public.

Legal efforts are continuing, but have so far not stopped this
action. A Temporary Restraining Order request by The Cloud
Foundation and Front Range Equine Rescue was denied in Federal
District Court on September 2. BLM has contracted with the
federally indicted Dave Cattoor to round up America's most famous
wild horse herd. A wild horse advocate explains the situation
further in a youtube.com video posted online via
http://www.thecloudfoundation.org/
.

Wild horse advocates and biologists say that by going against
their own environmental assessment for this removal, BLM is
ignoring the unique genetics of this herd. The agency plans to
take off all the wild horses who live permanently in the Custer
National Forest - from the 21-year-old mare known as Grumpy
Grulla, to Conquistador, the 19- year-old band stallion as well
as young foals. According to local residents and historians, the
wild horses are simply living the way they lived before the BLM
or Forest Service were even established. "Removing an entire
subpopulation is not the way to manage a small, precious and
unique population of animals," continues Kathrens. "People enjoy
seeing the horses in the Custer National Forest and extensive
evidence exists that these horses have been in this area for
centuries. It is vitally important that this range be legally
expanded to allow this herd to grow to safe, genetically viable
numbers."

The BLM claims that it is necessary to remove 70 horses in order
to "maintain a thriving natural ecological balance." Don Glenn,
Chief of the Wild Horse and Burro Program has been dispatched to
the Lovell, Wyoming area due to the controversy surrounding this
roundup, unprecedented in size and scope for the Pryor Wild Horse
Mountain Range. Glenn asserts that much of the forage in the
Pryors is either poisonous or non-nutritious.

"If the range was that poor than why do we have fat 20+ year old
horses who look like they are half that age?" asks Golde
Wallingford, owner of a Pryor Mountain Mustang. "The BLM is
feeding the American public lies and it is time for them to
stop," she continues. Wallingford, who traveled to the Pryors to
protest this roundup, noted that the range is still green in late
August after three years of above average precipitation following
a multi-year drought.

"Why are they removing nearly half the horses after the drought
is over?" asks Howard Boggess, Crow Elder and Historian.
"Everything that is against the law for me they are planning to
do to these horses.

The American public is enamored with the mustang, one of the last
symbols of freedom and the disappearing spirit of the American
West. "We are losing our wild horses on our public lands as a
rogue government agency is left unchecked. Our government has
promised it will listen to us. The public is crying out for these
wild horses and their voices are getting louder. We need our new
administration to start listening or our American mustangs will
go the way of the buffalo," Kathrens concludes.

For more information contact:

The Cloud Foundation

Valerie Kennedy, PR Relations Manager

312-371-4933

info@thecloudfoundation.org
mailto:info@thecloudfoundation.org

Nevada Herds to Be Wiped Out ! Urgent Action Needed!

Update: Nevadas Ely District BLM is planning on zeroing out 11 wild horse herds with a total population of over 600 horses, and are taking another million acres from their rangelands. The herds slated for removal are the Golden Gate -Seaman Combined, the White River & Caliente.

The final decision and approval for these plans came down on August 14, 2009, and on August 16, 2009 I did file by fax an administrative appeal and also a petition for a stay of action until my appeal can be heard. The removals are slated to begin today, August 19, 2009, and so far, no one has heard anything.

I called the Board Land people this morning to see if any action had been taken on my petition for an emergency stay, and the receptionist there informed me that it has not beed docketed yet due to a "power outage!" Of all things. Apparently, I was talking to this gal in person on the phone so I know the phone works (still) as a means of communication! Anyways, now when you call you get a machine....same at the Ely Office. Seems like they dont want to talk or deal with us or anwer any of our very good questions we put to them that they are not able to answer intelligently.

Now is the time to put the pressure on these folk to push through the petition for a stay.....the gathers could begin any time now. I wouldnt be suprized if it was happening as we speak. There is some word going round that the gathers have been put off until next Sunday. If this is so it would be wonderful, ....but what are or who are we to believe? One thing I know for sure, you can believe. If we dont start making some noise to the appropriate individuals who are in charge of hearing these appeals and petitions, we dont stand much of a chance. Right now, getting the petition for a stay heard and granted is the ONLY chance we have of saving these wild horses from capture.

Please do contact the government departments listed below by PHONE or FAX (do both!) Tell them you are inquiring about the request for a stay of the Ely, Nevada Gathers. If they dont know what you are talking about, tell them its the one your friend Chris Jubic filed on behalf of all wild horse lovers of the world. Ask that they hold off on the gathers (grant the stay) until which time the appeal can be heard. If we make enough noise about it, maybe we can do this. Why not give it our best shot?

Thanks!

CJ

--------

Board of Land Appeals

Ph. (703) 235 - 3750

Fx. (703) 235 - 8349

USDOI / Regional Solicitor

Ph. (916) 978 - 6131

Fx. (916) 978 - 5694

Ely Office BLM / District Manager

Ph. (775) 289 - 1881

Fx. (775) 289 - 1910

Below you will find the entire string of documents that I faxed to all the parties named above on Aug. 16, 2009. They are, in order of appearance, (1) The Notice & Appeal, (2) The Petition for a Stay of Action, and (3) a Letter of Request to the Regional Director of the ELM BLM Office, requesting that he exersize his discretionary powers to grant a stay pending the outcome of the appeal.



URGENT - TIME SENSITIVE


Christine A. Jubic

118 River Rd., 1St. Fl.

Johnsonville, NY 12094

(518) 753 -7791

CJubic@nycap.rr.com


Send to: Board of Land Appeals
From: Christine A. Jubic

Attention: DOCKETS ATTORNEY
Date: 8/18/09

Office location: Arlington, Va.
Office location: Johnsonville, NY

Fax number: (703) 235 - 8349
Phone number: above









Total pages, including cover:

Comments:

PLEASE NOTE that this transmittal is marked urgent. The action that is the subject of this appeal and petition is schedualed to begin on Aug. 19, 2009

Time is of the essence!

Thanking you in advance for any consideration you may give this matter. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------

NOTICE OF APPEAL AND PETITION FOR A STAY OF ACTION

In the matter of;

The August 14, 2009 Final Decision of the Ely District Office of the BLM

to remove / "zero out" entire herds of wild horses in the combined Golden Gate/ Seaman & White River

Wild Horse Herd Management Areas (HMA‘s) (now re-classified as Herd Areas (HAs) for Cattle)

Re: 4720 (NVL00000)

Date: August 16, 2009

URGENT! Action scheduled to commence on Wednesday, August 19, 2009

To: The Board of Land Appeals

Dockets Attorney

801 N. Quincy Street, Suite 300

Arlington, Va 22203



U.S. Department of the Interior

Office of the Regional Solicitor

Pacific Southwest Region

2800 Cottage Way, Room E-1712

Sacramento, Ca. 95825



Michael Herder, BLM Ely District Manager

BLM, Ely District Office

HC 33 Box 33500

702 N. Industrial Way

Ely, Nevada 89301

As a long time admirer of wild horses and a member of the Public at Large who has enjoyed viewing the Ely herds in the past and who is counting on enjoying them again in the future, I am appealing the final decision to remove these herds, in toto, as planned in the ROD mentioned above. I am also herein petitioning and praying for a stay of action pending the outcome of this appeal, and also pray for an expedited appeal as time is of the essence because the subject of my appeal is to stop an action of the Ely District BLM that is scheduled to commence on August 19. 2009, which is within two days of the writing of this plea. .

Based upon my research into the matter of these "whole herd" removals and zeroing out of wild horse lands, and bolstered recently by the findings of a case that just came down from the federal district court in Washington, DC, based upon those things, I believe the issues raised in my appeal have merit and I intend to show these things as required in my petition for a stay of action (attached);

1. The relative harm to the parties if the stay is granted or denied

2. The Likelihood of the appellants success on the merits

3. The Likelihood of Immediate and irreparable harm if the stay is not granted

4. Whether the public interest favors granting the stay.

PLEASE TAKE NOTE that on this 16th day of August, 2009, I have submitted this appeal and petition via fax to all concerned parties and have also on this same 16th day of August, 2009, duly mailed hard copies to all via the United States Postal Service First Class mail.

To these facts I do attest under threat of penalty for perjury.

Yours, etc.

___________________________

Christine A. Jubic

118 River Rd

Johnsonville, NY 12094

(518) 753 - 7791

----------------------------------------------



APPEAL



In the Matter of:

Ely District BLM

ROD dated Aug 14, 2009

Ref: 4720 (NVL00000)

I, Christine A Jubic, a wild horse advocate and a citizen of the U.S. and of the public at large, who has enjoyed viewing the Ely herds in the past and who hopes to enjoy them again at some time in the future, do herein appeal the Final Decision of the Ely District Office of the BLM to remove all wild horses from two (2) wild horse herd management areas (HMAs); the (combined) Golden Gate and Seamen HMA’s and the White River HMA, and do so appeal on the following grounds;

1. THE BLM HAS EXCEEDED ITS LEGAL AUTHORITY IN SETTING POLICIES AND MAKING DECISIONS THAT HAVE THE EFFECT OF NULLIFYING STATUTORY LAW RESULTING IN AN IMPERMISSIBLE AND UN-CONSTITUTIONAL DELEGATION OF THE LAW MAKING POWER OF THE LEGISLATURE

The provisions of the Wild Free Roaming Horses and Burros Act of 1971 (WFHBA,) a Federal Statute under 16 USC ss. 131, stipulates that wild horses are to be protected upon the lands of which they were found in 1971. The BLM used this provision of law in determining that the Golden Gate, Seaman and White River herds should be protected upon those lands as designated by the BLM as Wild Horse "Herd Management Areas." (HMAs)

The provisions of the WFRHBA also stipulates that these lands, so designated, shall be "principally" for wild horse and burro use.

Under no provision or even under the broadest interpretation of the WFHBA is there an authorization for the total "zeroing out" of whole herds and of their historic rangelands.

The decision to remove entire wild horse herds from their designated "protected" lands and to and re-classify their lands as cattle and sheep "Herd Areas" only, has the effect of rendering those relevant provisions of the WFHBA null and void. The modification, amendment or revocation of statutory law by an administrative agency results in an impermissible and unconstitutional delegation of the fundamental law-making power of the U.S. Legislature. The BLM has no authority to ignore statutory law, let alone to "amend," void or nullify it.

2. BLM ERRONEOUSLY DETERMINES "WHOLE HERD REMOVALS" AS REMOVAL OF "EXCESS" HERD-MEMBERS

The power of the BLM to remove "excess" horses or to conduct "emergency" removals is not disputed here. What is disputed by this petitioner in this appeal is the BLMs labeling these whole herd removals as needed for the removal of "excess" horses. By the BLMs own standards, rules and guidelines, "excess" horses are those number of horses that have exceeded the limits set for that particular HMA.

As stated in the Preliminary Environmental Assessment for the Seaman and White River Wild Horse Gather, dated May 26, 2009, (pg.9, para. 3.2.1.1);

"....In 1971 with the passage of the WFRHBA, the Secretary of the Interior (or Agriculture, as the case may be) was required to protect and manage wild horses and burros on the public lands administered by the Bureau of Land Management (or Forest Service, as the case may be) within their known territorial limits.(Emphasis added)

Following the passage of the WFHBA, the BLM delineated the Seaman & White River Herd Areas of which is approximately 475,100 acres on BLM land. Through land use planning (the 1986 Egan RMP) the entire herd area (100%) was designated as a Herd Management Area suitable for long term management of wild horses. The 1986 Egan RMP also established the interim "AML" for Seaman at 159 wild horses and an "AML" for the White River at 90 wild horses...."

An "AML" is the BLMs idea of the maximum number in any given herd that can graze the area sustainably. Presumably, any number of horses exceeding the number set for the "AML" would be deemed "excess" horses and therefore, those number of horses over and above the set limit for the AML would be authorized for removal - only.

The AML for Seaman Range was set at 159, and the current number of herd members as reported in the same May 26, 2009 EA (pg. 2, para 1.1 "Background,") for the Seaman Herd is 182. Elementary math and a basic understanding of the English Language will show that the excess number of horses (that number exceeding the number set for the "AML") on the Seaman Range is 23 horses,.....not all 159.

The AML for the White River Herd was set at 90 and the current number, by BLMs own report, is counted at 168, elementary math and a basic understanding of the English Language will again show that the excess number of horses on the White River Range is 78, ....not all 168.

A recent ruling in a federal district court addressed the issue of "whole herd" removals and concluded that the BLM did not have the authority to remove any horses unless they were deemed "excess" or removed due to emergency conditions. (See Colorado Wild Horse & Burro Coalition, et. al., v. Salazar, et. al., DC District Ct. )

Since there is no authority either in statutory or administrative law to deem whole herds as "excessive,"

"whole herd" removals cannot and should not be allowed to occur under the guise of the BLMs claim of "removal of excess" horses." According to BLMs plan, not only the excess horses will be removed but entire herds, and in fact all wild horses are to be permanently removed and their lands de-classified as historic and protected wild horse range. It is a far stretch for any reasonable mind to imagine that the eradication of whole herds could in any way be construed as a removal of that herds excessive numbers, since all of its numbers will have been removed."

The BLM is authorized to remove only herd-members in excess of the numbers set in the AML, or whole herds in cases of emergencies. BLMs removal of entire herds and their claim of "removing the excess" borders on the ridiculous, and there has been no claim of a need for emergency removals. Therefore, BLM is running afoul not only its own laws but of the applicable statutory laws as well. 3.

THE BLMS DETERMINATION OF "NO SIGNIFICANT IMPACT" IS IN ERROR AS BELIED UPON INFORMATION PROVIDED IN THE RECORD OF THEIR FINAL DECISION




(a) The Plan is a major undertaking under the provisions of the National Environmental Protection Act and requires the filing of a recent Environmental Impact Statement as said action will effect the wildlife and the flaura and fauna of the area

The BLMs determination of "No Significant Impact" is belied by its own record of decision, pgs. 15 & 16 secs. 3.2.4.1 where it purports that "there are no "special status" species in the area, but goes on to note ;

"... However, it is likely that several species do occur within these areas during some portion of the year, including Greater Sage Grouse, Ferruginous Hawk, Golden Eagle, Burrowing Owl, Juniper Titmouse, Prairie Falcon, Pinyon Jay, Loggerhead Shrike, Vesper Sparrow, and Gray Vireo." Also added "other "special species" may be found on these lands, including reptiles, small mammals, invertebrates, and bats."

The BLMs determination of "No Significant Impact is also belied by its own record of decision on pg. 16, para. 3.2.4.1 which states;

"...Two sensitive plant species have been documented within the Seaman and White River Herd Areas. The Currant Milkvetch and the Blazing Star.."



and by pg. 17, para 3.2.6.1 "Noxious Weeds and Invasive Species " sub-title "Affected Environment," which concludes;

"Several species of noxious weeds are present within the combined Golden Gate and Seaman range, but there are no documented weed infestations within the White River area."




In conclusion, the ROD determines that there will be a "moderate" chance of disturbance of the environment for these areas, particularly since the contractors will be using "non-certified" (invasive plant and weed-seed ridden) forage to feed the captured horses."

But see ROD, pg. 3, "Factor 2," which rates the consequences of noxious and/or invasive weed establishment in the project area as "high." The report concludes that;

"...If new weed infestations spread to the area there would be adverse effects to the surrounding native vegetation" adding also that "any increase in cheatgrass could alter the fire regime in that area."

In view of all of the above factors, coupled with the fact that the complete and permanent removal of a specific species of animal is about to be eradicated forever off of its historic rangelands, the BLMs plan can be seen for what it truly is, a drastic and major undertaking with sufficient indications that the filing of a recent Environmental Impact Statement is required before any action can be taken.

WHEREFORE, I do respectfully submit this appeal and attached Petition for a Stay of Proceedings in hopes that same will be granted.



Dated:__________________________ ___________________________________

Petitioner / Appellant

___________________________________

___________________________________

In the Matter of:

Ref: 4720 (NVL00000)






__________________

PETITION FOR A STAY OF ACTION





I, Christine A. Jubic, the appellant and petitioner, am herein petitioning and praying for a stay of action in the aforementioned matter, pending the outcome of this appeal, and also pray for an expedited appeal as time is of the essence because the subject of my appeal is to stop an action of the Ely District BLM that is scheduled to commence on August 19, 2009, which is within two days of the writing of this appeal.

RELATIVE HARMS




1. The relative harm to the BLM if the stay is granted is minimal and in fact the granting of a stay would benefit them as they would save $175, 000 which is the estimated cost of the removals ($500 x 350) Moreover, it is well established that the BLM cannot care for the 33,000 wild horses and burros it already has in its long-term holding pens, so not only would they be saving money by not rounding the horses up, they would also save money on not having to care for and feed while in captivity.

The relative harm to the wild horse and burros as well as the harm to other species of plants and animals subject to being disturbed by the removals is significant as will suffer detrimental and irreversible harm in that the wild horse herds in the Ely District will be gone. There will also be detriment and irreversible harm to the overall biodiversity and multi-use mandates of public lands and to the people who use them and enjoy viewing wild horses in the wild.

THE LIKELIHOOD OF SUCCESS




2. There is a strong likelihood of success on the administrative appeal as said appeal is not frivolous but is based on facts and evidence and findings of law. The issues raised present valid and important questions of law that can be resolved only upon a full and fair hearing of all the facts and circumstances as well as the evidence as applied to the relevant laws in this case. I am confident that upon a full and fair review of the issues raised in my appeal and in my petition for a stay of action, that the authorized deciders in this case will decide on the side of what is right and just and fair, and will grant the requested relief.

THE LIKELIHOOD OF IMMEDIATE AND IRREPARABLE HARM

3. There is a definite "likelihood" of immediate and irreparable harm if the stay is not granted. If not for the granting of a stay in this case, on Wednesday mourning, August 19, 2009, all wild horses and burros in these areas, estimated to be approximately 350 in number, will be rounded up and removed from their historic rangelands and will be stripped of their statutorily protected status as "Symbols of Our Western Heritage." In addition, they will loose 475, 100 acres of rangeland that was also legally designated to them by federal statute. There will be damage incurred to the horses. Even the BLM admits in its own reports that round up are always traumatic for the horses and oftentimes results in injuries or deaths.

Then there is the "other" kind of harm that the plaintiff and thousands upon thousands perhaps millions of other fellow members of the General Public who have a care for our wild horses will suffer when there are no more wild horses to visit upon these particular lands. Once they are gone they are gone forever. There will be no more wild horses ever upon those lands.

PUBLIC INTEREST

4. The public interest favors the granting of the stay. There is little doubt that most Americans have a special affinity for wild horses. Movies like "Fury" and "Wild Fire" helped to contribute to Americas love affair with wild horses. But the best indicator of how Americas feel about our wild horses is in the number of comments the BLM consistently receives in regards to wild horse removals. The numbers without fail always show a strong majority of those opposed to the removals, and this can be checked back over a number of years, perhaps a decade or more. Based on all of the above, it is apparent that the public interest in maintaining the herds in their free and wild state would favor the granting of a stay to allow for a full and fair review of the all the relevant facts, circumstances and law in this case. Urging also that the deciders in this case would reason that it would be in the best interest of all plant and animals species involved or potentially effected by said action, as well as in the best interest of the "caring" public large, to err on the side of caution and grant the stay of action pending the outcome of my administrative appeal.

Respectfully submitted:

________________________

Petitioner / Appellant
For more information visit the website:http://www.freewebs.com/saveourwildhorses/actionalertelynv.htm

Massive Roundup Still Planned for Cloud's Herd

Please act now to stop the destruction of this Unique Spanish Herd

Dear Friends of Cloud´s Herd in the Pryor Mountains;

We are doing everything we can through political and legal avenues to save Cloud´s herd but BLM is set on putting helicopters in the air starting around September 1st. They plan to roundup all the horses and remove over 70, including older horses, mares and foals.

The BLM and the Department of Interior are not listening to the public. They appear to be disregarding even Dr. Gus Cothran, a noted equine geneticist, who told the BLM, again, that this unique Spanish herd must be managed at minimum levels of 150-200 to keep the herd viable. Read Dr. Cothran's letter here.

BLM's plan to remove to 70 horses is unnecessary and unwise. This places more horses in danger- few good homes are available in the currently flooded horse
market. Older horses are at risk of being bought by killer buyers and others may end up in government holding at risk of being killed by the BLM. Watch my YouTube piece on this issue here. Some may even be put down after capture. This happened to horses during the recent Challis Herd round up and in the Sand Wash roundup last fall in October (view YouTube piece here).

Call and email President Obama and Vice President Biden and tell them that yo
u do not want a misguided agency destroying Americaswild horses. 202-456-9000 or 202-456-1111 or write. Tell them to intervene on behalf of the Pryor Wild Horse Herd! The BLM appears to be on a rampage to manage wild horses to extinction.

Send this brief press release (copy and paste from below) to media and friends- we must stop this unnecessary roundup now. In the Challis round up in Idahoround up just last week six horses were killed, six foals were orphaned and the majority of the 400+ horses lost their freedom. All this destruction when the range looks the best it has in over 80 years according to local residents. Read more about the Challis herd round up here.

I'm pleased to share some good news! Judge Rules to Save West Douglas Herd in Colorado. After more than a decade of legal battles and BLM's efforts to zero out the West Douglasherd in western Colorado, a judge has ruled against the BLM and in favor of the horses. This ruling is due to the enormous efforts of attorney Valerie Stanley (The Cloud Foundation's attorney) and the Colorado Wild Horse and Burro Coalition, especially Toni Moore and Barb Flores and others on the western slope, who have worked for years to save this small, historically significant herd.

Never give up. Keep calling and writing.
Thank you and happy trails,

Ginger Kathrens
Volunteer Executive Director
The Cloud Foundation
Check out our new website at www.thecloudfoundat ion.org

A Stallion is rounded up in Challis, Idaho- photo by Elisa Kline. July 2009.

PRESS RELEASE
Bureau of Land Management on Rampage to Destroy Famous Wild Horse Herd
For Immediate Release August 10, 2009
Cloud and the wild horses of Montana´s PryorMountainsare world famous but fame it appears is not going to protect the20herd from a drastic government round up planned to begin September 1st in their spectacular wilderness home.
There are currently only 190 wild horses (one year and older) living in the PryorMountains. The BLM plans to remove 70 of them, plus foals. According to the foremost equine geneticist, Dr. Gus Cothran, 150-200 adult horses are needed in the herd to ensure their genetic diversity, which is vital to their long term survival.
These 70 horses would be placed in jeopardy. Any horses over 10 years of age can be bought directly by killer buyers and transported over the Northern border to Canadian slaughterhouses or south into Mexico. Younger horses not adopted would be put into government holding with 33,000 others that the BLM has removed from the wild and has proposed killing because they can no longer afford to feed them.
BLM cites poor range condition as the reason to remove the horses but abundant snow and rain for the past two and a half years has produced wonderful range conditions according to all who have visited Cloud and his herd. The Agency is not listening to anyone. They want this herd gutted. Nearly all the mares returned to the range would be given an experimental two-year infertility drug, PZP-22.
This helicopter round up is just one among many that the BLM is trying to complete, perhaps before the Obama Administration can catch up with what is going on.
The PryorMountainwild horses are descendants of the Lewis and Clark horses who were stolen by the Crow Indians in the early 1800's. They can be traced further back to the horses brought over with the Spanish Conquistadors in 1500 making them one of the most Spanish of all wild horse herds in North America.
Please contact The Cloud Foundation for more information
www.thecloudfoundation.org
info@thecloudfoundation.org
719-633-3842

Burros to be moved off Army post

BARSTOW, Calif., July 31 (UPI) -- Wild burros are to be relocated from an Army post in California and from areas around Death Valley, federal officials said.

Burros drawn by natural springs at Fort Irwin, Calif., are disturbing the habitat of the desert tortoise, a species listed as threatened, and other native animals are being threatened when they stray into live fire areas, The Barstow Desert Dispatch reported.

"When you only have one water source ... where else are they going to go? They're going to concentrate there and have some impact," said Anthony Chavez of the Bureau of Land Management.

The Army has asked the BLM to move 40 burros away from Fort Irwin. Others will be moved from Owl Hole Springs near Death Valley.

The burros will be kept at a BLM holding facility and made available for adoption. The wild burros are descendents of domesticated donkeys brought to the Americas by Spanish colonizers.

Speak up for the wild horses

Please post & cross post. We are asking that you sign our petition. We only have until next Wednesday to get as many signatures as we can. Please help us speak up for the wild horses. It's easy to do.

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/4/speak-up-for-the-wild-horses

Keeping the Spirit Alive

Susan Pohlman, Director
Whispering Winds Equine Rescue
Whispering Winds Mustang Ranch
Roseburg, Oregon
A 501(c)(3) Non Profit Organization
(541) 679-9022

Visit our web site at: www.whisperingwindsequinerescue.com

DEATH IN THE WEST-POLL PLEASE VOTE!

Secretary Salazar Presides Over Renewal of Statue of Liberty and Death in the West
by meepdog
Share this on Twitter - Secretary Salazar Presides Over Renewal of Statue of Liberty and Death in the West
While an American Symbol of Hope is Renewed, A Living Symbol of the American West is Extinguished.
On this 4th of July, Department of Interior Secretary Ken Salazar officially reopens to the public the Statue of Liberty’s crown, a powerful symbol to the nation and the world of American ideals and hopes. Meanwhile, in the American West, his Bureau of Land Management is detailing plans for the extermination of a different but equally powerful symbol of the American spirit, the wild horse. While Secretary Salazar is "inviting the public to celebrate our great nation and the hope and opportunity it symbolizes", 33,000 wild horses are in holding pens, removed from Federal designated Wild Horse Territories, awaiting the completion of BLM plans to send them to a mass slaughter, without the proper consideration of viable and humane alternatives.

ACTION ALERT!DENOUNCE BLM's PLAN TO ZERO OUT 11 WILD HORSES HERD AREAS

From: "American Wild Horse Preservation Campaign"
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has announced a plan to zero out 11 wild horse herd areas (HAs) from Nevada?s Ely district. BLM purports to justify the wholesale elimination of the herds by blaming the horses for environmental damage while ignoring livestock impact, past and present, and other factors. For example, no consideration is given to the role that cattle fences -- including those that deprive horses of access to water -- are playing in unnaturally constricting the movements of the horses. The 11 Herd Areas represent 1,386,992 acres and are home to only 620 wild horses, or one horse per 2,237 acres! Yet BLM still means to tell us that in these vast areas wild horses are overpopulated and destroying the ecosystem.

Please protest this gross waste of tax-dollars and mismanagement of our natural resources by contacting the following:

- John F. Ruhs, District Manager, Ely District Office, BLM, HC33 Box 33500, Ely, NV 89301-9408 john_ruhs@blm.gov

- Ruth_thompson@blm.gov

- Benjamin_noyes@blm.gov

Comments must be received by Monday, July 6, 2009. Please include your name and address and the following reference: 8560(NVL0000) - Notice of Proposed Action: Elimination of all wild horses from 11 Herd Areas.

On behalf of the horses, thank you for your support,

The AWHPC Team
American Wild Horse Preservation Campaign
www.wildhorsepreservation.org

Click here to join our email list and receive the latest updates.

WILD HORSES/PRESS RELEASE

June 11, 2009- for immediate release
Documents Reveal BLM Secret Plan to Destroy Wild HorsesDocuments obtained from the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) via the Freedom ofInformation Act by a Phoenix-based non-profit, The Conquistador Program, revealshocking and detailed plans to destroy healthy wild horses in government holdingfacilities as well as those still remaining in the wild on public lands.BLM employees as well as a USDA veterinarian held weekly “Implementation Team”meetings beginning in July of 2008 in which they discussed and developedstrategies aimed at ridding BLM of thousands of mustangs. In October theycompleted a 68 page document entitled “Alternative Management Options”. Tacticsincluded in this document are reminiscent of those used to wipe out NativeAmerican tribes in the 1800s.The BLM team created scenarios for
killing mustangs using barbiturates, gunshots, or captive bolts. Bodies would be disposed of through rendering, burialor incineration. They discussed killing 1200-2000 wild horses per year. Thedocument states that “the general public would be prohibited from viewingeuthanasia.” Additionally, the Team felt that “increased support from publicrelations and management staff would also be needed to insulate those doing theactual work from the public, media and Congressional scrutiny/criticism.”“Minutes from these meetings as well as the Draft Plan reveal what amounts to‘the final solution’ for the American mustang,” states Ginger Kathrens,filmmaker and Volunteer Executive Director of The Cloud Foundation. “Despite ahuge outcry from the American public last year regarding BLM plans to kill wildhorses in holding, the agency is still pressing forward with a plan to destroyour American
mustangs both on and off the range.”Division Chief of the Wild Horse and Burro Program Don Glenn told The CloudFoundation that “no decision has been made to move forward on a large scale withthis plan, yet.”BLM meeting minutes speak for themselves. “Security at facilities and at gatherswould need to be increased to combat eco-terrorism. Having the people that arewilling to put down healthy horses at gather sites could be a problem. Havingvets putting down healthy horses at preparation facility[ies] could also be aproblem.” Meeting minutes reveal the psychological toll that employees wouldpay—“have counseling for employees and contractors that have20to euthanize thehealthy horses because it is very stressful.”The report created an option in which wild horses of all ages could be sold“without limitation”. In other words, horses could be sold directly to killerbuyers in
unchecked numbers. The Team admitted that “some wild horses will go toslaughter”.“Once they are gone, they’re gone” says Karen Sussman, President of theInternational Society for the Protection of Mustangs and Burros. “To lose thisincomparable species would be a travesty.”Team Members formulated ways in which they could circumvent the NationalEnvironmental Policy Act, asking “How many (wild horses) could be euthanizedduring a gather (roundup) without having NEPA?” BLM discussed ways tocircumvent the federal carcass disposal law (43 CFR 4730.2). Conversationsincluded how many wild horses could be rendered at the Reno Rendering plant or“disposed of in pits”. The Team concluded that “there will not be large numbersof horses euthanized during gathers or in the field. This is due to stateenvironmental laws.”Recommendations include the creation of gelding herds, and
sterilization ofmares to create non-reproductive herds in the wild in place of natural herds.The team recommended changing the sex ratio from the normal 50% males and 50%females to 70% males and 30% females. Then the experimental two-year infertilitydrug, PZP-22, would be given to all=20mares that are returned to the wild. Planscall for rounding up the wild horses every two years to re-administer the drug.“Mares on the drug will cycle monthly and, with the altered sex ratio, thesocial chaos will be dangerous and on-going,” Kathrens explains. “Any semblanceof normal wild horse society will be completely destroyed.”Kathrens has spent 15 years in the wild documenting mustang behavior for her PBStelevision documentaries which chronicle the life story of Cloud, the now famouspale palomino stallion she has filmed since birth. “Even Cloud and his littleherd in Montana are in serious danger
if BLM implements these options,” shecontinues. “The BLM plans a massive round up in Cloud’s herd beginning August30, 2009.”The BLM will not guarantee that Cloud and his family will remain free.The BLM documents referred to above and photos of wild horses are available fromThe Cloud Foundation.The Cloud Foundation, Inc.107 South 7th St.Colorado Springs, CO 80905719-633-3842719-633-3896 (fax)info@thecloudfounda tion.org
www.thecloudfoundat ion.org
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