BLM lacks information on wild horse plan- roundups continue

                                                                                                                    photo by Carrol Abel

Last week's Wild Horse and Burro Advisory Board meeting near Reno, Nevada, ended with no inkling of a recommendation regarding the current plan for managing our nations wild horses.  The plan in question was announced in October by newly appointed Secretary of the Interior, Ken Salazar.  His strategy includes the creation of non-producing herds on pasture land in the east and the restructuring of free roaming herds by manipulating male/female ratios and injecting a large percentage of mares with the immunocontraceptive PZP.

Opponents are calling the plan a recipe for disaster and have united in their call for an immediate moratorium on the BLM's escalated roundup schedule already under way.  Representative from around the country voiced their opposition to  board members.  At the end of the day, no decision was made.

Robyn Lohnes, Advisory Board Chairman, referenced the lack of sufficient information as the cause. "We had hoped for more information from the [ BLM ] implementation team." said Lohnes.  Though board members requested more information for their upcoming February meeting, Lohnes stated, "I can't speak for the others but I don't expect to have enough information then to make a recommendation."  The board has formed a three member sub-committee to serve as liaisons to the implementation team.

Board members may have a long wait for the information they seek.  According to Don Glenn, BLM Wild Horse and Burro Division Chief, there is no implementation team. "We have the leaders but the team is not formed yet." said Glenn.  "The information will be complete by the end of the year... Congress requires a plan by end of FY 2010."

BLM has contracted with the U.S. Institute for Environmental Conflict Resolution, whose involvement is to facilitate a resolution to the conflict between all stakeholders. "Our role has just begun." said Larry Fisher, Institute representative. "This is a timely moment.  There is a strong and renewed political commitment to address the issue."  The contract will end in late May or early June.

Meanwhile, the wild horse roundups continue at an escalated rate.

BLM's Surprise Field Office ended a roundup of 217 horses along the Nevada/California border the day before the meeting.  The unannounced move was certainly a surprise to animal advocates.  It was scheduled to take place in August of next year.  Many are calling it a sneak attack which allowed no opportunity to file an appeal to stop the action. One mare died due to round up activities and foals are reported to be in poor condition.   A lawsuit has been filed to stop the  roundup and  removal of 2,700 wild horses in the nearby Calico Complex  scheduled to begin December 28. 

When asked to comment on the 33,000 horses corralled in BLM holding facilities and the projected removal of an additional 25,000 in the next two years, Robyn Lohnes replied, "The arithmetic does not work for me."   

That thought appears to be shared by many.

  FOR MORE INFORMATION

Stealth roundup conducted by BLM while advocates sat in Advisory Board Meeting

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