November 27, 2007

November 27, 2007

  • Yesterday, Inside Edition did a special news report on the status of Horse Slaughter in America. To read the text of the report, go to: http://www.insideedition.com/ourstories/reports/story.aspx?storyid=1080
  • American Wild Horse Preservation Campaign has posted the 2007 Final Gather Results and the 2008 Wild Horse & Burro Gather Schedule for those interested in those statistics. BLM releases the Gather Schedule with a "disclaimer" - all gathers, removals and information is subject to change. To view the Schedules, go to: www.wildhorsepreservation.com
  • The Nevada Commission for the Preservation of Wild Horses cancelled their scheduled November 26, 2007 meeting due to "technical errors", i.e., failing to post their privately sent agenda where the Commission stated it would be posted or to provide for adequate public notice. The Commission did finally post this "secret agenda" the day the meeting was cancelled.

Since the Commission intends to discuss and posssibly take action on significant wild horse and burro issues, both within Nevada and on a National level, the rescheduled date of their meeting addressing these issues is greatly anticipated. The agenda can now be publicly viewed at: www.wildhorse.nv.gov

  • BLM is at it again...more emergency round ups in the Antelope HAs and HMAs in Nevada. This time, BLM states that if they don't immediately remove the wild horses, their deaths will be CATASTROPHIC over the winter. Why? Because BLM "experts" can't seem to figure out by even the largest margins how many wild horses actually reside in their "well-monitored" ranges. Antelope horses were removed in 2002 and again in January 2005 cleansing another 964. At the time, BLM claimed only 319 remained but a "new census" in October revealed that the population had exploded to an estimated 1,181 wild horses in just two years. Wow, are these guys good or what? BLM gave the public 15 days to respond to the CATASTROPHIC emergency round up (having absolutely nothing to do with a fence recently erected that prevents wild horses from migrating to their normal winter range) and BLM expressly forbids the public from commenting via email. If anyone would like to tell BLM what you think about that, you can email William Dunn, Field Manager at William_E_Dunn@blm.gov or Wild Horse and Burro Specialist Benjamin Noyes at Benjamin_Noyes@blm.gov or Public Relations Specialist Chris Hanefeld at Chris_Hanefeld@nv.blm.gov or Nevada Wild Horse and Burro Lead Susie Stokke at Susie_Stokke@nv.blm.gov
  • The BLM has announced an extension through December 7, 2007 of their original deadline for public nominations to fill three vacancies on the national Wild Horse and Burro Advisory Board. The categories to be filled are: Wild Horse and Burro Advocacy, Veterinarian Medicine and General Public Interest. For experienced WH&B advocates who know how to read between the lines, BLMs extension of the nomination deadline translates into no one has yet submitted a nomination that BLM will "approve of". While advocates who have passionately pursued wild horse and burro preservation have been continually denied appointments for many years, perhaps NOW is the time to try again since BLM seems a little short of qualified individuals they haven't "reappointed to death". For qualifications and submission requirements, go to: http://www.blm.gov/wo/st/en/info/newsroom/2007/0711/NR_07_11_19.html
  • The Bureau of Land Management in Utah has bombarded the public with FIVE Draft Management Plans for establishing how public lands will be managed within the next 10-20 years. These plans will become the guiding foundation for HOW Utahs wild horse and burro herds will be administered and grant BLM the future authority of what they do to those herds. Land use plans are huge documents that require hours of study of BLMs proposals. Posting five of them all within the same few months is yet another effort by land managers to overwhelm the public and consequently, discourage public awareness, participation and involvement.
To access ALL currently proposed Draft Management Plans, go to: http://www.blm.gov/ut/st/en/prog/planning.1.html

Moab Draft Management Plan - Public Input Due by November 30, 2007 http://www.blm.gov/ut/st/en/fo/moab/planning/draft_rmp_eia.html#Download
Vernal Draft Management Plan -Supplemental - Public Input Due by January 3, 2008 http://www.blm.gov/ut/st/en/fo/vernal/planning/rmp/draft_rmp_eis/draft_rmp_eis.html
Kanab Draft Management Plan - Public Input Due by January 12, 2008 http://www.blm.gov/ut/st/en/fo/kanab/planning/draft_rmp_eis.html
Richfield Draft Management Plan - Public Input Due by January 26, 2008 http://www.blm.gov/ut/st/en/fo/richfield/planning/rmp/draft_rmp_eis.html
Monticello Draft Management Plan - Public Input Due by February 8, 2008 http://www.blm.gov/ut/st/en/fo/monticello/planning/draft_rmp_eis.html

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