Fish Creek stallions run free once more
Note: Thank you to Battle Mountain BLM for making the attempt to find real world solutions in spite of the challenges. Thank you to all of you that took the time to sign on to the letter to help us get Sarge and the Fish Creek wild horses back home. The real work begins now. It is time to gather necessary data and step forward on solid ground to preserve and protect the Fish Creek wild horses.
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Wild Horses Win Freedom At Fish Creek
(EUREKA, NV ), Today 162 of the 432 wild horses captured in February by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) from the Fish Creek Herd Management Area (HMA) in Eureka, Nevada – were returned to their home on the range. Trucks and trailers rolled onto the range today and 162 wild horses run free once more.
Before the horses could be returned to the range as planned, Eureka county and local ranchers, (including one rancher under a formal decision of cattle trespass), filed a legal challenge with the Interior Board of Land Appeals (IBLA) to stop the return of wild horses to the range in an assertion that the federal government has no authority to release the horses. The claim goes further in demanding more removals and even the destruction of horses in holding facilities if BLM has no space to warehouse mustangs they remove from the range.
The 183 horses that had been trucked to holding facilities have cost $6335.00 per week just for holding fees alone, which now total just over $25,000.00. Five mares and one stallion died in holding and fifteen gave birth. The mares and foals will be released at a later date.
The IBLA has now ruled against the County’s request to hold the wild horses in the facility until the underlying claim is decided. The authority of the BLM to return the wild horses has now been affirmed. Arguments in the case continue on the underlying claims.
Laura Leigh, President of Wild Horse Education (WHE) a national non- profit based in the state of Nevada, has been active in monitoring and in discussions with the BLM on the Fish Creek herd since 2012. In addition to actively engaging in the current management strategy for this herd based on recommendations from the National Academy of Sciences (NAS), WHE has been monitoring range conditions and trespass livestock in the area.
Leigh witnessed the entire roundup, the horses in holding and was present at the release.
“I can not even begin to describe the feeling of relief.” said Laura Leigh, President of Wild Horse Education, “The real work begins as this plan moves forward to create sound management over the next decade. The first step toward changing outdated habits can be the hardest. Today was one heck of a ‘leap’ toward kicking those bad habits into the past where they belong. ”
Leigh has documented these particular wild horses for years including their capture and captivity. A special stallion named “Sarge” was one of the stallions released back to the range. More than 5,000 people signed a letter to use in the fight to return the Fish Creek horses and Sarge.
“I saw Sarge in the pen at the facility and promised him we would get him free,” said Leigh through tears, “Today we fulfilled that promise. I know there is a lot of work ahead but I am going to let myself celebrate tonight. I will never forget this true return to freedom.”
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WildHorseEducation.org is committed to gaining protections from abuse, slaughter and extinction for our wild horses and burros. Help us stay on course http://WildHorseEducation.org/donate
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