With all the busy schedules for tomorrow of cooking, eating and football watching, I want to take a few minutes to wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving and for those not celebrating this American tradition Happy Thursday!
I know that too often we forget the true meaning of Thanksgiving in the rush of every day life. With all the cleaning for guests, cooking and traveling to be with family we need to remember what the day is all about.
I know that with the recent decision to delay the Calico Gather advocates have something special to celebrate. However, important this decision is, I truly hope that you have much more to celebrate this year. If you are in your own home, be thankful you weren't one of the millions who lost it in the financial crisis. If you aren't in your own home, be thankful that you and your family are alive and healthy to celebrate another year. If you are suffering from the flu this year, be thankful that it is JUST the flu and that you aren't facing some other dreaded disease. Things like that and on and on.
I hope that everyone has something to be thankful for, family and friends to share it with and tons of good food to eat.
Happy Thanksgiving to all my fellow advocates, friends and special people.
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Efforts Making a Difference
In a recent report the BLM received over 7,000 comments on the Environmental Assessment and proposed gather in the Calico Complex in northern Nevada. This is an extraordinary event as the BLM normally only gets a handful of comments on any action. The most usually come when they propose to sell off land or transfer it. This means we are finally getting the public interested and we need to keep it up.
Many had some hard questions for the BLM, but the hardest wasn't asked by the reporter or other blogs. That one is why the heck was this gather scheduled long before the public comments were being accepted? Why have the contracts been signed for it before the public comment period ended? To me this alone speaks volumes about the BLM's plans for the wild horses. They plan to take them no matter what anyone says. Not only has this administration not changed policies at the BLM, but it seems efforts have been stepped up.
The article also says that the BLM plans on removing 30,000 wild horses over the next 3 years. When one considers that the BLM claims that the range is only home to 30,000 by their own count how many does this leave in the wild? Those that do remain are being aggressively treated with PZP, an equine contraceptive. This will prevent any herd growth and eventually will lead to the extinction of wild horses on the range.
A question asked by the reporter was about a census problem. The BLM representative couldn't answer the question. Theories abound and I have my own, but won't share at this time. However, this isn't just a problem at Calico. The American Herds blog covers the numbers in depth and is an eye opening read. I happen to know that this isn't the first allotment that has seen these problems. Makes one wonder what is REALLY going on. Oh yeah, they are out to cause the extinction of the wild horses and burros.
To support my last statement I cite the comment made by a BLM ecologist, named Cameron Bryce to reporter George Knapp who stated that wild horses and burros didn't deserve protection as the law was based on "emotion" and not reality. You can also read a number of his comments to folks on Washington Watch. There he says "I have killed some horses in my time" and a number of other inflammatory comments that shouldn't be made by an employee of the government about a law that governs how he does his job. According to him advocates need to PROVE that the wild horses and burros deserve protecting. By the way if you live anywhere other than the west your opinions don't count event though we pay his salary, own the land and the horses he talks about. Personally I would like to see him fired and as his boss I have that right. I suggest that those angered by his comments let Director Abbey know as I will. It is obvious by the fact that this "person" is employed by the BLM what their attitude is toward our wild horses and burros. Not that far off base to say that they are out to destroy them all for a variety of reasons.
The Cloud Foundation has sent out an alert and I suggest that everyone take their recommended actions. In Defense of Animals has a convienent method of contacting lawmakers asking for a moratorium on wild horse gathers. Their web form allows you to contact the President, your Representative and your Senators. It gives you a sample, but customizable, comment.
Anyway, we are on the right track with our efforts. However, we are far from the victory we seek. We need to pull together and take action if we want our wild horses preserved. Even as I write this the BLM is moving toward putting the wild horses and burros in jeopardy. If we wait to speak out they will be forever gone.
Many had some hard questions for the BLM, but the hardest wasn't asked by the reporter or other blogs. That one is why the heck was this gather scheduled long before the public comments were being accepted? Why have the contracts been signed for it before the public comment period ended? To me this alone speaks volumes about the BLM's plans for the wild horses. They plan to take them no matter what anyone says. Not only has this administration not changed policies at the BLM, but it seems efforts have been stepped up.
The article also says that the BLM plans on removing 30,000 wild horses over the next 3 years. When one considers that the BLM claims that the range is only home to 30,000 by their own count how many does this leave in the wild? Those that do remain are being aggressively treated with PZP, an equine contraceptive. This will prevent any herd growth and eventually will lead to the extinction of wild horses on the range.
A question asked by the reporter was about a census problem. The BLM representative couldn't answer the question. Theories abound and I have my own, but won't share at this time. However, this isn't just a problem at Calico. The American Herds blog covers the numbers in depth and is an eye opening read. I happen to know that this isn't the first allotment that has seen these problems. Makes one wonder what is REALLY going on. Oh yeah, they are out to cause the extinction of the wild horses and burros.
To support my last statement I cite the comment made by a BLM ecologist, named Cameron Bryce to reporter George Knapp who stated that wild horses and burros didn't deserve protection as the law was based on "emotion" and not reality. You can also read a number of his comments to folks on Washington Watch. There he says "I have killed some horses in my time" and a number of other inflammatory comments that shouldn't be made by an employee of the government about a law that governs how he does his job. According to him advocates need to PROVE that the wild horses and burros deserve protecting. By the way if you live anywhere other than the west your opinions don't count event though we pay his salary, own the land and the horses he talks about. Personally I would like to see him fired and as his boss I have that right. I suggest that those angered by his comments let Director Abbey know as I will. It is obvious by the fact that this "person" is employed by the BLM what their attitude is toward our wild horses and burros. Not that far off base to say that they are out to destroy them all for a variety of reasons.
The Cloud Foundation has sent out an alert and I suggest that everyone take their recommended actions. In Defense of Animals has a convienent method of contacting lawmakers asking for a moratorium on wild horse gathers. Their web form allows you to contact the President, your Representative and your Senators. It gives you a sample, but customizable, comment.
Anyway, we are on the right track with our efforts. However, we are far from the victory we seek. We need to pull together and take action if we want our wild horses preserved. Even as I write this the BLM is moving toward putting the wild horses and burros in jeopardy. If we wait to speak out they will be forever gone.
Sunday, November 8, 2009
Are They REALLY Free-Roaming?
Over the last nearly decade I have done a great deal of research on the issue of wild horses and burros. Over the years I have become more and more irritated about what is happening with these majestic animals. But one thing I never was concerned about was that those on the range were at least wild and free. After reviewing a number of EAs and other BLM documents in the last year something has struck me. I have to ask the question are the horses and burros really wild and free or am I just fooling myself?
Before anyone goes off on me hear me out please.
How can they be free roaming when if they step a hoof over a certain invisible line they aren't free but suddenly considered estray and eligible for immediate gathering. In some states, especially Nevada, the state will even gather them when they ROAM to find food and/or water. They aren't free roaming when their traditional ranges are fenced and cross-fenced. They are fenced off from their traditional water sources that they have used for hundreds of years. Their free roaming abilities stopped short by various land usage. They aren't free when their land is "transferred" to other agencies and they are removed to accomplish the other agency's objectives. They aren't free when the land that was promised under the law is taken from them by the very agency and Secretary that is assigned to protect them. They aren't free if they are kept from their family bands and forced into sterilization programs at the worst and into birth control programs at the least. When their families are shattered by the sounds of incoming helicopters and they face losing their young, their future, their traditions, their history and their knowledge through the loss of their elders.
No they are not human, they are better than that. These animals live in a complex social society where families recognize each other and where they care for their young long after they are weaned and the older animals stay with the family even when they are no longer breeding. And that society is destroyed each time a gather is done. It certainly suffers when they have to grieve the loss of members of their bands. Foals are ripped from their mothers, fathers and siblings long before they would leave if they were left alone. The older horses who teach the younger animals where to find water when there is a drought or where to find the tastiest grasses or where to go to survive a snowstorm are being removed leaving the herds in danger of suffering and death. Instead of enjoying them or studying them to fully understand their social structure our government wants to destroy them. They want to put them in "sanctuaries", which are nothing more than a glorified zoo. They want to destroy them, put them in abusive or improper homes at best or at worst send them to slaughter. They want to do something that we horse folks stop long ago, break them.
Then I think about how much these wild mustangs and burros mean to so many people. How they symbolize the freedom and majesty of this country. How they represent our country's very history. When people are asked what animal they would most like to be many say a mustang or an eagle because of the freedom, so like our own. This then leaves me asking what next?
Elected officials don't listen when the average person asks for their help. Before and during the gather in the Pryor Mountains (Cloud's herd) the public made thousands of calls asking for Congress and the President to stop the gather. Instead of an immediate response, there was a decided silence from those elected officials. The BLM certainly doesn't listen. Over the years millions of comments have been made on behalf of the horses and burros. There have been thousands of law suits filed on behalf of those who care about the horses, yet the BLM push through their agenda regardless. The law of the land is ignored and those guilty of mistreating these animals or other illegal actions(Catoor convicted of gathering them illegally, BLM employees shooting horses, BLM employees selling wild horses to slaughter, BLM telling lies in reports, BLM employees changing scientific data to suit their own agenda, BLM employees conspiring with contractors and special interest and so much more)aren't punished but instead continue to draw a check from OUR tax dollars with impunity. Advocates can't stop it because we don't have enough money to go to court and fight for years before we get a hollow victory. Even if we could go to court we are limited in what we can fight for and those limits allow the BLM to go on and on with their devious plans. People who care and do file court documents are forced to prove that they not only have visited the horses but that they would be personally injured by their loss, not just that knowing they are gone and that these are OUR horses we are injured. Not that the loss of these animals cause children to cry and ask why and we are forced to answer we don't know.
This is supposed to be a country of laws. However, it appears that some can ignore those laws. There is a LAW protecting these animals. There is a LAW that says that they are to be managed as minimally as possible. There is a LAW that says that they are supposed to be considered an integral part of the ecosystem. There is a LAW that only EXCESS horses are to be removed. Yet these laws are being broken every day at the BLM. We have court decisions that say that zeroing out horses is illegal as not EVERY horse can be considered excess, yet the BLM continues to do this. Nobody is being punished and nobody will be. Back in the 1990's several BLM employees were found to have been taking horses and selling them, some directly to slaughter. Instead of prosecuting them it was determined that it would be an adverse action to punish a few when so many within the agency are doing the same thing. They didn't even lose their jobs!! Some like Suzie Stokke have even been promoted.
As the BLM continues to gather horses and burros at an accelerated pace, with more gathers beginning soon one has to ask are these horses and burros inappropriately named? What does it really mean to be wild and free-roaming?
Before anyone goes off on me hear me out please.
How can they be free roaming when if they step a hoof over a certain invisible line they aren't free but suddenly considered estray and eligible for immediate gathering. In some states, especially Nevada, the state will even gather them when they ROAM to find food and/or water. They aren't free roaming when their traditional ranges are fenced and cross-fenced. They are fenced off from their traditional water sources that they have used for hundreds of years. Their free roaming abilities stopped short by various land usage. They aren't free when their land is "transferred" to other agencies and they are removed to accomplish the other agency's objectives. They aren't free when the land that was promised under the law is taken from them by the very agency and Secretary that is assigned to protect them. They aren't free if they are kept from their family bands and forced into sterilization programs at the worst and into birth control programs at the least. When their families are shattered by the sounds of incoming helicopters and they face losing their young, their future, their traditions, their history and their knowledge through the loss of their elders.
No they are not human, they are better than that. These animals live in a complex social society where families recognize each other and where they care for their young long after they are weaned and the older animals stay with the family even when they are no longer breeding. And that society is destroyed each time a gather is done. It certainly suffers when they have to grieve the loss of members of their bands. Foals are ripped from their mothers, fathers and siblings long before they would leave if they were left alone. The older horses who teach the younger animals where to find water when there is a drought or where to find the tastiest grasses or where to go to survive a snowstorm are being removed leaving the herds in danger of suffering and death. Instead of enjoying them or studying them to fully understand their social structure our government wants to destroy them. They want to put them in "sanctuaries", which are nothing more than a glorified zoo. They want to destroy them, put them in abusive or improper homes at best or at worst send them to slaughter. They want to do something that we horse folks stop long ago, break them.
Then I think about how much these wild mustangs and burros mean to so many people. How they symbolize the freedom and majesty of this country. How they represent our country's very history. When people are asked what animal they would most like to be many say a mustang or an eagle because of the freedom, so like our own. This then leaves me asking what next?
Elected officials don't listen when the average person asks for their help. Before and during the gather in the Pryor Mountains (Cloud's herd) the public made thousands of calls asking for Congress and the President to stop the gather. Instead of an immediate response, there was a decided silence from those elected officials. The BLM certainly doesn't listen. Over the years millions of comments have been made on behalf of the horses and burros. There have been thousands of law suits filed on behalf of those who care about the horses, yet the BLM push through their agenda regardless. The law of the land is ignored and those guilty of mistreating these animals or other illegal actions(Catoor convicted of gathering them illegally, BLM employees shooting horses, BLM employees selling wild horses to slaughter, BLM telling lies in reports, BLM employees changing scientific data to suit their own agenda, BLM employees conspiring with contractors and special interest and so much more)aren't punished but instead continue to draw a check from OUR tax dollars with impunity. Advocates can't stop it because we don't have enough money to go to court and fight for years before we get a hollow victory. Even if we could go to court we are limited in what we can fight for and those limits allow the BLM to go on and on with their devious plans. People who care and do file court documents are forced to prove that they not only have visited the horses but that they would be personally injured by their loss, not just that knowing they are gone and that these are OUR horses we are injured. Not that the loss of these animals cause children to cry and ask why and we are forced to answer we don't know.
This is supposed to be a country of laws. However, it appears that some can ignore those laws. There is a LAW protecting these animals. There is a LAW that says that they are to be managed as minimally as possible. There is a LAW that says that they are supposed to be considered an integral part of the ecosystem. There is a LAW that only EXCESS horses are to be removed. Yet these laws are being broken every day at the BLM. We have court decisions that say that zeroing out horses is illegal as not EVERY horse can be considered excess, yet the BLM continues to do this. Nobody is being punished and nobody will be. Back in the 1990's several BLM employees were found to have been taking horses and selling them, some directly to slaughter. Instead of prosecuting them it was determined that it would be an adverse action to punish a few when so many within the agency are doing the same thing. They didn't even lose their jobs!! Some like Suzie Stokke have even been promoted.
As the BLM continues to gather horses and burros at an accelerated pace, with more gathers beginning soon one has to ask are these horses and burros inappropriately named? What does it really mean to be wild and free-roaming?
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