Horses Flee BLM Helicopters In Subzero Temperatures

[Ed. Note: Read Calico Complex Roundup, Dec. 28 thru Feb 2010.]

FROM Kinship Circle

Stop the current Bureau of Land Management (BLM) roundup of wild horses in order to pacify the cattle industry. AND, advocate passage of the Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burro Act (ROAM) which renews protections originally granted in 1971.

Photo courtesy In Defense of Animals (IDA)

CONTACT

John Cruden, Acting Assistant Attorney General
U.S. Department of Justice, Room 2141
950 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW / Washington, D.C. 20530-0001
email: john.cruden@usdoj.gov

President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20500
phone: 202-456-1111 or 202-456-9000
switchboard: 202-456-1414; fax: 202-456-2461
contact forms: http://www.whitehouse.gov/contact/,
http://www.whitehouse.gov/ContactUs/

Ken Salazar, Secretary of the Interior
U.S. Department of the Interior
1849 C Street, N.W.
Washington DC 20240
ph: 202-208-3100; email: feedback@ios.doi.gov

U.S. Bureau of Land Management
1849 C Street NW, Rm. 5665
Washington DC 20240
Director Bob Abbey: Director@blm.gov, Robert_Abbey@blm.gov
ph: 202-208-3801, 866-468-7826; fax: 202-208-5242
Acting Deputy Director Mike Pool: Mike_Pool@blm.gov
Chief of Staff Janet Lin: janet_lin@blm.gov

U.S CITIZENS ONLY, ALSO SEND COMMENTS TO:

Your Representative

Your Senators 

SAMPLE LETTER / TALKING POINTS

President Obama, Vice President Biden, Acting Assistant Attorney General Cruden, Secretary Salazar, Bureau of Land Management, Members of Congress:

The Bureau of Land Management continues to misuse the U.S. Wild Horse and Burro Program. I implore elected officials to intervene -- and stop -- the seizure of our nation's last wild herds.

In early January 2010, BLM "managed" thousands of horses in Nevada's Calico Mountains by corralling them in subzero temperatures. With low-flying helicopters overhead, horses ran until drenched in sweat. Once subdued, sweat can freeze on their bodies and lead to respiratory illness or death.

Photographer Kurt Golgart unwittingly conveyed the horses' fear in his image published in NY Times. With bulging eyes, the horses blow steam from their noses that hangs in the frigid air like fog.

BLM’s 2010 Round-Up Schedule calls for the capture of 12,000 wild horses and burros. Most taxpayers do not want to foot BLM's $32 million bill.

The Calico Complex removal exemplifies core problems with the agency. After the same herd was corralled in 2005, all mares among an estimated 575 horses left on the range received contraceptive vaccines. Today, BLM argues that 3,000 horses roam the area. It is outlandish to assert that a small herd controlled with contraception quintupled in size in less than five years. In fact, residents accustomed to the herd claim numbers are far lower.

For years, BLM has crowded American horses and burros in federal holding. The agency impounds more animals than it can adopt out. Consequently, some wind up on the auction block, sold to "killer-buyers," and trucked to foreign kill floors. This is neither fiscally nor ethically responsible. I hope the Justice Department intensifies its investigation of BLM and the current administration stops this agency's disgraceful tactics.

Moreover, I urge the White House and Congress to advocate passage of the Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burro Act (ROAM) which renews protections originally granted in 1971. Passage of this bill would keep these magnificent creatures where they belong -- on public, Western rangelands.

Sincerely...

Thank you for everything you do for animals!