Above: Our observer was the only member of the public onsite as BLM squeezed the last few bands from the area. The low number of foals remains alarming.
28 (10 Stallions, 13 Mares, and 5 Foals) were captured during another day of Air Quality warnings that include: do not engage in physical exertion, try to stay indoors and turn on an air purifier. The PM2.5 (the bad stuff in wildfire smoke) hit 12 times the World Health Organization (WHO) guideline. The rising sun in the smoke was ominous.
BLM was approved to continue the removal through August 18. Instead, BLM plowed through dangerous heat, dangerous air quality and racked up the highest death ratio of the 2024 season.
Blue Wing is coming in at 4 times the death rate as North Lander in Wyoming and Swasey in Utah.
BLM moved trap back into an area they hit earlier and the operation will continue.
Our observer is back onsite.
We expect this operation to end today or tomorrow.
On July 26, the operation took chaos to another level. We did an action item for you to send a complaint letter to the State Director of NV (HERE).
In that action item we included a video that shows a horse being roped appears to be choked, collapsing and being terribly roughed up before being dragged by the neck with a rope to standing. (In earlier video, it appeared that a burro was being beaten after being roped.)
This video is making the rounds on social media since yesterday, the 30th, posted by another group. This happened on the 26th.
In context (you can see in our daily reports, scroll down to the 26th) you can see that there were numerous ropings (many at the same time) of adults. This practice is something usually only employed when BLM is zeroing out an area.
On that day we also posted this video (below) of a horse banging its head on a trailer and breaking its neck. We have reason to believe (after review) the horse in the video below, is the same horse in the video above. There was likely a fracture during the yanking with the rope that led to the collapse on the trailer.
We posted these videos the morning after the events, as we do with all of our reporting.
We know emotions are high (so are ours) and frustration is real (so is ours). We received numerous emails yesterday asking why we did not post.. and we had along with an action item 3 days before. Please, try to be a bit softer in your emails to us as we work around the clock to bring you daily reports and work with our attorney.
Criminal prosecution using penalties enforced by the BLM on the general public (for actions involving abusing wild horses or burros) does not apply here. Ask any attorney. We wish it were different, we really do. Just like BLM can require you to have shade if you adopt but they do not have to when they warehouse, the same holds true during a roundup.
The BLM Incident Commander (COR) and Contracting Officer Representation (COR) onsite are the ones that determine “right and wrong” and are approving all you see as it happens. They speak for the federal government onsite. That is why we have to go to Federal Civil Court.
We have been onsite since day one. The IC is fully aware of everything (since day one) and has repeatedly stated he has approved all conduct.
That is why WHE is in court again on abuse to gain clear and enforceable standards… so there can be penalty and accountability. Or to have the court hold that the current standards are, in fact, enforceable.
If abuse upsets you? Ask why Congress won’t address it.
Why in the budget bill are there only debates to add more money for fertility control, since 2018, and never any specific funding to address abuse directly? Even if your representative wants all horses removed, how could they be against funding the creation of enforceable welfare rules?
Make the call: The phone number for Congress is: (202) 224-3121. You should put it in your speed dial. Call the number tell the operator who your representative is (or where you live if you do not know) and you will be connected to an aide in the office. Ask to register your concerns and request. Ask that an amendment to the funding bill for the BLM Wild Horse and Burro Program be crafted to simply create a line item for funding for “Rulemaking to create an enforceable welfare policy.”
WHE has active and fully briefed litigation for management of the Blue Wing Complex.
WHE also has active litigation addressing abuse, directly.
We will have news on the legal front as soon as we can.
You can visit our daily logs from summer 2024 roundups:
We won an amazing victory earlier this year where the courts recognize removal is NOT management. We have three additional cases in the system now. We need your help to keep our teams in field and expand our litigation.
Thank you for keeping WHE running for the wild.
There are only 6 days left to order a t-shirt designed by Jim Brown featuring the wild stallion named Krazy from the North Lander Complex. If you would like to support the work of WHE with a t-shirt purchase, CLICK HERE.
A bit from Jim about Krazy. We are truly honored that Jim chose Krazy to put on a shirt to represent support for the work of WHE.
Categories: Wild Horse Education
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