Wild horses at the Burns corral in OR (photo: Laura Leigh)
UPDATE 8/8/2018:
UPDATE Colorado State University has pulled out of the study. However at this time it is unclear if BLM will partner with another University to continue this experiment.
We are awaiting an official statement from BLM. BLM in Oregon said they will release a statement tomorrow.
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is moving forward with paperwork to begin a spay experiment in Oregon.
An EA is now available for a 30 day public comment period: https://eplanning.blm.gov/epl-front-office/projects/nepa/107049/149639/183712/Spay_Feasibility_and_On-Range_Behavioral_Outcomes_Assessment_and__Warm_Springs_Herd_Management_Area_Population_Management_Plan_Environmental_Assessment.pdf
(all documents associated with this objective can be found here: https://eplanning.blm.gov/epl-front-office/eplanning/planAndProjectSite.do?methodName=dispatchToPatternPage¤tPageId=158496
The experiment was placed (prior to approval) onto the “gather schedule” and has already been given a start date of October 1. BLM has placed operations onto schedules in multiple instances prior to any NEPA completion in the past. It leaves little room for any confidence by the public that any “public comment” period is even taken seriously by the BLM. https://wildhorseeducation.org/2018/06/26/roundup-schedule-fast-look/
Our scoping comments: rs_ws_spaycomments_whe_060418
BLM actually placed a youtube online to promote this procedure.
After reading the EA and accompanying documents you can send your letters to: blm_or_spaystudy_warmsprhma@blm.gov Be aware that BLM is offering a public opportunity to view any comments made by members of the public at their Burns District office. If you do not want your name and address known, you can ask that it be held, but BM makes no guarantees it will be kept private.
Spaying a wild mare is the most expensive of any “tool” the BLM could possibly create. This is the most damaging to the individual.
Currently no funding is approved Congressionally through Appropriations for spaying as a “management tool.” The BLM continues to push the procedure to satisfy political pressure under nothing more than a word game. Tiering this to an EA for a removal of a wild population and tagging it “research” is simply semantics.
Categories: Wild Horse Education
You must be logged in to post a comment.