Besides avoiding the fact that they are a native species, the guide isn’t bad.
BLM Nevada publishes their guide to find wild horses and burros
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Tag Archives: Nevada
BLM ensures wild horses will have water
Cross-posted from the Elko Daily Free Press
October 11, 2013 4:45 pm • By DYLAN WOOLF HARRIS
ELKO — Reports that wild horses were without water prompted local Bureau of Land Management to investigate this week.
Contracted water hauler Jackie Wiscombe told the county commission Wednesday that the federal government shutdown had prohibited her from watering wild horses in Ruby Valley and Deer Springs, an area about 15 miles north of Currie.
She said she was concerned the animals were dying of thirst. The road to Deer Springs had been washed out, Wiscombe added, and she was unable to drive to the guzzlers.
Alerted by the news, BLM Elko District Director Jill Silvey said an employee was sent to Deer Springs to check on water and horse conditions.
The BLM employee was able to get to Deer Springs on a road that had some washout but was passable, Silvey said. The employee also reported that the horse guzzler still had water.
The employee didn’t see any horses, but because water was available, she said, the BLM believes the horses to be in good shape.
Silvey was unsure where the communication broke down, but said hauling water to the horses is an essential service and the BLM didn’t intend for Wiscombe to stop watering the two areas.
Wiscombe said she was contacted Thursday night and told that she should have received an email and voice message when the shutdown began, telling her to continue hauling water.
Wiscombe is also unsure how the miscommunication occurred, but couldn’t recall getting an email.
In any event, Wiscombe said she’s glad to be working with the agency again.
“I like working with this BLM office,” she said, “and they really do care about these wild horses.”
Mostly, she’s happy to be watering horses again.
On Friday she hauled water to Ruby Valley where the tubs were “bone dry.”
Wiscombe said she didn’t see any horses but did find fresh horse tracks near the guzzlers.
“I filled them up,” she said. “And I’ll go fill them back up in a few days.”
Commissioner Demar Dahl said Wednesday he could help fix a road if it was impassable.
Wiscombe said she would keep in contact with the commission if the road needed repair.
The Elko District BLM office is closed. Almost all of its employees have been on furlough since Oct. 1, when the federal government shut down.
Link to the Elko Daily Free Press: http://elkodaily.com/news/blm-horses-have-water/article_3abd77c2-32cf-11e3-9b92-0019bb2963f4.html?comment_form=true
Two different Fort McDermitt lawsuits for two different issues
Summary
The American Wild Horse Preservation Campaign, Laura Leigh et al sued over the Fort McDermitt roundup. Protect Mustangs and Citizens Against Equine Slaughter sued over the agreement that called for years of similar roundups. Though the USFS didn’t participate in the Fort McDermitt roundup, the USFS-McDermitt agreement was left on the table. Protect Mustangs and Citizens Against Equine Slaughter got the illegal agreement scrubbed out on Sept. 3, 2013, after the roundup cases had been lost/dismissed in mid-August.
Links of interest™:
September 30,2013 Horsetalk, New Zealand Roundup agreement canned following legal challenge http://horsetalk.co.nz/2013/09/30/roundup-agreement-canned-following-legal-challenge/#axzz2gPxqlhX1
September 28, 2013 CBS San Francisco Wild Horse Advocates’ Legal Victory Halts Roundups in NorCal Forest http://sanfrancisco.cbslocal.com/2013/09/28/wild-horse-advocates-legal-victory-halts-roundups-in-norcal-forest/#.UkhzyrcAdyU.twitter
Press Release: Legal win creates public transparency and halts 2-year roundup contract (September 26, 2013): http://protectmustangs.org/?p=5185
PM Protect Mustangs & Citizens Against Equine Slaughter Win Transparency for Public for Forest Service Roundups with Tribes (September 17, 2013)
Termination of roundup agreement (September 3, 2013): http://protectmustangs.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/PM-Protect-Mustangs-CAES-McDermitt-Participating-Agreement-Termination-September-3-2013.pdf
August 24, 2013 Horseback Magazine Dances with Wolves author Michael Blake joins lawsuit to stop ongoing wild horse roundups: http://horsebackmagazine.com/hb/archives/24124
Breaking News: Michael Blake joins lawsuit to stop ongoing wild horse roundups (August 24, 2013): http://protectmustangs.org/?p=5060
Citizens Against Equine Slaughter and Protect Mustangs file preliminary injunction (August 24, 2013): PLAINTIFFS’ MOTION FOR PRELIMINARY INJUNCTION AND MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT
Horses saved and horses lost at Native American horse auction (August 17, 2013): http://protectmustangs.org/?p=5023
Information about Fallon Livestock Auction (August 17, 2013): http://protectmustangs.org/?p=4999
Temporary Restraining Order Granted (August 16, 2013): http://protectmustangs.org/?p=4990
Viral article: August 16, 2013 The Associated Press US judge refuses to block NV tribe’s mustang sale http://www.idahostatesman.com/2013/08/15/2708155/us-judge-in-nv-asked-to-block.html
Press Release: Lawsuit filed to save wild horses from alleged slaughter (August 16, 2013): http://protectmustangs.org/?p=5001
Official request to terminate roundup agreement, request DNA testing, separate unbranded wild horses, etc. (August 15, 2013): http://protectmustangs.org/?p=4969
# # #
Info about Native American horses selling at NV livestock auction Sat
Just called the livestock exchange, guy said they just finished counting all the horses and his numbers are approximate:
Viewing between 8-10 Saturday morning on site
selling by the head or lot, not by the pound
Approx 35 mares + babies together, will be sold singly not as a lot
Approx 40 mares in several lots (14, 17, 19)
25-30 mares no babies singly
25-30 geldings singly
Approx 75 big “old” studs to be sold in several lots
Approx 20-30 yearlings and weaned foals sold singly
All horses have brands except a few and except some babies
Auction starts at 11:00
Payment via cash, Visa or MasterCard only
Nevada tax = 7.6%
The lots will be sold at the pens – those horses will not be brought through the arena, everyone will walk to the pens and bid there
If we’re bidding, we need to register
27 owners represented in these 500 horses
I just added those numbers and it only comes to 275, so not sure about the other 225 horses that would make a total of 500 but at least we get the idea
BLM avoids necropsy to escape public outcry
For immediate release
How many wild horses must drop dead in the heat waves before BLM gives them shelter?
RENO, NV (July 20, 2013)–The public is outraged that the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) does not provide shelter for the captive wild horses and burros at Palomino Valley Center near Reno, Nevada. Nevada State Senator Mark Manendo and Anne Novak, executive director of Protect Mustangs warned on June 9th that wild horses would suffer, get sick and could die from heat related illnesses. They called for shade but the BLM refused to take action. In the morning of July 2nd, the Protect Mustangs investigation discovered a branded young wild horse who died during the heat wave.
Protect Mustangs documented the incident with video and photographs. They immediately sought help from several senators and representatives and requested Secretary of Interior, Sally Jewell, bring shade to the trapped mustangs.
“The BLM’s historic disregard for America’s wild horses is a global embarrassment,” states Anne Novak. “We hope the new Secretary of Interior, Sally Jewell, will intervene to bring them shade and call for a moratorium on roundups for population studies, based on science of course. They’re underpopulated on the range now. That’s why they are breeding at a higher rate–to prevent extinction.”
The BLM neglected to perform a necropsy to determine the cause of death for 2 branded young wild horses who died during the last heat wave, on June 30th and July 2nd.
Another death on June 28th could have been due to exposure to high temperatures without access to shade. The wild yearling had a respiratory illness known as strangles that is often occurring at the holding facility. According to the BLM, the wild horse’s death was attributed to strangles but the factor causing death could have been that she was forced to stand in the triple-digit temperatures which aggrivated her condition–ultimately causing her death.
“If a horse has strangles, its immune system is being compromised,” explains Dr. Lester Castro Friedlander, BA. DVM, President of Citizens Against Equine Slaughter. “When there is a heat wave, the horse’s body becomes dehydrated and the major organs try to keep the body in a stable condition, but then it can not fight the bacterial infection. High temperatures increase the death rate of horses with strangles, due to a chain reaction of major organs being compromised.”
All the branded mustangs that were recorded to have died were female: one was a 3 year old and the others were yearlings.
Currently the deaths of all young unbranded wild horses and burros are not counted at the BLM facilities. The BLM’s lack of accountability is raising concern amongst elected officials and members of the public.
“Our investigation uncovered the dead branded yearling during the heat wave but the BLM avoided performing a necropsy,” states Anne Novak, executive director of Protect Mustangs. “It’s as if they don’t want the public to know the truth. Why won’t they let the public know how many young mustangs have died? Why are they avoiding transparency?”
“I can’t believe they didn’t do a necropsy to find out what the animals died from during the heat wave,” says Dr. Lester Castro Friedlander, BA. DVM, and President of Citizens Against Equine Slaughter. ”Due to the high temperatures there is a very good possibility the horses died due to heat related conditions. By not doing the necropsy the cause of death is “unknown” and they avoid public outcry.”
Despite the BLM’s lack of transparency, today protestors gathered in Carson City to demand shelter for the wild horses and burros captive in pens.
Due to public outcry from wild horse advocates and groups, the BLM announced it is consulting PhD.s from UC Davis to determine if wild horses prefer shade and to determine the environmental conditions at Palomino Valley Center. The BLM is also as holding an open forum requesting public input on how the BLM can best care for the horses at Palomino Valley. Still no emergency shade has been brought in.
Another heat wave is hitting Reno this weekend but the BLM still clings to the belief that it’s OK to treat native wild horses and burros like something on a feedlot waiting to be slaughtered.
The public is encouraged to meet with their elected officials around the country and ask for them to intervene to bring emergency shade to the captive wild horses.
“These captive wild horses need emergency shade,” explains Novak. “Exposing them to another heat wave without shade is cruel.”
Protect Mustangs is circulating a petition for emergency shade on Change.org https://www.change.org/petitions/bring-emergency-shade-for-captive-wild-horses-and-burros
# # #
Media Contacts:
Anne Novak, 415.531.8454 Anne@ProtectMustangs.org
Kerry Becklund, 510.502.1913 Kerry@ProtectMustangs.org
Photos, video and interviews available upon request
Links of interest:
BLM’s wild horse and burro program looks to community for ideas at workshop: http://thisisreno.com/2013/07/blms-wild-horse-and-burro-program-looks-to-community-for-ideas-at-workshop/
Captive wild horses need relief from heat says HSUS http://horsetalk.co.nz/2013/07/18/captive-wild-horses-need-relief-heat-says-hsus/#axzz2ZcyetMGy
Captive wild horses need shade, advocates say http://horsetalk.co.nz/2013/07/02/captive-wild-horses-need-shade-advocates-say/#axzz2ZcyetMGy
How many foals are dying after roundups?: http://protectmustangs.org/?p=4246
BLM’s email revealing they are not counting the unbranded dead amongst the 37 dead mustangs at the Nevada facility http://protectmustangs.org/?p=4220
NPR: Fertility drug, nature, better than horse roundups http://newsle.com/article/0/78084688/
Information on native wild horses: http://protectmustangs.org/?page_id=562
Wild-horse advocates: Rallies held in 50 states to drum up opposition to roundups, slaughter http://www.therepublic.com/view/story/80561cc4e8a64b43ae909f7d09a0473e/NV–Wild-Horses-Rallies
Animals Angels investigative report: http://www.animalsangels.org/the-issues/horse-slaughter/foia-requests/497-blm-nevada-mortality-records-a-nevada-rendering-animals-angels-foia-request-reveals-discrepancies.html
Palomino Valley Center: http://www.blm.gov/nv/st/en/prog/wh_b/palomino_valley_national.html
Protect Mustangs’ press releases: http://protectmustangs.org/?page_id=12
Protect Mustangs in the news: http://protectmustangs.org/?page_id=218
NOTES:
4 horses died during the last heat wave but only 3 deaths (A,C,D) could be related to the heat wave. (see email from BLM below). Strangles is a respiratory illness (Equine Distemper). Horses with repiratory illness have a higher chance of death when enduring a heat wave, because they are already having difficulty breathing and the heat aggrivates that.
BLM’s Debbie Collins responds to Anne Novak’s email:
| So, I am listing a response to the specific questions you submitted to Jeb below:1. How many unbranded foals, etc. have died from June 27 to July?
Jeb has already provided you a response to this, but at this time no records are kept on unbranded animals that die.
3. For the listed time period, what were the dates of any deaths, how old were the horses and what were their id #s? A. #12620475 – 1yr old Female – Died 6/28/13 from strangles B. #06619316 – 7yr old Gelding – Died 6/28/13 from Neck/Head injury C. #10617585 – 3yr old Female – Died 6/30/13 from Unknown* D. #12619358 – 1yr old Female – Died 7/2/13 from Unknown*
* PVC’s Vet and staff reported no signs of heat-related symptoms prior to the deaths of #10617585 & #12619358. In addition, these animals had a continuous supply of water, quality hay, and sprinklers present; therefore, there was no life or death issue present. It is not always possible to make a determination of the cause of death. But, if the BLM has any future deaths at PVC that are not associated with a particular illness or injury, a necropsy will be performed. |
Mortality inquiry since heat wave
——– Original Message ——–
Subject: Re: Mortality inquiry since heat wave
From: “Beck, James (Jeb)” <j1beck@blm.gov>
Date: Mon, July 08, 2013 1:32 pm
To: <@protectmustangs.org>
Anne, The dates were 2 on 6/28 1 on 6/30 and one on 7/2. Two were yearling and a three year old and one seven year old. I don’t have records of the number of unbranded deaths that may have happened.
Thanks Jeb
On Mon, Jul 8, 2013 at 1:18 PM, <anne@protectmustangs.org> wrote:
Dear Jeb,What were the dates of the deaths you mentioned? How old were the horses and what were their id #s?How many unbranded foals, etc. have died from June 27 to July?Thank you for your assistance.Sincerely,Anne NovakAnne NovakExecutive DirectorProtect MustangsSan Francisco Bay AreaAs seen on the news and in printRead about native wild horses: http://protectmustangs.org/?page_id=562Protect Mustangs on FacebookProtect Mustangs on TwitterProtect Mustangs on YouTubeProtect Mustangs in the NewsDonate to help Protect MustangsProtect Mustangs is devoted to protecting native wild horses. Our mission is to educate the public about the indigenous wild horse, protect and research American wild horses on the range and help those who have lost their freedom.——– Original Message ——–
Subject: Re: Mortality inquiry since heat wave
From: “Beck, James (Jeb)” <j1beck@blm.gov>
Date: Mon, July 08, 2013 9:28 am
To: <@protectmustangs.org>Good morning, Hope you had a good 4th.
I ran the report on deaths that you requested 6/27/2013 to 7/08/2013 we have had four branded animals die. One case of bastard strangles, one neck injury, and two undiagnosed found dead in pen. Nothing died since 7/02/2013.Thanks JebOn Wed, Jul 3, 2013 at 1:14 PM, @protectmustangs.org> wrote:Dear Jeb,How many wild horses have died at Palomino Valley center since June 27, 2013 ?Sincerely,Anne NovakAnne NovakExecutive DirectorProtect MustangsSan Francisco Bay AreaAs seen on the news and in printRead about native wild horses: http://protectmustangs.org/?page_id=562Protect Mustangs on FacebookProtect Mustangs on TwitterProtect Mustangs on YouTubeProtect Mustangs in the NewsDonate to help Protect MustangsProtect Mustangs is devoted to protecting native wild horses. Our mission is to educate the public about the indigenous wild horse, protect and research American wild horses on the range and help those who have lost their freedom.James (Jeb) BeckActing Facility ManagerPalomino Valley Wild Horse and Burro Center775-475-2222
—
James (Jeb) Beck
Acting Facility Manager
Palomino Valley Wild Horse and Burro Center
775-475-2222
Help the trapped wild horses in the heat wave!
Call & email your Senators & Reps to get their help on this federal issue! Captured wild horses & burros need shade. Contact info here:http://www.usa.gov/
We have spoken with a Nevada BLM facility manager who said shade structures need to be authorized from the national level of the Bureau of Land Management in Washington, D.C. So let’s make our voices heard!
We are working with Senator Mark Manendo who is deeply concerned. Anne Novak & Mark Manendo called offices in Washington today.
Palomino Valley is installing temporary sprinklers now thanks to public outrage and awesome advocate work on the “Gimme Shelter” campaign but that’s not shade. Keep pushing the “Gimme Shelter” campaign. Wild horses & burros need shade in a heat wave!
Our June 9th press release requesting shade: http://
Donate for gas to document wild horses in holding. We will volunteer our time but need your help to put gas in the tank. ($4.11 a gal here). Send via PayPal to Contact@ProtectMustangs.or
If you live outside the USA send us an email and we will bring those to our meetings with elected officials. Email: Contact@ProtectMustangs.or
Photo © Anne Novak taken at a holding facility with no shade.
Information about the wild horse crisis: www.ProtectMustangs.org
Get in touch with us if you want to help: Contact@ProtectMustangs.or
“Like” us on Facebook for updates: https://www.facebook.com/ProtectMustangs
Remember sharing is caring.
#BREAKING NEWS: Senator Manendo wants humane treatment for captured wild horses
for immediate release
Captive wild horses trapped with no shade during heat wave
RENO, Nv. (June 9, 2013)–Senator Mark Manendo, Protect Mustangs and horse lovers across the internet are very concerned for the welfare of the captured native wild horses at the Palomino Valley National Adoption Center during the Reno heat wave. Mustangs of all ages are trapped in pens without shade–even mares and newborn foals. An avalanche of concern is traveling across social media.
Patty Bumgarner with the Wild Horse Protection League from Dayton wrote on Facebook, “Palomino Valley BLM, 91 degrees at 11 a.m. and no shade for the horses with foals or any of the horses & burros. Supposed to be 106 today in Dayton. They’re 2 degrees hotter then us right now.”
Bumgarner’s post caught the attention of many wild horse advocates including Anne Novak, executive director of Protect Mustangs.
“It’s horrific to know this is happening,” says Novak. “The BLM is ignoring public input and continues to treat wild horses inhumanely. They don’t seem to care. Now with social media a lot of people are finding out so maybe it will snowball and change things.”
After last summer’s nearby wildfire, the BLM told Novak that no one lives on site. There are up to 2,000 wild horses in pens at the facility outside Reno. She decided to get help elsewhere.
Novak contacted Nevada State Senator Mark Manendo for help. He has an internet track record of being kind to animals and helping horses.
“We have a state law that says dogs need proper shade, food and water, so why not those horses?” asks Mark Manendo, Nevada State Senator. “Why would the BLM not want to provide proper care for the horses–especially if they require adopters must prove the wild horses will have access to shade?”
Previously the Palomino Valley National Adoption Center known as “PVC” has come under fire for several hot button issues. They have decided to cut costs by closing during 3 out of 4 Saturdays per month, making it harder for adopters to adopt wild horses and they don’t appear to be counting or reporting mustang mortalities correctly according to rendering plant records exposed by Animals Angels. During her research for 2013 mortalities, Novak discovered that young foals who die and have not been branded go unreported. With so many mares giving birth to foals at this time of year and no shade during heat waves–unreported deaths are of concern.
“We want American wild horses, especially mares and tiny foals, to be treated humanely while cared for by the federal government,” says Anne Novak. “They should be living in freedom where native horses belong so they can migrate to find shade. Now they are trapped in a pen during a heat wave with no shade–it’s cruel.”
Protect Mustangs encourages concerned Americans to contact their Congressional representative and 2 senators, asking them to intervene to stop this cruelty in all government holding facilities. This concerns all Americans because it is a federal issue.
According to the BLM’s website, “The National Wild Horse and Burro Center at Palomino Valley (PVC) is the largest BLM preparation and adoption facility in the country and serves as the primary preparation center for wild horses and burros gathered from the public lands in Nevada and other near-by states. Nevada is home to more than 50 percent of the Nation’s wild horses and burros with approximately 102 herd management areas throughout the State.”
Protect Mustangs is devoted to protecting native wild horses. Their mission is to educate the public about the indigenous wild horse, protect and research American wild horses on the range and help those who have lost their freedom.
# # #
Media Contacts:
Anne Novak, 415.531.8454 Anne@ProtectMustangs.org
Kerry Becklund, 510.502.1913 Kerry@ProtectMustangs.org
Photos, video and interviews available upon request
Links of interest:
Senator Manendo calls for wild horse sanctuaries: http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2013/jan/10/lv-senator-calls-sanctuaries-wild-horses-nevada/#axzz2VlV8EAv2
How many foals are dying after roundups: http://protectmustangs.org/?p=4246
BLM’s email revealing they are not counting the unbranded dead amongst the 37 dead mustangs at the Nevada facility http://protectmustangs.org/?p=4220
Washington Post: Independent panel: Wild horse roundups don’t work; use fertility drugs, let nature cull herdshttp://www.washingtonpost.com/national/energy-environment/independent-panel-to-recommend-changes-in-blm-wild-horse-program/2013/06/05/b65ba772-cdb3-11e2-8573-3baeea6a2647_story.html
Information on native wild horses: http://protectmustangs.org/?page_id=562
Wild-horse advocates: Rallies held in 50 states to drum up opposition to roundups, slaughter http://www.therepublic.com/view/story/80561cc4e8a64b43ae909f7d09a0473e/NV–Wild-Horses-Rallies
Animals Angels investigative report: http://www.animalsangels.org/the-issues/horse-slaughter/foia-requests/497-blm-nevada-mortality-records-a-nevada-rendering-animals-angels-foia-request-reveals-discrepancies.html
ProPublica: All the missing horses: What happened to the wild horses Tom Davis bought from the gov’t?http://www.propublica.org/article/missing-what-happened-to-wild-horses-tom-davis-bought-from-the-govt
Palomino Valley Center: http://www.blm.gov/nv/st/en/prog/wh_b/palomino_valley_national.html
Protect Mustangs in the news: http://protectmustangs.org/?page_id=218
Protect Mustangs’ press releases: http://protectmustangs.org/?page_id=12
La chasse aux mustangs ~ Hunting mustangs (Twin Peaks 2010)
La chasse aux mustangs
Chaque année, les autorités du Nevada, aux Etats-Unis, organisent de gigantesques captures de mustangs, ces chevaux symboles du Far West. Une fois capturés, ils sont vaccinés, castrés et envoyés dans un autre Etat. Mais pour les écologistes, se cache un autre objectif : l’exploitation du sol riche en gaz naturel.
Hunting mustangs
Each year, Nevada authorities, in the United States, organize gigantic roundups of mustangs, the symbolic horses of the Wild West. Once captured, they are vaccinated, castrated and sent to another state, But for ecologists, another objective is hidden: exploitation of land rich in natural gas.
from: http://www.wat.tv/video/chasse-aux-mustangs-341xd_2flv7_.html, filmed in 2010. Anne Novak was honored to work with the director and cinematographer on this project–bringing light to the hidden lies.
Scientists find ancient horse fossils
The underside of a skull, showing palate and teeth, of Equus scotti is seen in this photo provided by the San Bernardino County Museum. The remains of the Ice Age horse were found for the first time at Tule Springs in Nevada.
Cross-posted from the Press Enterprise
San Bernardino County Museum scientists excavating an Ice Age mammoth skeleton from the Tule Springs area north of Las Vegas have found a skull and lower jaw of an ancient horse never before reported at the site or in Nevada.
Horses are not uncommon in the Tule Springs fossil record, but not Equus scotti, a large horse common in much of western North America during the Pleistocene Epoch, or Ice Age.
Las Vegas-area volunteers were instrumental in the discovery.
“Our research funding from the Bureau of Land Management includes a strong public outreach component,” said Kathleen Springer, the museum’s senior curator of geological sciences and lead scientist for the research program in the upper Las Vegas Wash. “Because of this, we set up Nevada’s first paleontology-based site stewardship program, getting local citizens involved in our research. And now it’s paid off — in a big way.”
Springer discovered the fossil site in 2003, during survey conducted by museum scientists and funded by the Las Vegas district office of the Bureau of Land Management. The original find — a tusk and tooth of a mammoth just peeking out at the surface — suggested that multiple parts of the skeleton might be present.
In 2012, Springer’s mammoth site was selected for excavation as part of the BLM’s celebration of 50 years of science at Tule Springs. The presence of multiple bones made it ideal for excavation by site stewards working with museum paleontologists.
Brushing through desert sediments at the surface quickly revealed fragments of horse teeth mixed in with the mammoth fossils. Careful digging teased out more horse teeth, then both sides of the lower jaw, and finally, the skull.
The new finds preserve anatomical features never before seen in any horses from Tule Springs, making firm identifications possible for the first time. The site is nearly 12,000 years old, making the fossils among the youngest records of Equus scotti anywhere in North America.
The discovery is forcing scientists to revise their understanding of horse evolution and extinction at the end of the Ice Ages.
Horse fossils are fairly abundant from Tule Springs and the upper Las Vegas Wash, said Eric Scott, the museum’s curator of paleontology. His studies have revealed that three species of horse lived in the area during the Pleistocene Epoch.
But none of the earlier remains discovered there were sufficiently complete to make firm species identifications possible.
“There have been some species names suggested here and there, but nothing really concrete,” Scott said. “It’s a long-running joke with our team in Vegas that every time a new site is excavated, I plead for them to find a horse I can name.”
With identifiable horse fossils so scarce, paleontologists have had to make inferences about what horse species were present around Tule Springs. Other scientists proposed that the large horse found at the Rancho La Brea tar pits in Southern California also lived throughout the Mojave Desert and the Southwest.
“We now think that’s erroneous,” Scott said. “Our new horse from Vegas has a different anatomy from the big La Brea horse. It looks more like large Ice Age horses from northern Nevada that were living at about the same time.”
The new discovery shows that Equus scotti survived in southern Nevada until the end of the Pleistocene, which was not previously known. In Southern California, the species was replaced in the later Ice Ages by an anatomically distinct form.
“That’s likely either a pulse of evolution — a speciation event — or else the immigration of a different species northwards into California from Mexico,” Scott said. “Either way, we can now clarify the timing and geographic extent of this episode, and the relationships of these two species, in a very exciting way. And it means we had as many as four horse species living in the American southwest at the end of the Ice Ages. Compared to horses today, that’s quite a lot of species.”
Springer said the find emphasizes that “even after decades of work there’s still a lot for us to learn about the Ice Ages at Tule Springs.”
The fossils are under study at the San Bernardino County Museum.
This is an artist rendering of the Ice Age horse, Equus scotti. Image provided by the San Bernardino County Museum.
Link to the original article to comment: http://www.pe.com/local-news/san-bernardino-county/san-bernardino-county-headlines-index/20130522-san-bernardino-county-scientists-find-ancient-horse-fossils.ece
Read more about native wild horses here: http://protectmustangs.org/?page_id=562
Follow us on Facebook for updates: https://www.facebook.com/ProtectMustangs