Approved 2011 Federal Budget Spells Disaster for Wild Horses & Burros
Starting in the hot summer month of July, wild horses will once again be running for their lives as the Interior Department resumes mustang roundups. The 2011 budget passed by Congress last week provided enough discretionary funds for the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to "fully meet its funding needs for the Wild Horse and Burro program." Acting Wild Horse and Burro Management Program Director Karla Bird confirmed to AWHPC last week that, in the wake of Congress' budget vote, the agency plans to launch new roundups in July, days after the end of "peak foaling season," May - June.
BLM's success in convincing Congress to increase the wild horse program's budget at a time when funding for other federal programs was slashed can in part be attributed to support from western Senators and Representatives under the sway of the powerful cattlemen's lobby. The cattlemen want mustangs removed from public lands to make room for cheap, tax-subsidized livestock grazing. Only the power of the people can break the stranglehold that this special interest group has on Congress.
Help us spread the word and grow our grassroots network of taxpayers willing to stand up against the costly and cruel assault on our wild horses and burros. Please click here to easily send letters-to-the-editors of your local newspapers.
Take Action: Oppose Another Roundup of Wyoming Mustangs
636 Wild Horses Targeted for Removal from White Mountain and Little Colorado HMAs
Just five months ago, Wyoming's wild horse population suffered a huge blow when more than 2,000 horses were removed from the Adobe Town and Salt Wells Creek Herd Management Areas (HMAs) in the Red Desert. Last month, the BLM announced the planned removal of 500-600 wild horses from the Red Desert Complex, which consists of five HMAs adjacent to the Adobe and Salt Wells HMAs. Now the BLM's Rock Springs Field Office is planning to remove an additional 696 horses from Wyoming. The agency is now accepting public comments on its proposed roundup, which is scheduled for July 2011 - not only the hottest time of the year, but also a time when the majority of foals will be three months old or younger.
It's important to document public opposition to each and every one of these needless roundups. Please take a minute to register your opposition here.
BLM Excuses Inhumane Conditions at Utah Holding Facility
Last week, we shared with you video of the BLM's "Butterfield" (Herriman, Utah) holding facility where horses were forced to stand in knee-high mud and feces. BLM is now defending those deplorable conditions, saying they are "unavoidable" in springtime. However, keeping large numbers of wild horses in pens requires diligence and removal of animal waste in a timely fashion in order to avoid these types of conditions. After removing the mustangs from the range, the BLM has an obligation to keep them in sanitary and humane conditions.
You can read BLM's response to the media here. After reading this article you may want to send a short letter to the editor at letters@sltrib.com.
Carole King Speaks Up for Wild Horses
Thanks to music legend Carole King for posting a link on her Facebook page to the American Wild Horse Preservation Campaign (AWHPC) and helping us gain hundreds of new subscribers to our enews list!
Last year, Carole featured the stunning wild horse photography of Elissa Kline on her acclaimed "Troubadour Reunion" tour with James Taylor, bringing the plight of America's wild horses to sold-out, international audiences. Elissa is a talented photographer, committed wild horse advocate, and AWHPC supporter. Read more about her photos and the tour here.