October 31, 2007

• A crafty political maneuver by Nevada Senator Harry Reid pushes through confirmation to a top post in the U.S. Department of the Interior that circumvented months of opposition by Oregon Senator Ron Wyden, who based his concerns on ethics questions as well as attempting to demand accountability of the Department and the current Secretary of the Interior, Dirk Kempthorne. The appointment was necessary to replace former U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Deputy Assistant Secretary Julie MacDonald, who resigned amid controversy. The Inspector General determined MacDonald had broken federal rules and should be punished for bullying federal scientists and improperly leaking information. Randi Spivak, executive director of American Lands Alliance stated, " The Department of the Interior is rife with political interference. Kempthorne has not come close to making a commitment to scientific integrity.....The spotlight needs to shine on Kempthorne. Is he going to get that house in order?" Senator Reid successfully ended Senator Wydens attempt to pressure the Department and Secretary into much needed reform. Thanks Harry!!! http://www.denverpost.com:80/news/ci_7324628
• 15 or more of 59 Belgian draft horses were killed or had to be euthanized in what was described as a "horrific accident" Saturday night in Wadsworth, Illinois. A packed double-decker semi the horses were being transported in on their way to auction in Minnesota overturned, causing dozens of firefighters and volunteers to work for more than five hours to free the horses from the wreckage. Questions about transport laws and violations have arose due to the horses being crammed into a such a tiny trailer, which is being cited as a contributing factor to the carnage. Links to stories and videos:
• http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-horse_weboct29,0,5960426.story?coll=chi-navrailbusiness-nav
• http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-071028horsecrash-photogallery,0,5303145.photogallery?coll=chi_home_util
• http://cbs2chicago.com/northsuburbanbureau/draft.horse.crash.2.414718.html
• http://wgntv.trb.com/
• http://abclocal.go.com/wls/story?section=local&id=5731185
• http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-071029horses-wn,0,2299462.worldnowvideo?coll=chi_home_util
• The reward for information that leads to the arrest and conviction of the person or people responsible for the 2001 and 2005 wild horse shootings on the Outer Banks has just been increased to $12,000 by the Humane Society of the United States. The Corrolla Wild Horse fund has had a standing offer of $9,500 in this case. Corrolla's wild horses in the Outer Banks' are descendants from the mid-16th century Spanish explorers with an estimated 92 wild horses remaining. The American Livestock Breed Conservancy lists the Colonial Spanish Mustang breed as "threatened". http://www.dailypress.com/news/dp-now-reward.o30,0,152667.story
• "The extended drought and poor range conditions might lead to the deaths of hundreds, perhaps thousands, of wild horses this winter, state officials say." The fate of hundreds of Virginia Range wild horses, located on 287,000 acres in Western Nevada, is being considered with alternatives including sterilization. http://politics.lasvegassun.com/2007/10/drought-endange.html
• "Nevada's Wild Horses: Soon Gone Forever?" A story published last year by Nevada Investigative Reporter, George Knapp, that provides several links to previous stories about wild horse and burro management in Nevada and the Las Vegas area. http://lasvegasnow.com/Global/story.asp?S=5425086

October 30, 2007

• "Wild Horses-An American Romance", is a production of the Nebraska ETV Network in partnership with South Dakota Public Television. Also equipped with its own promotional website that reads like a BLM textbook with such claims as "in recent years, thousands of wild horses have died on federal ranges of starvation and thirst" and listing Slaughter as the top option in their "Solutions" section. A whole host of inaccurate and unresearched facts and statistics are included as well with claims that BLM tries to keep the wild horse population under 40,000 (accurate number is 24,500 and falling), that cattle, big game and wild horses are in a "thriving ecological balance", that BLM does intense monitoring of rangeland resources to determine if wild horses or burros need to be removed, and helicopter captures are conducted under strict, humane procedures. The website touts itself as educational with special emphasis for teachers and students and includes links to BLM "approved" organizations. http://net.unl.edu/artsFeat/wildhorses/wh_dilemma/wh_dilemma_intro.html
• Kiger Mustangs, one of the most prized wild horses in America due to their strong Spanish Mustang ancestry, will be available for adoption November 8-10, at the Wild Horse Corral in the Harney County Fairgrounds in Burns, OR. http://www.oregonlive.com/sports/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/sports/1193621110206150.xml&coll=7

October 29, 2007

• Public comments and input are due by October 31, 2007 for the National Wild Horse and Burro Advisory Board Meeting to be held November 5, 2007 in Portland, OR. For more information on requirements and where to send comments, see "Let Em Know" blog post or log on to: http://www.blm.gov/wo/st/en/info/newsroom/2007/october/NR_071001.html
• BLM Nevada Statewide Resource Advisory Council Meeting, Thursday, November 15, 2007 at Gold Dust West, 2171 Highway 50 East, Carson City, Nevada.
• BLMs monthly Internet Adoption of Wild Horses and Burros still open for bidding. To view horses and burros, go to: https://www.blm.gov/adoptahorse/onlinegallery.php
• Jolene's Horse Rescue of Palmdale, CA has put out a call for help for the many Southern Californian displaced horses. In addition to feed, they also need fly masks, halters, and lead ropes. Updates will be posted at www.jolenehorserescue.com or contact Jolene's Horse Rescue, 36180 Valley Springs Rd, Palmdale, CA 93550, Phone: (661) 533-5938

October 28, 2007

• Letter sent by Evelyn Braile to the Bismark Tribune protesting the use of helicopters to remove wild horses from public lands on the grounds that helicopter removals is inhumane. Many comments protest the "liberal" whining of the author who advocates humane treatment for the wild horses. http://www.bismarcktribune.com/articles/2007/10/26/news/opinion/letters/doc47214a14242d3936373499.txt#blogcomments
• Willie Nelson takes a firm stand on horse slaughter and poignantly acknowledges how America's wild horses are being managed to extinction and sent to slaughter. Includes a heartfelt plea for public involvement to contact Congress and urge them to finally protect Americas horses from this greed-based suffering and exploitation. Comments are welcome! http://willienelsonpri.com/peace/474/willie-nelson-writes-to-prevent-horse-slaughter.html

October 27, 2007

• Read the February 2002 BLM Memo that discusses reducing the National wild horse and burro population to "AML" by 2005. Includes a chart of state by state AML strategies and how they were projected using Stephen Jenkins Population Modeling Software, the Congressional involvement that approved this plan entitled, "Strategy to Achieve Healthy Lands and Viable Herds, The Restoration of Threatened Watersheds Intitiative", (current National Wild Horse and Burro Advisory Member, Larry Johnson, Wildlife Appointee provided key testimony that helped win Congressional approval), as well as BLMs Selective Removal Criteria for Wild Horses and Burros. http://www.blm.gov/nhp/efoia/wo/fy02/im2002-095.html
• Public comments and input are due by October 31, 2007 for the National Wild Horse and Burro Advisory Board Meeting to be held November 5, 2007 in Portland, OR. For more information on requirements and where to send comments, see "Let Em Know" blog post or log on to http://www.blm.gov/wo/st/en/info/newsroom/2007/october/NR_071001.html

October 26, 2007

• HELP PROVIDED- foster homes, temporary shelters, and property for horses, burros, livestock, horse trailers and hauling, pets of all kinds, lost and found, volunteers are standing by to assist those displaced by the Southern California fires. http://weblog.signonsandiego.com/news/breaking/2007/10/help_for_animals_in_the_fires.html
• Kiger Mustang Adoption Event- Over 100 wild Kiger Mustangs will be offered for adoption November 8-10 at the Oregon's Wild Horse Corral Facility in Hines at the Harney County Fairgrounds in Burns, OR. http://www.thedalleschronicle.com/news/2007/10/news10-25-07-03.shtml

October 25, 2007

• Ten of the Virginia Range Wild Horses that International Society for the Protection of Mustangs and Burros has been desperately trying to adopt out after the Cheyenne River Reservation was no longer able to support them, have found homes with students of the Takini School. The School is requesting donations to buy hay as it is at a premimum due to drought for several years. http://www.indiancountry.com/content.cfm?id=1096415976
• Wyoming Governor Dave Fruedenthal asks State Attorney General if BLM can withdraw funds from Wyoming wild horse removals. http://www.headwatersnews.org/stories/view_story.phtml?id=47048
• Article that highlights the historic wild horses in Theodore Roosevelt National Park, ND and the Webers, a couple who photographs and chronicles the herds. http://www.bismarcktribune.com/articles/2007/10/06/news/update/doc4707e675ab7a2608384302.txt

October 24, 2007

• Congradulations to Chuck Matton of Wild Horse Preservation League for his recent appointment to the Sierra Front-Norwestern Great Basin Resource Advisory Council as the Wild Horse & Burro Representative. You may contact Chuck at 191 Territory Road, Dayton, NV 89403 Phone: (775) 720-9678 Email: mattonco@prodigy.net
• BLM Nevada Statewide Resource Advisory Council Meeting, Thursday, November 15, 2007 at Gold Dust West, 2171 Highway 50 East, Carson City, Nevada.
• Next time you are reading a government proposal regarding wild horses and burros posing such a singular deadly threat to motorists (such as Sheldon's National Wildlife Refuge Environmental Assessments), lob these statistics back at them regarding other wildlife species. "Every year, an estimated 1.5 million animals are hit on U.S. raods and more than 200 people are killed in collisions with deer, elk and other wildlife. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, wildlife vehicle collisions cause $1 billion in property damage each year." From Defenders of Wildlife http://action.defenders.org/site/MessageViewer?em_id=26661.0&dlv_id=46261&JServSessionIdr009=g8xk5ys182.app23a
• Highly Recommended! A recent publication titled, Western Turf Wars, The Politics of Public Lands Ranching by Mike Hudak is being called a must-read by those who have been following the long descent of public lands at the hands of the influential and powerful. To read more about the compelling and hard-hitting truth about what really goes on behind the scenes with public land "management" or to order a copy, go to http://www.westernturfwars.com/
• Two articles detailing Governor having a cow because funding was directed away from wild horse removals in Wyoming to wild horse removals in Nevada. http://z93-y99.com/y99/?http://www.casperstartribune.net/articles/2007/10/23/news/wyoming/doc471e6d36c7500081849939.txt
• Public Lands Precedent? A potentially powerful new legal ruling regarding the necessity of properly evaluating proposals before they are approved. http://www.hcn.org/servlets/hcn.Article?

October 23, 2007

• BLM is proposing to convert the Continental Peak Grazing Allotment from sheep to cattle (100% at 1,761 AUMs) and add fences that will inhibit wild horse movements and fence off water sources in the Divided Basin Herd Management Area. Comments accepted until Wednesday, October 24, 2007. Bob Price, Rangeland Management Specialist, BLM Rock Springs Field Office, 280 Highway 191 North, Rock Springs, WY 82901 Phone: (307) 352-0367 Fax: (307) 352-0328 Email: bob_price@blm.gov and include Continental Peak Scoping Comments in the subject line.
• BLMs monthly Internet Adoption on Wednesday, Octobber 24, 2007. Potential adopters can sign up now. To view the horses, go to: https://www.blm.gov/adoptahorse/onlinegallery.php
• BLM National Wild Horse & Burro Advisory Meeting Scheduled for November 5, 2007 in Portland, Oregon. Written comments accepted until October 31. Bureau of Land Management, National Wild Horse and Burro Program, WO-260, Attention: Ramona DeLorme, 1340 Financial Boulevard, Reno, NV 89502-7147. Ramona_DeLorma@blm.gov
• Terri Farley, author of the successful childrens books, the Phantom Stallion series, puts out a call for help for Cloud's Herd and the Pryor Mountian Wild Horses to fans. http://phantomstallion.com/index.shtml
• Article on a rare herd of wild horses in the Bahamas detailing their history and current status. Called the "rarest" genetic species of horse in the world. http://www.thebahamasweekly.com/publish/abaco/The_Wild_Horses_of_Abaco.shtml
• Wild horses are removed in Douglas County under "nuisance" clause. http://www.ktvn.com/global/story.asp?s=7246560
• Russian wild horses struggle for water in this really slow video that chronicles their plight. http://www.russiatoday.ru/features/news/15832/video
• BLM Adoptions in Lorton, Virginia. http://fredericksburg.com/News/FLS/2007/102007/10192007/325855
• BLM Adoptions at the Salt Lake Wild Horse & Burro Center in Herriman on Saturday. http://deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,5143,695220596,00.html
  

October 21, 2007

• Deadline for 80 PMU Mares
  As the hormone-replacement drug Premarin continues to lose its popularity, Canadian ranches that supplied the drug's key ingredient-pregnant mare urine (PMU) are shutting down, leaving hundreds of horses homeless. The Animali Farm, a non-profit horse rescue based in California, is working to find homes for 250 horses on ranches leaving the PMU industry. No longer needed for the production of hormone replacement therapy drugs, the equines on these ranches need a place to go and fast! One rancher, owning mostly Belgian, Percheron and draft mares, has given Animali a deadline. If they cannot find homes for his 80 horses by October 29, he'll sell them at auction-most likely resulting in their slaughter. If you are able to give a good home to a horse in need, please visit Animali Farm http://www.theanimalifarm.com/ and click on available horses to see these beauties who desperately need new homes.
• Horse killer gets 9 months in Texas. Plea deal involves 5 year's probation. A jury found the 22-year-old former Texas A&M University student guilty Thursday of cruelty to animals after less than 15 minutes of deliberation. http://www.theeagle.com/local/Horse_killer__gets_9_months
• Approximately 70 wild horses & burros will be at the BLM adoption event at the Duplin County Events Center in Kenansville, N.C. http://www.thehorse.com/ViewArticle.aspx?ID=10626
• "Wild horses have roamed Idaho's rangeland for 300 years" begins an article that chronicles an indepth history of Idahos wild horses. Good reference article and comments can be posted at: http://www.idahostatesman.com/life/story/184898.html
• "Take a Volunteer Vacation: Wild Horse Santuary". A call is put out by South Dakota's Black Hills Wild Horse Sanctuary for help from those that can provide a little "service" to give ranch workers a month off from the chores. However, the article continues to promote the myth that 35,000 wild horses still roam the American West. Someone set them straight, won't ya? The article also states the Sanctuary is home to the largest herd of wild horses in the United States. If that isn't a wake up call to what is happening to the "fast-disappearing" wild horses and burros of America, I don't know what is. These magnificent and historic links to our past became "protected" under federal law and the largest herd in the country now sits in a Sanctuary or holding centers. Wonder how large the herd really is? http://art2u.com/critterblog/?p=34
• A touching and compelling story that supports the passage of the American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act. http://www.itchmo.com/columbia-basin-equine-rescue-horse-lovers-and-activists-saving-slaughter-bound-equines-3327

October 20, 2007

• As wild horses were being driven up the chute during what was hoped for to be a quiet removal operation in Theodore Roosevelt National Park, North Dakota, the helicopter driving them was so low, one of the skids caught the fence and flipped the copter. The wild horses have lived in the Park for decades but have never been granted federal protection. NPS Superintendent Valerie Naylor ignored letters from horse advocate groups protesting the Stockmens livestock auction in Dickinson where the wild horses are traditionally disposed of and shocked employees ended up releasing those captured, canceling their "sale" due to the accident. Comments can be made at: http://www.bismarcktribune.com:80/articles/2007/10/19/news/topnews/141183.txt
• BLM National Wild Horse & Burro Advisory Meeting Scheduled for November 5, 2007 in Portland, Oregon. http://desertusa.com/desertblog/?p=1657 Written Comments accepted until October 31. Bureau of Land Management, National Wild Horse and Burro Program, WO-260, Attention: Ramona DeLorme, 1340 Financial Boulevard, Reno, NV 89502-7147. Ramona_DeLorma@blm.gov
• BLM rounds up six wild horses in Fish Springs under the "nuisance clause". http://www.recordcourier.com:80/article/20071018/NEWS/71018007/-1/rss01
• Wild Horse Adoption by National Wild Horse Association October 21-22 in Las Vegas, Nevada. http://www.klas-tv.com/Global/story.asp?S=7228680
• BLMs 13th Annual Wild Horse & Burro Show Expo in Witchata Falls, Kansas at Ector County Colliseum in Odessa November 1-3. http://www.mywesttexas.com:80/site/news.cfmnewsid=18930046&BRD=2288&PAG=461&dept_id=475626&rfi=6
• "American Mustangs Killed To Make Room For Cattle Grazing". Blog story from DawnWatch regarding Newsweek Story, "They Shoot Mustangs, Don't They?" http://nothoney.wordpress.com:80/2007/10/16/american-mustangs-killed-to-make-room-for-cattle-grazing/

October 18, 2007

• Willis Lamm is at it again, posing as the "be-all-know-it-all" wild horse authority in his bid to desperately cover for BLM. In a Letter to the Editor of the Nevada Appeal, Lamm parrots the party line without offering little more than "opinion" while attacking anyone who presents sincere issues that question BLMs actions. This time the lucky recipient of Lamms attacks is Betty Kelly & her Hysteria Corps. (aka, those that don't always swallow the "official story" fed to them) as Lamm tries to camouflage his own "cheap hysteria" with even cheaper assaults. Fortunately, his number is up by those in the know. Too bad the Nevada Appeal still doesn't..... http://www.nevadaappeal.com/article/20071018/OPINION/110180138
  
  
• "Seventy-five wild horses that used to roam the Virginia Range are homeless again." Article on ISPMBs continued attempts to find homes and funding for the former Virginia Range Wild Horses. http://www.nevadaappeal.com/article/20071011/NEWS/110110100

October 9, 2007

• Whisper Winds Equine Rescue puts out a call for help regarding horse abuse and local officials failure to do anything about it. Story and pictures can be accessed at http://www.whipseringwindsequinerescue.com