Take Action To Stop Next Roundup - Public Comments Close This Friday

We were given an extension to submit public comments for the preparation of the preliminary Environmental Assessment (EA) for the Antelope Complex. The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is saying this complex, which is 1.3 MILLION acres, can only support 471 to 788 wild horses.

BLM reports that more than 9,000 public comments were received regarding the Eagle roundup. We need to keep up the pressure. 

This is our opportunity to get public comments in BEFORE a preliminary EA is written.

Click here for the ACTION ALERT


Click for BLM press release and letter of notice.

Please tell your friends and family. Every voice counts and every action makes a difference.
Thank you.

BLM death and veteriarian reports:

January 26, 2010 Death Report

January 30, 2010: Vet report on 2nd colt killed due to "hoof sloughs" resulting from roundup stampede

January 18, 2010: Vet report on 1st colt killed due to "hoof sloughs" resulting from roundup stampede

January 1, 2010: Vet report on foal run to death
(also below)

February 1, 2010: BLM vet report on deaths/problems resulting from change of feed

BLM Changes Story

Feb 3, 2010: The public observers were told the roundup was canceled today. Judging from the (limited) information provided by the BML it seems they are having difficulties finding horses. The BLM is now claiming the horses are moving so much that they needed to fly the entire complex to find the horses and are planning to work with other field offices (specifically Surprise, CA) to plan future roundups. The BLM did not mention to observers yesterday that a mare was killed as is now being reported on the BLM website.

Meanwhile the BLM and cattle rancher Interior Secretary Ken Salazar are pushing the Obama's plan to increase by $12 million the Wild Horse and Burro program and give Salazar $42.5 million to buy his first "mid-west preserve" so that the BLM can continue to remove horses from the west to be stockpiled in zoo-like "pastures" in the mid-west. Basically Obama's plan is business as usual and the BLM will continue to serve the special cattle ranching interests. For more information click here.

UPDATE on Downed Mare Killed

UPDATE on Jan 21 posting:

Mare Killed After Downed on 4-Hour Truck Ride From Trap to Holding Facility

BLM states that yet another mare died at the Fallon holding facility after being downed in the trailer probably for hours. Upon arrival at the holding facility she was found down and subsequently died. She was likely trampled as the horses are packed tightly into the transport trucks. 

02/01/10 UPDATE: The contractor indicates that this mare was packed with up to 13 other horses in a compartment on the truck and that they load up to 39-40 horses per truck load. Because the BLM refuses to photo- or video-document horses they kill we will never have evidence that this downed horse in the trailer was not trampled, kicked or sustained injuries because she could not stand. The contractor claims this horse did not sustain injuries from being downed in the truck for hours or when the other horses were removed from the truck. 

No photos have been provided of this mare after she was removed from the truck.
 
No members of the public were allowed to observe any of the Jan 21 roundup and public observation at the Fallon holding facility is severely restricted to specific hours on specific days. 

On Jan 26, 2010 long-time BLM rep Lilly Thomas told public observers at the Fallon holding facility that she does not want wranglers, vets or BLM folks taking the time to take photos of animals they are going to kill.

NOTE: To be clear, Lilly Thomas was not suggesting the horses be killed, she only said that of the horses who were "euthanized" (for humane proposes - i.e. too weak or injured) she did not want her wranglers or vets carrying cameras to document the conditions of the horses.