Wild Horses: Please Comment on BLM’s Proposed Removals of Young Horses from Cloud’s Herd
May 21, 2015Wild Horses: The Last Adobe Town Foal Arrives at Black Hills Wild Horse Sanctuary
June 15, 2015
Sand Wash Basin is home to one of the most colorful wild horse herds
On Tuesday morning, I took a journalist and a cameraman from France TV out to a waterhole at Sand Wash Basin, home of one of my favorite wild horse herds. The previous day, they had been driven around a herd management area near Lander by the BLM wild horse and burro expert there, and had only seen 3 wild horses. They were thrilled as we drove up to see at least 60 wild horses around the waterhole, and they kept asking me if the horses were going to leave. I explained that the horses in this area were relatively used to people, and if we approached quietly and respectfully, we should be able to get some good footage of wild horse behavior.
I spent about 5 hours with them, and made certain to discuss on the range management versus removal, the use of birth control instead of roundups, the livestock outnumbering wild horses on public lands by about 100 to 1, the pressure of special interest groups such as welfare ranchers that are squeezing out the horses, the importance of maintaining genetic viability of each herd,the inhumanity and cruelty of the helicopter roundups and housing the horses in holding facilities without shelter, and the BLM’s plan to do sterilization studies on the horses, to name just a few topics. I pointed out the behaviors that are characteristic of wild horses, that make observing intact families so special.
Corona driving his family
Then they headed to Rangely to meet up with Callie Hendrickson, one of the most virulent wild horse haters that ever sat on the BLM Wild Horse and Burro Advisory Board, in order to interview one of her rancher friends.
A young foal runs for the sheer joy of being alive
They certainly could have interviewed some wonderful wild horse advocates in the Pisceance/West Douglas Herd Areas, and given those that fight to protect them a little more time and notice. But they did not.
Young bachelor stallions playing
Here is the piece: http://www.francetvinfo.fr/monde/usa/video-les-chevaux-sauvages-se-reproduisent-trop-vite-un-probleme-pour-l-ouest-americain_949025.html
If I sound bitter, it is not because I didn’t get more air time – it is because they claimed this would be a balanced piece.
Corona greeting a young bachelor
News stories come and go, but I am not going anywhere.
11 Comments
Why would anyone hate wild horses? Must be the type of person that also hates bison and those that came before us.
Beautiful horses and who cares what FRance says….The can kiss it
Carol, this is a damn shame. I’m so sorry.
Is there a way to translate the French video? I don’t know French but I can tell right from the start with all those horses running it is nothing but lies. Then there is the rancher telling another one. I stopped watching then.
You are well aware of my thoughts on this issue already. As well as that I think our current confinement policy is way to expensive and I favor a slaughter for consumption policy. I did watch the video, but don’t speak french, so i’m not really sure what the tilt of the piece was. Maybe you can put it into perspective for me in a more unbiased approach.
Funny, isn’t it? The BLM and their beef buddies have spun fiction that is now accepted as FACT around the world. Funny, isn’t it? That the BLM knows these foreign countries want more horse meat … and the BLM believes they HAVE it to offer? This is the impetus for bringing back horse slaughter to the USA. Congress must pass the S.A.F.E. Act and stop all horse slaughter. Period. —BLM and those who want to reopen slaughter plants, or who want to build new ones, or who are the governors of states that want the blood money they perceive available, or who are Speaker John Boehner and folks like John McCain (AZ). THESE all are the people who are wishing for BLM to get permission to release large numbers of captive wild horses to slaughter. It is happening already, because the BLM is sneaking captive wild horses away from holding pens and “into the wrong hand.” — ALL of this must cease.
This is so disturbing. You can always count on the Republicans to do the inhumane behavior. I hoped McCain would be different. No such luck. Horses are majestic, beautiful, and priceless animals. I am guessing France eats hoursemeat. If so, I will bypass it when I go. What the hell is the matter with people? Bless you for your educational efforts. We must not give up. I still believe we must contact the American National media to let them know what the BLM, France, and McCain are doing. I think Americans will be outraged.
This is horrible to think wild horses may end up on french dinner plates! Heres me thinking the usa was democratic and humane country, seems i was wrong! Keep fighting for these noble creatures they need our help and our voices.
France journalists on these wild horses to disseminate negative reporting is very disturbing. The ‘West’ is not overrun by wild horses. Let’s remind BLM that their job is to administer or should we say, ‘stewardship’ to the land. Part of that responsibility is protecting wildlife such as these amazing horses. I think BLM somehow have this mentality along with their friends, such as this wild horse hater Callie Hendrickson that they can issue permits to ranchers to graze their sheep/cattle year-round as long as they please and try to create something that is not true. I hope there are still some good people who work at BLM but they are probably outnumbered. Okay, next election, let’s weed out people who are haters. But let me remind you that BLM and these ranchers Do NOT have a life-term permits or have a say, these ranchers have permits for 10 years…and who review these permits when their grazing lease is up? Ten years is too long. Cattle/sheep can ruin fertile land within months and years. When do we get to say that these ranchers should be held responsible for some of the damages their livestock do out there? John McCain and the other John ‘boohoo’ Boehner are full of themselves and do not have a clue what is out here. Have you ever seen any of these people out there watching the land, the wildlife, and then to see sheep/cattle come in and stomp out vegetation that are staple for wildlife? As for BLM people, they need to start counting how many cattle/sheep these ranchers own and continue to take up the wildlife’s land or leasing land to gas companies and destroying earth, plant, water, and wildlife. As for the wild horses and other wild life on the range, natural cycle occurs and the weak ones die so others can survive. So let me say this, France journalist get away from here and please do not come back! There is much love we have for these horses and all other animals that live in this area…and on the whole Earth. There are people who will do all they can to protect them…Creator blessed us with them.
Translation of written word accompanying the video:
News
/ World
/ United States of America
VIDEO. Wild horses breed too quickly, a problem for the American West
The United States prohibits the slaughter of mustangs, but authorities still want to limit their number at 25,000, while the country already has more than 50,000 mustangs
(VALERIE ASTRUC and REGIS MASSINI – FRANCE 2)
By Francetv info
Updated the 12/06/2015 | 22:31 , published the 12/06/2015 | 21:05
The mustangs are no longer welcome in the American West. Federal authorities are sounding the alarm on the excessive number of wild horses on this territory. They will be 150 000 in five years if nothing is done to curb their expansion. A greater problem that these horses reproduce quickly and devour everything in their path, according to the administration, which creates conflicts with some ranchers.
2,000 were collected in 2015, an insufficient number
The United States prohibits the slaughter of mustangs, but authorities still want to limit their number at 25,000, while the country already has more than 50,000 mustangs. Cattle who share the land with these wild horses no longer support not be able accessing water points in areas invaded by the mustangs. They hunt other herds.
In total, 2,000 were collected in 2015, a number insufficient to achieve the objectives, but defenders of animals are the barbaric process. Different methods are launched without result, prompting federal authorities to propose a million and a half dollars of reward to find a lasting solution to the problem of wild horses.
It is our own fault, by trying to keep the herds private we do not get the people to voice that are needed. For ensample I am a photographer and I know 100,000 of photographer’s are wanting to photograph these herds and pay money to do it. You never solicit us and we are NOT hiding. all you need to do is email me and I will get the word out. We need to know what? where? When? how? to get the best photos or at least consulted.
Photographing wild horses is only one part of getting the word out. Writing Senators, Congressmen, the President, writing comments, giving talks, telling your friends. The herds are not a secret and you can get maps and information about how to visit them online. Google BLM, the state you want to visit and wild horses.