01 February 2010
Public Denied Adequate Roundup Observation Access To Controversial Roundup of American Mustangs. Deaths of 27 horses and 20-30 aborted foals reported to date.
Right: The public wishes to observe the roundups of federally protected mustangs on public land. These helicopter roundups are taxpayer funded projects conducted by private contractors.
Background: These are highly controversial roundups, conducted with a helicopter in the winter over rough ground. Horses are being moved 10+ miles in winter weather at a time when they need to keep their energy expenditures low to survive the winter, along with the other wildlife in the area.
BLM Promise: Don Glenn, Chief, Wild horse and Burro Program said at the Reno National Wild Horse and Burro Advisory Board meeting on Dec 7 “All of our gathers are open to the public, the publics is invited to come and watch and observe all the time. We’ll accommodate ‘em as best we can. I mean if we had hundreds of thousands of people wanting to come out and watch a gather we’d have to manage that situation. But we would manage it in such a way that people could come out and observe and report back, whether it be journalists or whatever …All of our gathers are open to the public all of the time.”
Meeting moderator goes on to ask “what is your definition of observing a gather?”
Video of Mr. Glenn’s statement on welcoming public to roundups. Complete broadcast of National Wild Horse and Burro Advisory Board meeting on Dec. 7th, 2009 in Reno.
Since Mr. Glenn made these statements not one roundup has been allowed to be fully observed by the public.
- Buckhorn roundup took place while meeting was in session neither the public nor the press was alerted that this roundup had been moved up from its planned summer slot
- An In Defense of Animal member was denied access to the Pamomino Buttes roundup in Oregon in late December
- The controversial Calico roundup began on private lands where public was denied access to observe.
Current case in Point: Calico Roundup – February 1, 2010
- Roundup of over 2500 wild horses occurring 7 days per week since December 28th start, weather permitting.
- The BLM is allowing the public to watch the Calico roundup BY APPOINTMENT ONLY
- Observations are only allowed from a distance of 75 yards away behind yellow caution tape.
- Only 10 members of the public are allowed at roundup site per day
- “Visitors” are allowed only 3 days per week (Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays)
- It is a 1-2 hr drive out to roundup site from Gerlach, NV, which is over an hour drive from Reno.
- The BLM has released a new observation form as of 1/30/10 that you must now sign before attending roundup.* (first page and second page of form) or "protocol" as posted online.
- Public only permitted at roundup site until 1 or 2pm. BLM: “For safety purposes, the BLM will escort observers from the gather/holding site around 1-2pm”*
- “Visitors arriving at the rendezvous site without an appointment will not be allowed to participate in the observation day. The BLM law enforcement will escort non-scheduled visitors to a designated free-speech area.”*
- “Observers will be polite, professional and respectful to BLM managers and staff and the contractor/employees” *
- Roundup began on private land where no members of the public were permitted to watch for first week.
- 27 horses have died so far as reported by BLM -- including 2 foals whose hooves have literally sloughed off, separating from the bone. (1/26/10: summary of deaths from BLM here)
- 20-30 mares have had spontaneous abortions in their third trimester - numbers according to BLM
- Some of these horses are in lean, winter condition, especially the older mares, and they should not be stressed at this time of year- the same goes for all wildlife.
- The BLM is posting daily reports online here, although daily reports have been changed post-date on occasion.
Secretary Salazar: “It has been an emotionally charged battle in large part because there is this affection for these legends of the west… We have a problem that we’re trying to solve here and we’re trying to do it in a way that is best for the horses, best for the taxpayer and best for the public lands” --from Good Morning America segment, aired 1/30/10
The Secretary’s statement raises more questions than it answers.
If this is so good, why is the public not allowed to watch this roundup?
If this is so good for the American taxpayers, why is it costing us millions of dollars, just for this one round up?
If this is so good for the wild horses, why have two colts been run so hard and long over rough ground that their hooves fell off?
This leaves the public with the burning question: Just who is this good for?
And just who stands to gain?
Photos from top to bottom: Elyse Gardner (Roundup of Calico horses), Laura Leigh (2nd colt who was killed after hooves fell off), Barbara Ries (young protester in Phoenix), Craig Downer (Healthy Calico horses in wild in October 2009), Kuirt Golgart/BLM (Calico horses in Dec. 2009 sweaty and steaming in cold following roundup).
