BLM Secret Plan to Destroy Wild Horses - Up for Debate - Up For Debate - Horse Community, Horse Pictures, Horse Forum and Information

Posted : 6/15/2009 1:43:13 PM

copied from another forum.

The sneakiness of this is disapponting. Surely there are better ways to deal with this issue.
www.returntofreedom.org is one option.
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Documents Reveal BLM Secret Plan to Destroy Wild Horses
Posted by: "Linda S" [email=ladygentleheart1025@yahoo.com]ladygentleheart1025@yahoo.com[/email] ladygentleheart1025
Sun Jun 14, 2009 2:25 pm (PDT)

Please share this press release with local and national media, friends and colleagues, and voice your concerns wtih our government's management of our wild horses directly to President Obama at ww.whitehouse.gov/CONTACT/. We need change in the Wild Horse and Burro Program to protect our wild horses. Thank you.

PRESS RELEASE

June 11, 2009- for immediate release

Documents Reveal BLM Secret Plan to Destroy Wild Horses

Documents obtained from the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) via the Freedom of Information Act by a Phoenix-based non-profit, The Conquistador Program, reveal shocking and detailed plans to destroy healthy wild horses in government holding facilities 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 developed strategies aimed at ridding BLM of thousands of mustangs. In October they completed a 68 page document entitled "Alternative Management Options". Tactics included in this document are reminiscent of those used to wipe out Native American tribes in the 1800s.

The BLM team created scenarios for killing mustangs using barbiturates, gun shots, or captive bolts. Bodies would be disposed of through rendering, burial or incineration. They discussed killing 1200-2000 wild horses per year. The document states that "the general public would be prohibited from viewing euthanasia." Additionally, the Team felt that "increased support from public relations and management staff would also be needed to insulate those doing the actual 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 a huge outcry from the American public last year regarding BLM plans to kill wild horses in holding, the agency is still pressing forward with a plan to destroy our American mustangs both on and off the range."

Division Chief of the Wild Horse and Burro Program Don Glenn told The Cloud Foundation that "no decision has been made to move forward on a large scale with this plan, yet."

BLM meeting minutes speak for themselves. "Security at facilities and at gathers would need to be increased to combat eco-terrorism. Having the people that are willing to put down healthy horses at gather sites could be a problem. Having vets putting down healthy horses at preparation facility[ies] could also be a problem." Meeting minutes reveal the psychological toll that employees would pay—"have counseling for employees and contractors that have to euthanize the healthy 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 killer buyers in unchecked numbers. The Team admitted that "some wild horses will go to slaughter".

"Once they are gone, they're gone" says Karen Sussman, President of the International Society for the Protection of Mustangs and Burros. "To lose this incomparable species would be a travesty."

Team Members formulated ways in which they could circumvent the National Environmental Policy Act, asking "How many (wild horses) could be euthanized during a gather (roundup) without having NEPA?" BLM discussed ways to circumvent the federal carcass disposal law (43 CFR 4730.2). Conversations included 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 numbers of horses euthanized during gathers or in the field. This is due to state environmental laws."

Recommendations include the creation of gelding herds, and sterilization of mares 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 infertility drug, PZP-22, would be given to all mares that are returned to the wild. Plans call 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, the social chaos will be dangerous and on-going," Kathrens explains. "Any semblance of normal wild horse society will be completely destroyed."

Kathrens has spent 15 years in the wild documenting mustang behavior for her PBS television documentaries which chronicle the life story of Cloud, the now famous pale palomino stallion she has filmed since birth. "Even Cloud and his little herd in Montana are in serious danger if BLM implements these options," she continues. "The BLM plans a massive round up in Cloud's herd beginning August 30, 2009."

The BLM will not guarantee that Cloud and his family will remain free.

Rod44

Posted : 6/15/2009 1:49:38 PM

First, they are not looking to wipe out all the wild horses.

Second, there are too many horses for the range. They have no predators and are multipying too fast. No one wants to adopt them all as there are already too many horses around due to the lack of slaughter facities. The best and most humane way is to put down those that are not adopted. I am in favor of it.

I say don't forward that article. It is just an emontional appeal that attempts to stir up the uninformed.

gunslinger598

Posted : 6/15/2009 2:13:45 PM

Currently 80% of the BLM's budget is consumed caring ofr already captive mustangs in holding facilties.

The BLm is also offering other incentives such as paying a trainer $700.00 after a trained mustang is adopted.

Here in Oklahoma it was announced that a trial program will include paying adopters $500.00 after 1 yr of adoption. The BLM says that is what it would to cost them to maintain a horse in a holding facility.

It appears that the BLM is using all options available to them to place these horses. Sadly there aren't enough homes, or enough range land for all the horses that exist.

Compounding the problem is citizens releasing unwanted domestic equines onto federal lands. It's estimated nation wide these number in the thousands.

SecondChance

Posted : 6/15/2009 2:28:19 PM

If the holding facilities are over capacity   why schedule more roundups?

take the cattle off some of the public lands and let the horses have there range back
only a little over 3% of the cattle running on public lands go toward food for humans.

what the cattlemen pay the government is way below what they would pay an
individual for grazing rights on private land per acre.

The government counts a cow and calf as one animal when figuring the herd count
where as the horses, a mare and foal count as two in the herd count,

maybe instead of charging the ranchers by acres they should initiate the fart tax per head
of cattle,   but then again I am sure they would fix the numbers against the mustangs.

I am no tree hugger but sometimes emotions are a good thing to get the right thing done.

Rawline

Posted : 6/15/2009 3:54:14 PM

This is interesting, I just watched a Ken McNabb show regarding the Mustangs yesterday. He loves the wild horses and started out training them as a kid. He has a couple of adoptions now. But he has actually signed a contract with the BLM to work alongside them and listen to both sides of the argument. At this point he is neither for or against, but trying to help them decide what to do and help us understand the issues. He talked about the growth of wild horse herds and stated that left alone their herds double their size every four years. That is a lot of horses if left unchecked. There is just not enough ground to support them. Also, you can't just pull all the cattle off the BLM ground and make room for horses, they don't eat the same grasses as the cattle and therein would lie another problem.

I am one of the biggest animal lovers you will ever meet, I think my horse deserves bottled water! But, I also love the land, and where would be without the land. I believe in being a good steward of the land, it is ours to care for as we care for each other and our animals. It is a responsibility and a privilege to own and care for a chunk of property. This is a tough one and no matter how they decide to balance it, someone will be ticked off. I do believe we have to be practical though and not just look at it from a saving the animals point of view.

hunterseat

Posted : 6/15/2009 4:35:47 PM

[quote=Rawline] I think my horse deserves bottled water!

*wipes tea off of computer monitor* Thanks for that Rawline! [ ';)'

]

Wouldn't it be better to geld and release? Why let them continue to breed? Then you get sick ones that need to die because that's how wild horses got hearty to begin with. When God said to tend and keep the garden he didn't mean let things get out of hand with no management.

trainer101

Posted : 6/15/2009 6:49:14 PM

I watched that Ken Mcnabb show the other day and I have to say it was well thought out. He really talked about the land, horses and food supply and in another show right after or before they were...Oh yeah it was the horse show, talked to the Inmates and horses programs that take mustangs and pair them with inmates that are hand picked. After a while they take them to a sale and promote the usablity of the horse. It was a great program too.

I too am heart sick to think of all those healthy and potentially wonderful horses killed, but at the same time I can't stand to think of them starving to death either which without some managment will inevatably happen. The course of action taken will always be in debate and critisized. I do feel that there are still a few ways of managment that can be explored but they are very expensive and to be honest they are broke, just like us.

I am not agreeing with the methods they are choosing right now but I do know that we must preserve our horses and land through managment of some kind rather than letting them fall pray to starvation and sickness.

Rawline

Posted : 6/15/2009 7:56:27 PM

[

]Sorry I got your screen dirty Hunters!

Watching the show yesterday I was thinking of birth control also, it's just so hard, it's like the salmon, whatever you do, you're going to screw up the natural way of things somehow! Can't we just give this old globe a burst of miracle grow vitamin or something so she can sprout a bit more country?

Well said trainer, I too thought the show was very well thought out. McNabb is a little slow for me sometimes, but he really let you know that he cared what happened, but was trying to look at all sides. I didn't see the one about the inmates and horses, but he talked a bit about it, and having worked in a prison facility, I'm thinking that would be a great program both for horse and inmate. Makes me want to maybe be a bit of an inmate and I'll help take care of them and somebody else pays the bill!

jungle_cat

Posted : 6/15/2009 8:03:52 PM

[quote=hunterseat]
Wouldn't it be better to geld and release? Why let them continue to breed?

Geld and release would not help unless you are going to geld every single horse out there and then completely end all mustangs in one generation. *shudder at the thought*

It only takes one stallion to impregnate a whole band of mares and he will happily do the job. What needs to be done is research more ways to safely prevent the mares from being able to get pregnant.

I also agree with SC - make the cattlemen give the land originally set aside for the mustangs back to them. Their area is drastically reduced compared to what it once was.

Rawline

Posted : 6/15/2009 8:25:14 PM

As I understand that a lot of that land is covered in grass that is not eaten by the mustangs. If you took the cattle off then the grass over grows and you run into other problems such as fire and the grass choking other beneficial sort of plants.

Rod44

Posted : 6/15/2009 8:46:04 PM

SecondChance - where in the world did you get the figure that only 3% of the cattle on public range go to food for humans. For instance all of the calves (except those held back for replacements) go for human food. That has to be 40% at least. Then you add the old and cull cows that go to McDonalds and you are up to 90%. The rest the wolves, bears and mountain lions get. That is just the kind of misconseption and so called facts that get all the do gooders tied up in their underwear!!!! We might as well quit hunting too as we could maybe be shooting some of Bambi's far flung relitives.

SecondChance

Posted : 6/15/2009 9:02:21 PM

Our BLM lands of the West. Approximately 90% of their area is used for ranching, yet all this land produces only about 1.1% of US cattle and sheep. (USD4 map)
The so-called "right" to graze livestock on federal public land is not a right at all, but a revocable privilege (Tittman 1984). Ranchers cannot legally own or have exclusive right to any federal land, claim resources thereon (except permitted use of forage and, unfortunately, water rights on some BLM lands), exclude any person from public land, or dictate any visitor's behavior. Stockmen granted the privilege to graze their livestock on the public's land are ostensibly required to pay their fees on time, adhere to all grazing and environmental regulations, mitigate environmental damage, and minimize conflict with other land users (see Chapter IX).
Furthermore, according to the Committee on Government Operations of the US Congress, the 23,000 public lands permittees in the 16 Western states (including North and South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, and Oklahoma) represent less than 2% of the 1.6 million livestock producers in the United States (Com. on Govt. Oper. 1986). Extrapolation shows the figure for the 11 Western states to be 1.375% or closer to 1%.

Many federal permittees graze livestock not only on BLM and/or FS lands but on other federal, state, and/or local government lands as well. Some hold a half dozen or more leases to various government and private lands. Thus, including all public lands there are approximately 30,000 public lands ranchers in the West, comprising less than 2% of US cattle and sheep producers. (Various government sources)

Less than 15% of original permits issued by BLM and FS remain with the family to which they were issued (Com. on Govt. Oper. 1986). The notion that most public lands ranching is done by descendants of the original settlers is another of the numerous powerful myths associated with the grazing industry.

Grazing permits generally are issued for a period of 10 years, and permit holders have first priority for renewal. In practice renewal is virtually automatic. Because of this livestock operators enjoy essentially permanent tenure on allotments and consider permits almost as private property (see Chapter VII).

At this point, one might reasonably ask what all these facts and figures amount to, food-wise. There are roughly 260 million acres of BLM and Forest Service System "grazing land" in the 11 Western states -- 35% of the land area ofthe West -- but how much of this country's livestock is produced there?

Two percent by weight, value, or livestock feed (food of .any kind) (Com. on Govt. Oper. 1986). This will surprise most people, for we have always been led to believe otherwise. Ranching on federal land is insignificant to US food supply -- only I out of 50 pounds of combined beef and mutton. Alabama alone produces nearly this amount, mostly on pasturage!' Iowa produces more than 2 1/2 times as much, mostly with grain feed. (USDA 1987) The US imports more than 4 times as much (US Dept. of Com. 1986).

http://wasteofthewest.com/Chapter2.html

edited to add: Our BLM lands of the West. Approximately 90% of their area is used for ranching, yet all this land produces only about 1.1% of US cattle and sheep. (USD4 map)

SecondChance

Posted : 6/15/2009 9:26:06 PM

and alot of McD's beef is imported from Austraila and New Zeland.
those countries beef industry is more heavyly government controlled
than the U.S.

snopes.com:McDonalds

SecondChance

Posted : 6/15/2009 9:34:04 PM

http://ladywildlife.com/animals/mustang.html

facts and knowledge about the mustang.

Rod44

Posted : 6/15/2009 10:38:25 PM

The author you are quoting and using as "fact" is misconstruing and reconstructuring much of his information. He is out to end the use of public lands for grazing. He is trying to say that the land used for grazing is insignificant in the overall picture of the cattle industry. For example he says there are 3X more cows in Wisconsin than in Wyoming. So what? They are milk cows. They and their offspring are only good for McDonald's type beef. He says Nebraska's cattle&nbsp ';p'

roduction value is 16.6X the value of Nevada. So what? And, the reason is that Nebraska imports cattle from other states and finishs them off. Therefore they are selling more pounds of a high value product. Has nothing to do with public land grazing.

Says only 7% of the US forage consumed by cattle and sheep comes from federal lands. That is because it is poorer land and without grazing it you wouldn't be able to harvest any of it!! Have you ever mowed, raked and baled hay. It can't be done on 90% of the BLM land.

This kind of pick and choose fact finding and twisting to mislead people really agravates me.

Other than that I'm having a great day!