HOUSTON, (Horseback) – Respected naturalist Craig Downer issued a year end challenge to the federal Bureau of Land Management to curtail plans to further deplete the storied herd of Pryor Mountain Mustangs in Montana. The herd is known worldwide through three PBS “Nature” documentaries by filmmaker Ginger Kathrens.

During the last “gather” of the horses In the Priors the Mustangs were stampeded down the mountain by a roaring helicopter. Among them was the band stallion “Cloud” who was featured in all three of Kathrens films. The older stallion Conquistador, also prominent in the PBS specials, was captured and not returned to the herd in an act described by wild horse advocates as “unspeakable cruelty” to an aging horse

Since that time, the National Forest Service, which manages part of the mountain, has put up a fence which denies the horses their ancestral territory and breeding grounds.

Geneticists have stated the likelihood that the herd, categorized as a breed unto itself in breed books, is already genetically depleted to the level of possible extinction. Downer cites the dwindling numbers as an unhealthy action against the herd’s future viability in a New Years Eve letter to Jim Sparks, field manager in the Billing’s Montana field office of the BLM.

The horses are scheduled to a further “gather” this year. Downer wrote:

December 31, 2011

Mr. Jim Sparks, Field Manager

BLM Billings Field Office, 5001 Southgate Drive

Billings, MT 59101

Re: “Pryor EA Comments” re: proposed roundup of Pryor Mtn. wild horses in 2012

Dear Mr. Sparks:

Greetings for 2012!  Hopefully this will be a year to reinstate true fairness for the wild horses of the Pryor Mountain and elsewhere.  I have just reviewed your Environmental Assessment and am very much opposed to your proposed plan to remove thirty mustangs from one to three years of age. There is absolutely no necessity for doing this, and this removal jeopardizes the long-term survival and adaptation of this very small herd in future times. The Pryor herd is presently stable at ca. 150 horses, and these horses are well on their way to filling their niche and self-stabilizing according to the natural world’s criteria that confer long-term survival value, rather than the artificial selection by man.  There were eighteen births balanced by eighteen deaths in this herd in 2011, indicating utterly no need for gathering these returned North American native species. The 92-117 Appropriate Management Level is a non-viable one, even according to the substandard standard BLM generally puts forth, i.e. 150 total population for an effective breeding population (Ne) of 50.  And as a wildlife ecologist well informed on this subject, I consider this level of 150 to be way low in itself, as far as long-term viability. I further consider the taking of this age group as an unwholesome undermining of the herd’s natural vitality, social well-functioning, and resilience in face of both short- and long-term survival challenges (e.g. approaching winter). I wonder just exactly what your motivations are in treating this unique and universally appreciated herd so niggardly!

The Pryor Mountain herd is a world attraction.  It should not be cut to the quick, most of all for the individual horses’ sake. This would accord with the true intent of the Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act of 1971—an act we should now be celebrating, though actions such as you propose are only causing fair-minded and sensitive people to lament what has happened to this program for national heritage species in the wild.

Please give me a cause for celebration on the 40^th anniversary of the act by adopting the NO ACTION alternative and exerting your authority to convince Custer National Forest officials to tear down that abominable fence that illegally keeps the Pryor Mountain mustangs from realizing their traditional, seasonal migrations that are guaranteed by the act, for long-realized by the wild horses both during 1971 and for many generations prior.

As one who has directly observed the Pryor Mountain mustangs and intends to continue doing so as well as to fend for their higher, fairer population numbers and resource provision, I wish you a happy and progressive New Year.

Sincerely,

Craig C. Downer, AB, MS, PHD cand.

P.O. Box 456, Minden, NV 89423-0456. Email: ccdowner@yahoo.com

WildHorseEducation@gmail.com

Editor’s Note: At least 160 horses died last year when the federal Bureau of Land Management launched it’s “gather” at the Calico comples where wild horses once had undisturbed sanctuary. Bands of horses were broken up never to see each other again.Humanitarian, journalist, and photographer Laura Leigh was in the field, as she seemingly always is. She was there when a foal had its hooves run off in a relentless helicopter chase. The incident recieved worldwide press attention. Now the BLM is at it again at Calico, and Laura is in the field.

Laura has made it her mission to record the inhumane treatment of wild horse by the federal government. She needs your financial help to continue in the field. Horseback urges all lovers of wild horses to, well, to send money to her.

RENO, (Horseback/Wild Horse Education) – Operations in this The Calico Complex began in the Granite range. Granite shares a border with the now “complete” (release to low AML in that area still to occur, update soon).

This trap site is but a few miles from the last trap used at High Rock.

Present at the “public briefing” were Gene Seidlitz (district manager for Winnemuca), Lisa Ross (public relations Winnemucca), Leslie Coakley (public relations, Elko district), the Wild Horse and burro specialist, several BLM rangers, five members of the public and one from the media.

Four loads were brought in on the first day of operation. The public briefing began late and did not allow observation of the first load of six. Three more loads were brought in that were observed.

Temperatures of observation began at 23 degrees. Light snow was present in the area but the day was relatively clear and cold with little wind.

Observation report is limited to the very last part of the drive with trap mouth hidden from view behind “gravel” mound. Observation of horses in the trap pen limited to the very first portion of the trap pens as view was obstructed by saddle horses tied to the pens and tarps draped over the loading area. Handling during loading could not be observed, although the vantage would have allowed some observation were tarps not present.

note on tarps: tarps are a new addition to the traps used by Sun J. The appearance of tarps came after the filing of legal action at Triple B. The documentation released to the public and filed in the Courts included the use of hotshots during loading as well as other disturbing images of handling during loading. Since the documents were filed no loading practices have been documented.

The “excuse” given for the tarp is that it helps animals “settle.”

This statement is disputed through observation as animals are most often given no time to settle and are loaded within minutes of capture. Most “settle time,” if any, is in the larger pens at the other end of the trap. Observation of movement of staff indicates the same practices and issues are occurring, but blocked from view.

Requests to place a camera at the alley end to capture the handling have been refused.

Each group brought into the trap (observed) took considerable time to reach vicinity of the trap.

First group observed entered the trap without incident that can be reported from the limited vantage. This group was immediately added to the first six and loaded for transport to temporary holding.

note: District manager Gene Seidlitz was quick to say “isn’t it better” to me in reference to the pilot conduct. This comment was made in reference to the current litigation efforts that have final reply due Monday. Allegations in that case include inappropriate conduct by the pilot. Among the most egregious actions documented was contact between the helicopter skid and an exhausted animal: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ObXB0Wq3nRE

Current reply documents filed with the Court from the BLM do not address the conduct or any steps taken to address conduct. The attorneys for the BLM continue to ignore that issue in favor of bringing other arguments before the Court.

Yet repetitive statements that are made to “assure” that conduct is being addressed are constantly made by personnel on the ground. Yet those statements only address those actions taken that are witnessed with no written assurance that policy or protocol affords animals any differing treatment when public is not present.

The second group observed, third group of the day, to arrive at the trap was “hot” enough to exhibit sweat and steam in the cold. This group reached the trap at aprox. 1 pm and was the “warmest” portion of the day. The steam was not as heavy as that demonstrated during operations at the Eagle Complex (January 2011) in Eastern Nevada. (Operations noted to begin at days of sub-zero temperatures. Video report view here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vw8iX7LO8g0 ) Temperatures and weather conditions do not have operational parameters within the context of wild horse roundups. Note that this agency has been documented flying in temperatures below zero and winds in excess of 30 mph. Again please note that no humane handling protocol, including temperature guidelines, has been offered in spite of public comment, petition and litigation.

Communications between the observation area and the trap were kept at minimum and radio communications were not heard. However after the above mentioned run it was documented that Gene Seidlitz did have communication with an unknown entity where he said “everything is going just fine except that group was sweaty.”

The third group (observed) arrived two and one half hours after pilot had departed the operation area. Seidlitz was not present for the final group as he had left the observation area.

This group arrived at the trap location fatigued. Several horses were documented stumbling, one horse twice.

Once in the trap these animals were prepped for loading. An older palomino mare was so exhausted that she was knocked into the panels as staff flagged animals into the loading alleys. The older mare had difficulty pushing back against the other horses and demonstrated her fatigue clearly, even with limited observation.

Decreasing sunlight halted operations for the day.

Of extreme concern is the COR decision to keep trap location in this area for at least another day, if not more. The time differential and condition of animals arriving at the trap indicate that animals are moving considerable distance. This location is also very near the border of the operations that concluded just days ago in adjoining Complex. Animals being taken may have recently expended resource fleeing previous operation area. Direction the horses came from indicate that they may be coming from the adjoining Complex area. As BLM refuses to install GPS tracking or cameras into operation helicopters only speculation of distance and terrain can occur.

However this location has proven to be convenient to contractor equipment and vehicle traffic. It is of extreme concern that apparently this location does not serve the horses supposedly being “protected” by the agency tasked with humane care by Congress for forty years.

At the temporary holding location we were informed that transport to short-term would not occur until Monday. COR was advised by Palomino Valley Center (PVC) in Sparks that the facility needed to be “cleaned.” Observations of PVC in the last week showed that facility to have a minimal population left of horses from the Triple B roundup and a few Wyoming youngsters on the current internet adoption. Also note PVC is not normally staffed for anything resembling “clean up” on Sunday.

One mare (injury to knee) was noted with information supplied that she will receive banamine and antibiotic prior to transport to PVC on Monday.

Of note at holding were the same verbal reassurances that horses were receiving food and water (in Court complaint) as no written assurance of policy has been afforded to the public.

Processing of horses was complete prior to arrival of public and no notes can be made of handling at this time.

This report is supplied by Wild Horse Education: http://wildhorseeducation.org

a registered Nevada non-profit supported solely by the public devoted to documentation toward honest dialogue

Donations are appreciated to keep our observer Laura Leigh in the field.

PLEASE read: http://artandhorseslauraleigh.wordpress.com/2011/11/14/calico-then-and-now/ for background information on what is happening in the area.

Contact: Laura Leigh, founder and president

WildHorseEducation@gmail.com

AWHPC Statement on the White House’s “Canned” Response to Our Wild Horse Petition

Photo by Laura Leigh

If you signed the Wild Horse and Burro petition on the White House’s “We the People” website, you have received the same canned response that we received from the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) director, Bob Abbey.

We are as frustrated and disappointed as you are with this insulting and dismissive response to the sincere concern of thousands of American citizens who seek reform of the costly and cruel federal Wild Horse and Burro Program.

We wanted to share our letter to President Obama’s chief of staff, William Daley, highlighting the inadequacy of the response and the White House’s utter failure to consider this issue, as promised in the “We the People” initiative.

To the thousands of you who took the time to sign the petition – WE THANK YOU and promise to continue to fight for our wild horses and burros. We hope that you will continue to join us.

18 November 2011

William Daley, Chief of Staff

The White House

1600 Pennsylvania Avenue

Washington, DC 20500

Dear Mr. Daley:

I am writing on behalf of the American Wild Horse Preservation Campaign and the thousands of Americans who signed the “We the People” petition titled “Protect Wild Horses and Burros; Reform Inhumane Interior Department Management Program That Wastes Tax Dollars” to register our grave disappointment with the November 17, 2011 response from the White House. The petition calls on the Obama Administration to stop the Interior Department’s Bureau of Land Management (BLM) from wasting millions of tax dollars to roundup and remove wild horses by the tens of thousands from public lands in the West, and to instead implement a cost-effective policy to manage these national icons on the range using proven and humane cost-effective methods.

The White House’s canned response to this petition, signed by thousands of American citizens, was authored, not by a White House policy official, but rather by BLM Director Bob Abbey - the very individual responsible for the mismanagement of the federal Wild Horse and Burro Program, which is the subject of the petition.

In unveiling the “We the People” initiative, the White House promised “a new way to petition the Obama Administration” and that “White House staff will review” the issue. However, there was nothing new in the response. The White House merely delivered the old familiar BLM rhetoric that has been used for the past several years to rationalize the agency’s mismanagement and waste of tax dollars. Included is the touting of a “new strategy” that is being implemented despite the receipt of tens of thousands of public comments opposing the majority of the strategy’s components.

Had we, the people who signed the petition, wanted a response from the BLM, we would have written to the BLM. Or better yet, since the response is just a cut-and-paste of BLM propaganda, we could have read it on the agency’s website and saved ourselves the considerable time and effort it took to log into the White House’s website and sign the petition!

President Obama has the full authority to reform the federal wild horse and burro program and could do so with one telephone call to his Secretary of the Interior. The fact that the White House didn’t even take the time to review this petition is a slap in the face to the American citizens who believed in the President’s promise that their concerns would be seriously considered. As a result, we are left to conclude that the entire “We the People” website is little more than a re-election campaign gimmick.

We conclude this letter with a final plea for President Obama’s attention to this issue and a request for a meeting with White House staff to discuss badly needed reform.  To such a meeting we would bring wild horse and range experts to discuss the humane, cost-effective solutions, which have already been proposed but continue to be ignored by the BLM and Mr. Abbey.

It’s time that President Obama intervened in this issue to fulfill his promise for hope and change for the future.

We await your prompt response.

Sincerely,

Suzanne Roy

Campaign Director

American Wild Horse Preservation Campaign

Photo by Terry Fitch>

WASHINGTON, (BLM) – The Bureau of Land Management today announced its tentative fall-winter schedule for gathering wild horses and burros from overpopulated herds on Western public rangelands. The gathers are needed to bring herd sizes into balance with other rangeland resources and uses, as required by Federal law and approved land-use plans. Along with removals, the fall-winter gathers will be used to apply a fertility- control vaccine during the ideal time (from November through February) for maximum efficacy.

In the new fiscal year (2012), which began October 1, the BLM plans to apply several population growth-suppression techniques to approximately 2,000 wild horses. Methods to be analyzed in gather-related environmental assessments will include applying the fertility-control vaccine porcine zona pellucida (PZP); adjusting sex ratios in some herds to favor males; and incorporating geldings as components of breeding herds. All of these measures are aimed at reducing the number of on-the-range pregnancies.

The public and media are invited to observe the gathers. Observation points will be determined by the BLM in a manner that recognizes the need for good viewing sites, along with the need to ensure viewer and animal safety.

All helicopter-driven wild horse gathers will be completed by Feb. 28. The tentative dates of the fall-winter gathers can be accessed at http://on.doi.gov/qrJHBU

The BLM estimates that approximately 38,500 wild horses and burros (about 33,000 horses and 5,500 burros) are roaming on BLM-managed rangelands in 10 Western states based on the latest data available, compiled as of February 28, 2011. Wild horses and burros have virtually no natural predators and their herd sizes can double about every four years. As a result, the agency must remove thousands of animals from the range each year to protect rangeland resources, such as wildlife habitat, from the impacts of overpopulation. The 1971 Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act mandates that once the Interior Secretary “determines…that an overpopulation exists on a given area of the public lands…he shall immediately remove excess animals from the range so as to achieve appropriate management levels.”

The BLM manages more land – over 245 million acres – than any other Federal agency. This land, known as the National System of Public Lands, is primarily located in 12 Western states, including Alaska. The Bureau, with a budget of about $1 billion, also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. The BLM’s multiple-use mission is to sustain the health and productivity of the public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations. The Bureau accomplishes this by managing such activities as outdoor recreation, livestock grazing, mineral development, and energy production, and by conserving natural, historical, cultural, and other resources on public lands.

Federal Judge “Deeply Concerned” Over BLM Defense

HOUSTON, (WHFF) – Reno Nevada Federal Judge Howard McKibben  has granted a temporary restraining order against the continuation of documented helicopter pilot conduct at the Bureau of Land Management’s Triple B wild horse roundup in Eastern Nevada. Citing his authority to enjoin an agency’s conduct where their actions have been demonstrated to be “in violation of an Act.”
“I am deeply concerned,” Judge Mckibben stated to Eric Petersen, the BLM legal counsel, “that declarations presented to the Court by the agency do not address the issue, but simply deny wrong doing.”

Asked for comment, BLM’s chief Washington spokesman, Tom Gorey, told Horseback Online,  ”The judge’s ruling is being reviewed by our Solicitors and we have no further comment at this time.”

Judge Mckibben went on to recite the only declaration of the four presented to the Court, that addressed an instance where video taken by Plaintiff Laura Leigh of Wild Horse Education (WHE) and the Wild Horse Freedom Federation (WHFF) shows a BLM contract pilot coming dangerously close to an exhausted horse apparently making contact with the animal was in direct contrast to what was recorded. He stated that the declaration by “defendant was not what he observed in the video as he could see an exhausted animal and the pilot apparently making contact. He said he did not appreciate the ‘blame the horse’ direction of the defendant’s statements.

Although McKibben did not rule in plaintiff’s favor on other  alleged violations, he did verbally address the defendants. For example in the insufficient water assertion McKIbben said that if the horses drain the water they should simply be given more.

“I was honored to have the opportunity to bring these issues into the Courtroom,” stated Leigh’s attorney Gordon Cowan of Reno. “This is a beginning to addressing this most basic premise of an Act of Congress that still has significant public interest.”

Mckibben also noted that if the BLM brings a helicopter contractor back to Triple B, as stated in Alan Shepherd’s (BLM) declaration, “this Court will be watching

HOUSTON, (Horseback) – The American Association of Equine Practitioners has issued a long awaited report  that is critical of the federal Bureau of Land Management’s use of helicopters to stampede wild horses. In fact, in their recommendations, they told the agency to back off.

“While the task force thought the use of helicopters as observed during the gathers of horses from the range was humane, all contract helicopter pilots should adopt conservative flying patterns that allow a safe buffer distance between the helicopter and the horses, and between the helicopter and the ground. “

The report was also critical of BLM’s callous veterinary procedures and treatment of the horses, including the lack of anesthesia. 

“A uniform surgical anesthesia protocol should be in place and reviewed with all contract

veterinarians concerning surgical procedures performed at all BLM horse management sites.”

Critics have been highly critical of BLM vets. At least one veterinarian hired by the government was not licensed to practice in the state where he was working.

At least one recommendation reflected on the BLM’s notoriously inconsistent record keeping on the numbers of wild horses.

“The task force encourages current efforts by the BLM to produce a centralized database to track the history of all horses in the BLM program. The records should include positive or negative trends in adoption programs and outcomes of socially productive programs like those in place at certain prisons.” 

It also noted the need for improvement in biosecurity after outbreaks last year of strangles and pigeon fever. 

“Biosecurity standards and protocols should be adopted at short‐term holding facilities in order to reduce the spread of the bacteria Streptococcus equi subspecies equi, commonly known as strangles, and minimize outbreaks of this and other infectious diseases.”

Photo by Laura Leigh 
 
 
WASHINGTON, (BLM) – The Bureau of Land Management  is requesting public nominations to fill three national Wild Horse and Burro Advisory Board positions, which are set to expire on Jan. 8, 2012. Nominations are for a three-year term and are needed to represent the following categories of interest: wild horse and burro advocacy, veterinary medicine (equine science), and general public interest (with special knowledge of wild horses and burros, wildlife, animal husbandry, or natural resource management).

The Board advises the BLM, an agency of the Interior Department, and the Forest Service, an agency of the USDA, on the management and protection of wild free-roaming horses and burros on public lands administered by those agencies. The BLM announced its request for nominations in Monday’s (Aug. Federal Register.The nine members on the Advisory Board represent a balance of interests. Each member has knowledge or special expertise that qualifies him or her to provide advice in one of the following categories: wild horse and burro advocacy, wild horse and burro research, veterinary medicine, natural resources management, humane advocacy, wildlife management, livestock management, general public interest, and public interest (with special knowledge of wild horses and burros). Members must also have a demonstrated ability to analyze information, evaluate programs, identify problems, work collaboratively, and develop corrective actions.

Get the latest information and resources on common behavior problems and approaches to behavior modification in the breakthrough work Understanding Horse Behavior.
Any individual or organization can nominate one or more persons to serve on the Advisory Board; individuals can also nominate themselves. In accordance with Section 7 of the Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act, Federal and state government employees are not eligible to serve on the Board, whose members serve three-year terms, on a staggered-term basis, with one-third of the Board subject to appointment each year.

The Board meets at least two times a year, and the BLM Director might call additional meetings when necessary. Members serve without salary, but are reimbursed for travel and per diem expenses according to government travel regulations.
The BLM is accepting nomination letters plus resumes that include the nominee’s name, address, profession, relevant biographical information, references, endorsements, and specific category of interest. Nominations should be sent by Sept. 22, 2011, to the National Wild Horse and Burro Program, Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management, 20 M Street, S.E., Room 2134LM, Attn: Sharon Kipping, Washington, D.C. 20003. Information can be faxed to Kipping at 202/912-7182 or e-mailed to skipping@blm.gov. If you have questions, please call Kipping at 202/912-7263.

Groups call for moratorium on wild horse roundups;
seek immediate suspension of summer helicopter stampedes to prevent tiny foals from being chased and separated from mothers

ELY, Nevada (ASPCA) – The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, the nation’s oldest animal welfare organization, and the American Wild Horse Preservation Campaign , a national coalition, today released a video documenting the inhumane treatment of young mustang foals during the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) Triple B roundup currently underway in northeastern Nevada.

“Tiny foals are being chased by helicopters for miles in the extreme desert heat,” said Matt Bershadker, senior vice president of ASPCA Anti-Cruelty. “Once captured, these young, unweaned babies are separated from their mothers and forced to stand in the hot sun for up to seven hours without access to water. These horses are living symbols of our nation’s history, and it is shameful that the agency charged with protecting these iconic creatures is recklessly chasing young foals to death.”

The video taken August 2-4, 2011, by Deniz Bolbol, on behalf of the ASPCA and AWHPC, shows a helicopter relentlessly chasing a tiny foal who becomes exhausted and unable to run farther, even as the helicopter hovers menacingly. Other foals fall behind and are roped by wranglers.

In a letter to Dean Bolstad, Acting Division Chief for the BLM’s wild horse and burro program, the animal welfare groups noted that the majority of horses who have died in the Triple B roundup to date have been foals. They called upon the BLM to implement a moratorium on all roundups pending the results of a National Academy of Sciences review of the troubled federal program. Barring that, the groups demanded an immediate suspension of all summer roundup activities to avoid the stampeding of tiny vulnerable foals, as well as other horses in the high temperatures and low water conditions of the desert at this time of year.

“Tiny foals are still developing and their hooves are tender and vulnerable,” said Suzanne Roy, AWHPC Campaign Director. “The trauma inflicted on these babies during the helicopter stampede and as a result of separation from their mothers can be deadly. For the survivors, the damage can last a lifetime. Wild horses are protected as national symbols of freedom and their mistreatment at the hands of the federal government must end immediately.”

The Triple B roundup began on July 20, 2011. As of Sunday, August 7, 2011, 846 mustangs have been captured and nine horses have been killed, including six foals. The BLM is targeting 1,726 wild horses for permanent removal from the range. The roundup will leave just 472 wild horses in this vast, 1.7 million acre public lands complex. Meanwhile, the BLM authorizes nine times that number of privately owned livestock to graze these public lands and continues to violate the Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act of 1971, which was passed to protect wild horses and burros from capture and preserve the land used by them.

By Steven Long, photo by Terry Fitch,     HOUSTON, (Horseback) – Within hours of an adverse ruling for wild horse advocates attempting to halt a Navade “gather” and stampede in the heat of summer, a federal appellate court has granted a temporary restraining order. The federal Bureau of Land Management will be unable to proceed with it’s planned roundup, according to the Chicago based Equine Welfare Alliance, a consortium of more than 800 horse advocates and scores of equine welfare organizations. 

“Rachel Fazio, attorney for plaintiffs, The Cloud Foundation, Craig Downer and Lorna Moffatt, went to the Ninth Circuit Court with an emergency motion immediately after getting the negative ruling today at 4 PM by U.S. District Court Judge McKibben in Reno,” said Vicki Tobin, EWA vice president and director. ” The Ninth Circuit has granted a temporary injunction while they review the merits of the motion. So, the wild horses of the planned Triple B roundup will have a brief reprieve. The hope is that the three Judges who look at the case will stop the roundup until the Appeal has been heard in August.”

the court grants temporary injunctive relief. Appellees are enjoined from the

round-up of wild horses in the HMAs and Triple B Complex areas until further

order of the court.”

Group urges real-time cameras, temperature restrictions, more fertility control; Summer gather operations could resume in days

Photo by Laura Leigh,   

WASHINGTON, (HSUS) – \— The Humane Society of the United States released a report it recently submitted to the Bureau of Land Management, calling on the agency to make several critical improvements to its standard operating procedures (SOP) for wild horse gathers. The report calls on the agency to conduct a fair and unbiased comprehensive evaluation of its gather SOPs to ensure that these policies are consistent with the most up-to-date science available on wild horse behavior and focus on the immediate and long-term needs of the animals involved in gather operations. These proposed recommendations would immediately enhance the transparency, humaneness and efficiency of these controversial operations. 

“The BLM has faced withering criticism over its decisions to gather and remove too many horses from public lands and to conduct its gathers in ways that cause harm and suffering to the horses,” said Wayne Pacelle, president and CEO of The HSUS. “If BLM is going to continue to gather horses, it must rehaul its procedures, and this report provides a blueprint for that.”

The report comes just days before the BLM could resume summer gather operations in Western states, and one of its most critical recommendations is to set acceptable temperature ranges for conducting gather operations. In the past, the BLM has failed to suspend helicopter drive trapping gather operations in extreme weather conditions. Such conditions undoubtedly increase the risk for gather-related injuries, illnesses and deaths and may have contributed, in part, to wild horse deaths that have occurred at gathers conducted in the months of July and August when temperatures at Herd Management Areas in the Western states are known to exceed 90 degrees. To minimize and/or eliminate the loss of lives at future gathers, The HSUS report recommends that the BLM err on the side of caution and animal welfare by refraining from conducting helicopter drive trapping gathers in temperatures above 90 degrees or below 32 degrees until a proposed expert panel can develop performance-based standards.

To improve transparency, the report also recommends the installation of real-time cameras on contractor helicopters, traps, corrals and holding facilities that would not only provide BLM personnel with the ability to better observe and direct gather operations from a safe location, but it would also serve as a powerful tool for evaluating and improving existing gather procedures and provide the public with the ability to observe and document gather activities remotely via live-streaming on the Internet. 

As a broader strategic management issue, The HSUS strongly recommends that the BLM increase its use of the fertility control agent Porcine Zona Pellucida (PZP) to manage wild horse and burro populations, and that these population control programs be designed to inoculate the appropriate ratio of total mares in a herd (between 65 percent and 85 percent) between November and February in order to optimize the benefits of this more humane and cost effective management tool.

Since September 2010, the BLM has received more than 55,000 comments from the public on the agency’s “Wild Horse and Burro Program Strategy Development Document” and the “Proposed Strategy: Details of the BLM’s Proposed Strategy for Future Management of America’s Wild Horses and Burros.” Nearly all of these comments criticized the BLM’s management program and urged more protection of wild horses and burros.