Wild Horse Lawsuit to Go Forward!!!

A federal judge sided with wild horse advocates April 19 when he declined to dismiss their lawsuit claiming that a Bureau of Land Management (BLM) round up of approximately 2,000 animals from the Twin Peaks Herd Management Area near Susanville, Calif., was unlawful.

On July 15, 2010, attorneys Joseph Cotchette, Stuart Gross, William Spriggs, and Rachel Fazio filed the complaint in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California on behalf of ecologist Chad Hanson; Barbara Clark, founder of the DreamCatcher Wild horse and Burro Sanctuary; Linda Hay; and the animal advocacy group In Defense of Animals. The complaint alleges that the gather violates the Wild and Free Roaming Horses and Burros Act of 1971 because it endangers horses. The Act protects mustangs and burros from harassment, capture or death, and places the animals' management under BLM jurisdiction.

The complaint also alleges that BLM violated the National Environmental Policy Act. That Act requires federal agencies to consider environmental impacts of their proposed actions and offer to reasonable alternatives to those actions. The complaint alleges that the BLM failed to prepare an environmental impact study demonstrating that animals residing in the Twin Peaks management area exceed levels appropriate to maintain that range's ecological balance, and that the agency failed to offer alternatives to the gather for maintaining such an appropriate ecological balance.

The BLM sought the suit's dismissal on grounds that the case was moot because the gathers had already taken place.

On Tuesday, U.S. District Court Judge Morrison C. England Jr. declined to dismiss the case, said a spokesperson for the court's clerk.

The Horse

CNN to run Mustang Series

CNN - Wild horse roundup triggers controversy
"Happy New Year to all you mustang supporters.

CNN is running this series so hope you can catch it. One of the key issues is management of the wild horse. BLM says there are too many herd area and not enough employees to manage the herds. However what they don't say is that they refuse to allow dedicated groups of horsemen with the knowledge and a lifetime of expertise to volunteer their help in a management program. By culling the herds down to a few horse, genetic viability is compromised and the older horses so necessary to teaching the younger horses survival are removed. The wild horses that have run free for so many decades will become extinct. All that will be left are the ones in private sanctuaries unless those of us who are fighting the war to save them turn around government policy within the BLM.

And, to bring you up to date, our group of rescued Colonial Spanish Mustangs continues to thrive. The babies that were born here in Borrego are as big as their mothers and all are healthy and beautiful. We continue to search for land for a sanctuary where they will be protected and managed with programs set up so that the public can enjoy and view these living examples of history running free.

Blessing to you all

Kay"

CNN - Wild horse roundup triggers controversy

Supposed to be continued tomorrow as another segment.

Let's Work Together

Original Message -----
From: Valerie James-Patton
ToSent: Tuesday, August 08, 2006 7:35 PM
Subject: A National Moratorium to Stop DOI Wild Horse Round-ups
A National Moratorium to Stop DOI Wild Horse Round-ups

Hi Everyone,
I'd like to present something to everyone that I believe just might be the solution that we need to help save what's left of our wild horses and burros. I'm starting to think it may be the only solution. It's not my idea, it's Deanne Stillman's idea. And I believe it's a great one. I certainly have not seen any better suggestions. I sent this idea to some of you a few weeks ago, and because I've added many more names here, I'm sending it again to share thoughts and ideas between everyone here.
Deanne mentioned it in her recent article, "Let's Mend the Broken Trail," but until she sent me the Department of the Interior's Code of Conduct, I didn't realize the possibility of what she has in mind. Given the dwindling number of wild horses on the range, she is urging that wild horse groups set aside any differences, work together, and ask for an immediate moratorium on all wild horse round-ups carried out by any agencies within the Department of the Interior, until the Department proves itself to be in compliance with the code.
I'm pasting the Code of Conduct here, and I hope you all see what I do. For instance, note that the code prohibits the fabrication and falsification of studies. Yet last year, two Interior Dept. scientists, Brooks and Campbell, came forward and accused the Bush administration of falsifying the latest grazing studies. There are many other aspects of this code that apply to current policy towards wild horses and burros. I think Deanne might have found us all a solution. I did tell her I'd try to help push it, and just sending her idea out to all of you is the only way I can think of to do it. If any of you see the possibility as well, please forward the idea to anyone you feel might be interested.
Thank you,
Valerie



For Immediate Release Hugh Vickery May 30, 2003 202-501-4633

(WASHINGTON) -- Interior Secretary Gale A. Norton today announced the
development of a for the Interior Department
- independently reviewed and approved by a panel of leading scientists
and ethicists - to help ensure the integrity of all scientific work
done by its employees and contractors.
"The scientific code of conduct will help ensure the American people
that the research and analysis we use has been conducted according to
the highest standards of the scientific community," Norton said.
The department developed the code in accordance with a new federal
policy on conduct of science published on December 6, 2000, by the White
House Office of Science and Technology Policy.
In addition, the Interior Department's Office of Inspector General
recommended the department develop a scientific code of conduct in its
report on its investigation of the submission of unauthorized samples to
a laboratory during population surveys for the Canada lynx in 1999 and
2000.
The code is being developed through a unique process involving both
peer review by an independent panel and employee involvement. The code
will be a new addition to the Department Manual, and this will be the
first time employees have had a chance to comment on a change to the
manual.
"We want the new code of conduct to be fully embraced by Interior
scientists as an accurate statement of their ideals," Norton said. "We
will fully involve employees in active discussion to ensure this reflects
their professional standards."
In addition to the employee comment process, there will also be an
opportunity for public comment on a similar code being prepared for
consultants and contractors to the department. Their code will go through the
ordinary administrative rulemaking process. Dates for public comment
will be announced later.
The code is similar to the codes of conduct of many scientific
organizations, including the Wildlife Society, American Fisheries Society,
and Ecological Society of America, to which many department scientists
belong. All of the scientific activities conducted or funded by the
Department are covered by this definition. These involve inventory,
monitoring, study, research, adaptive management or assessments that are
conducted in a manner specified by standard protocols and procedures.
"It is vitally important that any organization that does as much
scientific research and analysis as the Interior Department have a
well-founded code of scientific conduct that governs the full range of scientific
activities," said Dr. Deborah Brosnan, president of the nonprofit
Sustainable Ecosystems Institute and head of the independent review panel.
"Our panel felt that this was a strong code that meets three key goals
of building trust between science and the public, giving guidance, and
providing support for scientists."
The panel also included: Ann Bartuska, executive director of The
Nature Conservancy's Invasive Species Initiative and current president of
the Ecological Society of America; Baird Callicott, professor of
environmental ethics at the University of North Texas; Barry D. Gold, program
officer for the David and Lucile Packard Foundation; Carol Boggs,
director of the Center for Conservation Biology; and Jim Reichman, director
of the National Center For Ecological Analysis and Synthesis.
Under the new federal policy, scientific misconduct includes both
professional misconduct and research misconduct. Research misconduct is
defined as fabrication, falsification, or plagiarism in proposing,
performing, or reviewing research, or in reporting research results.
Fabrication is making up data or results and recording or reporting
them.
Falsification is manipulating research materials, equipment, or
processes, or changing or omitting data or results such that the research is
not accurately represented in the research record.
Plagiarism is the appropriation of another person's ideas, processes,
results, or words without giving appropriate credit.
Research misconduct does not include honest error or differences of
opinion.

Any allegations brought under the code will be handled in accordance
with departmental personnel policies and with the department's Handbook
on Charges and Penalty Selection for Disciplinary and Adverse Actions as
a guide. The new federal policy includes safeguards for subjects of
allegations, including timeliness, objectivity and confidentiality.
The Interior Department has established a website
(http://www.doi.gov/ethics) that contains the existing agency directives
pertaining to policies and conduct.
The U.S. Office of Government Ethics also has a website
(http://www.access.gpo.gov) where it has published the Standards for
Ethical Conduct of Employees of the Executive Branch.
Here is the proposed code:

THE CODE OF SCIENTIFIC CONDUCT
To the best of my ability:
I will act in the interest of the advancement of science and
contribute the best, highest quality scientific information for the Department
of the Interior.
I will conduct, manage, judge, report, and communicate scientific
activities and information honestly, thoroughly and without conflict of
interest.
I will be responsible for the resources entrusted to me, including
equipment, employees' time, and funds. I will be accountable for the
prompt and accurate collection, use, and reporting of all financial
resources and transactions under my control.
I will disclose the research methods to the local communities, Indian
tribes, and other individuals whose interest and resource uses are
studied; and respect the confidential and proprietary information provided
by those individuals to the fullest extent permitted by law.
I will neither hinder the scientific and information gathering
activities of others nor engage in dishonesty, fraud, deceit,
misrepresentation, or other scientific, research or professional misconduct.
I will welcome constructive criticism of my scientific activities and
information, participate in appropriate peer reviews, and critique
others' work in a respectful manner amid objective scientific review.
I will be diligent in the creation, use, preservation, and
maintenance of collections and data records; adhere to established quality
assurance and quality control programs; follow the records retention policies
of the Department; and comply with Federal law and established
agreements related to the use, security, and release of confidential and
proprietary data.
I will know, understand and adhere to standards of public information
dissemination and the formal publication of scientific information and
respect the intellectual property rights of others.
I will be responsible in all scientific activities for both the
collection and interpretation of data I collect and the integrity of
conclusions I present.
I will place quality and objectivity of scientific activities and
information ahead of personal gain or allegiance to individuals or
organizations.

Orphan Foal Rescue

From: willis@kbrhorse.net
To: LRTCwildhorsementors@yahoogroups.com
Sent: 5/2/2010 6:24:11 P.M. Pacific Daylight Time
Subj: Sunday's Orphan Foal Rescue

Feel free to cross post.
On Saturday afternoon a call was received about a dead mare with a foal near Cooney Spring behind Iron Mountain (northwest of Stagecoach.) The circumstances of the mare suggested that she might have been shot and some target shooters were heard in the area that afternoon. Michael Hettrick was on the scene and Mike Holmes and Daryl Peterson responded and determined that based on the way the horse had fallen that this relatively young mare had apparently died suddenly but there were no signs whatsoever that she had been shot. Nonetheless there was a young foal approximately three weeks old by her side. A stallion was protecting the foal so a decision was made to wait and retrieve the foal at first light on the following morning.
Michael and Mike located the foal the next morning, still being actively protected by the stallion. Volunteers responded to the incident location. Shirley Allen brought the LRTC trailer and I brought Corey, a BLM mustang that we use for range work. The idea was for the walking volunteers to quietly encircle the foal and stallion from a distance to separate them from the greater herd of horses. With this done I would distract the stallion with Corey while the volunteers secured the foal. In reality the stallion was having nothing to do with this plan and he would circle around the approaching humans and attempt to get back over to the larger body of horses.
The rescuers' strategy shifted at that point to one where the walkers would stay put and I would trail the foal and stallion on horseback until the foal got tired and fell back. This strategy worked as pretty soon the pace dropped from a trot to a walk, then the foal was content to walk alongside Corey. I was able to quietly drop a loop over the foal and we rested until the walkers caught up.
The volunteers then walked the foal back to the trailer, giving him time to rest periodically. With Corey close by the foal stayed pretty calm. He was loaded in the trailer with Shirley riding with him, and is presently recovering well at the Lucky Horse Corrals. In fact little "Iron Man," as he is presently called, has pretty much made himself at home at Shirley's, even coming into the house (into the orphan room) to wake Shirley up when he wants another bucket of mare's milk replacement. Needless to say he's now wearing one of Shirley's famous foal diapers.
Daryl will be out Monday to do estray paperwork on the foal. When the "Iron Man" is determined to be sufficiently grown and healthy, he will be available for adoption.
Here are some photos Sharon was able to take during the rescue. (Slide show presentation above!)This foal has distinctive markings. It would be helpful if any of you who have photographed the Iron Mountain horses in the past two weeks or so could see if you have a photo of this foal. He would most likely be part of a small band with just a mare and stallion. Earlier photos with known dates as to when they were taken will help us accurately age this foal.
Thanks!
":O) Willis

Sulphur Springs Band on the Range

Sulphur Springs Band on the Range
Photos by Robert Hayden taken this month near the Utah/Nevada border about 100 miles west of Cedar City Utah. There are an estimated 200 left after 325 were removed last November 2009!!

Las Vegas Rally for Wild Horse Preservation April 25

From: artistfromafrica@hotmail.com
To: dgrizzle@pdglv.com
Sent: 4/23/2010 11:42:38 A.M. Pacific Daylight Time
Subj: come to wild horse rally Sunday called DON'T TAKE MY BALLS

PLEASE COME OUT NOON SUNDAY TO RALLY FOR THE CALICO STALLIONS - MEET AT THE RED ROCK SCENIC OVERLOOK. We are spray painting tennis balls red and suspending them from lariats - and signs will be provided for you. If we have enough people, we'll put a second group in front to the RED ROCK entrance so do come out.

If you cannot come, please put the information below on your facebook and twitter pages. The achey, shakey geldings at the Fallon holding pens thank you!



DON'T TAKE MY BALLS!
Las Vegans will rally in sympathy with the young stallions under 4 years of age that were painfully castrated last week by the BLM at the Fallon Nevada holding pens. If the BLM wins the federal lawsuit by In Defense of Animals, they will castrate all the remaining mature stallions from the Calico roundup. The BLM has severely limited public access to the captive Calico horses despite public demands for transparency.
We will hang blood-red balls from lariats and circulate petitions asking President Obama to rein in the BLM, an outdated agency and friend of welfare cows. Below see poster by Melissa Ohlsson.

WHERE? RED ROCK CANYON SCENIC OVERLOOK ON HIGHWAY 159, from Las Vegas Strip, go west on Charleston, past the 215 Beltway and Red Rock Canyon entrance gates

WHEN? SUNDAY APRIL25, 2010 from NOON to 2pm

WHY? Castration is a way of wiping out the gene pool of the mustangs that have unique bloodlines adapted to their specific area. Pictures of the castrated horses taken by Craig C. Downer appear below.

BACKGROUND? In January 2010, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) conducted a deadly roundup of 1922 wild horses from the CALICO MOUNTAINS COMPLEX in northwestern Nevada, despite a federal lawsuit underway to stop the roundups and the recommendation of the federal judge that BLM should NOT conduct a roundup in the dead of winter. The Calico horses were not starving and had not damaged the public range, meanwhile the BLM sharply increased the number of private cattle allowed to graze at subsidized cost on the horses' range. Stress and trauma lie behind the majority of the 86 wild horse deaths (to date) and 40 spontaneous abortions, a report issued today by the American Wild Horse Preservation Campaign (AWHPC) concludes. AWHPC notes the expense of the Calico roundup which will cost taxpayers at least $1.3 million through April, and $1 million a year to warehouse the non-adoptable horses over their 20+ year lifespans. This costly policy, which relies on expensive roundups every four years, is pursued while cost-effective, on-the-range management strategies are ignored.

CONTACT PERSON? ARLENE GAWNE (702) 277-1313 artistfromafrica@hotmail.com

FOR MORE INFORMATION, see:
American Wild Horse Preservation Campaign
The Cloud Foundation press releases
News Story on Calico, rising death toll & skewed numbers from George Knapp (KLAS- Las Vegas)
BLM Daily Reports from Calico Roundup/Fallon Holding
American Herds
Mestengo. Mustang. Misfit. America’s Disappearing Wild Horses - A History

Roundup Schedule- updated February 2010

Don't Care About Wild Horses?...Maybe You Care About Your Pocketbook??

Grass Roots Horse.com
thecloudfoundation | April 19, 2010 at 7:45 pm | Categories: Uncategorized | URL: http://wp.me/pDfE4-Ho

A great new site to foster grassroots activism to protect and preserve our wild horses and burros in the wild--- online here

From the site: "We are individuals who care about the issues and want to join together to take concrete, measureable steps to make a difference. Grassroots activism is a time honored tradition that has stood the test of time. Let’s put it to work for our Horses. Join with us. E-mail us at volunteer@grassrootshorse.com"