Breaking News: Protect Mustangs asks Nevada BLM to halt a potentially deadly roundup during foaling season

Pregnant mares chased by helicopters can abort their babies

For immediate release:

WASHINGTON (June 6, 2012) — Protect Mustangs asks the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to avoid a deadly roundup and cancel plans for a helicopter stampede of pregnant mares in the Winnemucca district of northern Nevada known as the Jackson Mountain roundup. The preservation group calls the public to voice their opposition to the roundup by contacting the Winnemucca District Director, Gene Seidlitz and the BLM Deputy Director in Washington, Mike Pool.

“If BLM goes ahead with the roundup, we fear heavily pregnant mares will abort their foals,” says Anne Novak, executive director of Protect Mustangs. “We are concerned this would turn into another deadly roundup. These wild horses have a right to life.”

Members of the public may email District Director Gene Seidlitz at GSeidlit@blm.gov and Deputy Director Mike Pool  Mike_Pool@blm.gov asking them to cancel the proposed foaling season helicopter roundup. The Nevada Fax # is 775-623-1503 and the Washington D.C Fax # is 202-208-5242

“If the BLM cares about the welfare of the wild mares and their unborn babies they will not terrify and chase them for miles.” Novak explains. “We are asking Mr. Seidlitz and Mr. Pool to prevent the carnage and cancel their plans for a foaling season roundup.”

“We would like to see the BLM bring the wild horses feed and water if they are at risk–not use the word “drought” to trump up an emergency roundup to remove them from their land,” states Novak.

Just last week the Nevada BLM held the annual public helicopter hearing without giving the public adequate notification–only 5 business days. It appears the Nevada BLM does not care about transparency, public participation and does not want public input on helicopter roundups.

Protect Mustangs is a Bay Area-based preservation group whose mission is to educate the public about the American wild horse, protect and research wild horses on the range and help those who have lost their freedom.

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Media Contacts:

Anne Novak, 415-531-8454 Anne@ProtectMustangs.org
Kerry Becklund, 510-502-1913 Kerry@ProtectMustangs.org
Contact Protect Mustangs for interviews, photos or video

Links of interest:

Reno NBC affiliate News 4 reports: Wild horse advocates say the BLM jeopardized public process http://www.mynews4.com/news/local/story/Wild-horse-advocates-say-the-BLM-jeopardized/a8kN1TVKZ0WLiaEBaISvDA.cspx

KPFA Evening News, KFCF Fresno, KPFK Los Angeles, WBAI New York, KPFT Houston, WPFW Washington, DC  Protect Mustangs says the Nevada BLM jeopardizes public process, privacy and free speech http://www.kpfa.org/archive/id/81120  report at 22:35 on the link
BLM’s plans for bait trapping Gone Viral ~ Las Vegas Review Journal Land managers try new method to capture mustangs http://bit.ly/HKKIrL
California BLM reschedules public hearing, Nevada resists public notification for helicopter hearing: http://protectmustangs.org/?p=1498

BLM Winnemucca District: http://www.blm.gov/nv/st/en/fo/wfo.html

Video of helicopter roundup: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T_dhnqCijOk&feature=player_embedded

Protect Mustangs website: http://protectmustangs.org/

One thought on “Breaking News: Protect Mustangs asks Nevada BLM to halt a potentially deadly roundup during foaling season

  1. Thank you, Anne. This time of year is so full of threats to the babies. We have doubtless lost many through out these removals. They do not deserve this treatment and disregard! mar

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