Today she is safe and part of our outreach program because we stepped in to save her life with the help of her anonymous sponsor who has been making this rescue possible. We are 100% volunteer and so grateful to help Blondie and other American wild horses .
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
# # #
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.
Twin Peaks Post Fire Survey
May 18th and 19th 2013
Twin Peaks Wild Horse and Burro Herd Management Area
Summary:
Three experienced wildlife observers with binoculars: Jesica Johnston, Carrisa Johnston, and Kathy Gregg
91 miles traveled in 11 hours – we drove slowly with many stops to look for animals
1 horse and 8 burros found
Vegetation in burn area in very good condition with many wild flowers, low grasses, a lot of cheat grass and what appears to be some Russian/Siberian crested wheatgrass (non-native).
Many juniper trees burned beyond survival but many were not burned or will survive the fire damage. Sage areas clearly show the patchwork pattern of the fire, with many areas completely unburned within the Rush Fire perimeter.
Saw some bitterbrush drill seeding along Rye Patch Road. Very little black burned grass noticeable now compared with last fall immediately following the Rush fire (see Rush fire report http://protectmustangs.org/?p=2729 ) and now most of the burned area is covered with spring vegetative growth.
Most notable was the lack of any animal trailing that can usually be seen and would have been very obvious with the new carpet of forage – believe this is because #1 no livestock on the public land and #2 very few wild horses and burros left on the Twin Peaks Herd Management Area. Also noticeable was the lack of horse and burro tracks and manure on the HMA.
Other animals observed: one coyote, two golden eagles, vultures, crows/ravens, two rabbits, birds, ducks and geese at Horne Ranch reservoir, 2 deer, ~ 20 antelope, two curlew, small fish in the Robbers Roost pond and some burrowing ground squirrels and pika.
Unless otherwise noted, all photographs were taken by Jesica Johnston and Carrisa Johnston.
[side note: BLM Litchfield Wild horses and burros facility approx. 200-300 animals maximum] Saturday 5/18/2013
Smoke Creek Road
42 miles on HMA – 4 hours
Very few signs of any Wild horses and burros in this area (trailing/tracks/manure)
1 adult brown burro 8 miles east of Hwy 395 and 1 adult dark brown burro 15 miles east of Hwy 395
Wild Burro- Smoke Creek Road
Turned around at Smoke Creek Ranch owned by Bright-Holland Corporation – gate locked with no trespassing signs and 150+ cattle visible and lush green fields all fenced off.
Rye Patch Road
10 miles on HMA – 2 hours
One set of fresh horse tracks on road and few manure piles but not stud pile (mare or only one horse?) In the past (pre-fire) numerous manure piles and eight horses seen in this area.
We saw one old wild horse stud pile at Spanish Springs trough – new looking barbed wire strewn in pathway (very dangerous for any animal – we moved it) No recent signs of horse.
Horne Ranch Road
26 miles approximately half in twin Peaks – 2 hours at dusk
Sunday 5/19/2013
Shinn Ranch Road
13 miles– 3 hours
6 Burros (5 adults and 1 yearling) north side of road about ¼ mile east of Highway 395
Conclusion
In our two days of observation we saw very few signs of any wild horses or burros and only saw one dark horse about a mile south of Shinn Ranch Road about 4 miles in from Hwy 395 – it was far off but 99% sure it was a horse in the far canyon and the only wild horse we saw on this trip.
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.
Photo © Karen McLain Evening Light | Design by Anne Novak for ProtectMustangs.org
Visit the GASLAND website for more information.
| 5/29 – | SACRAMENTO , The Crest Theater Gasland Part II Grassroots Tour 5:30 PM * Reception 6:00 PM * Screening Followed by Q&A with Josh Fox. RSVP |
| 5/31 – | SANTA BARBARA, Buchanan Hall Room 1910, University of California, Santa Barbara Gasland Part II Grassroots Tour Followed by Q&A with Josh Fox.RSVP |
| 6/1 – | MONTEREY, Lecture Forum #102 Monterey Peninsula College Gasland Part II Grassroots Tour Followed by Q&A with Josh Fox.RSVP |
| 6/2 – | STANFORD, Cubberly Auditorium, School of Education Building Gasland Part II Grassroots Tour 12:30pm * Reception 1:00pm * Screnning Followed by Q&A with Josh Fox. RSVP |
| 6/2 – | OAKLAND, Oakland Asian Cultural Center Gasland Part II Grassroots Tour Followed by Q&A with Josh Fox. RSVP |
| 6/3 – | SANTA CRUZ, Rio Theater Gasland Part II Grassroots Tour Followed by Q&A with Josh Fox. RSVP |
| 6/5 – | BINGHAMTON, West Middle School Gasland Part II Grassroots Tour Doors open at 6pm. Followed by Q&A with Josh Fox.RSVP |
| 6/7 – | ITHACA , Alice Statler Auditorium Gasland Part II Grassroots Tour Followed by Q&A with Josh Fox |
| 6/8 – | CALLICOON, Callicoon Theater Gasland Part II Grassroots Tour Followed by Q&A with Josh Fox |
| 6/9 – | WALTON, The Walton Theatre Gasland Part II Grassroots Tour Followed by Q&A with Josh FoxRSVP |
| 6/9 – | PLEASANTVILLE, Jacob Burns Film Center Gasland Part II Grassroots Tour |
| 6/12 – | ALBANY, TBA Gasland Part II Grassroots Tour Followed by Q&A with Josh Fox. |
| 6/13 – | SYRACUSE , SUNY-ESF: Marshall Hall Gasland Part II Grassroots Tour Followed by Q&A with Josh Fox. |
| 6/15 – | TRENTON, New Jersey State Museum Gasland Part II Grassroots Tour Followed by Q&A with Josh Fox.RSVP |
| 6/15 – | TRENTON, New Jersey State Museum Gasland Part II Grassroots Tour Followed by Q&A with Josh Fox.RSVP |
PENNSYLVANIA
| 6/17 – | BETHLEHEM, Broughal Middle School Gasland Part II Grassroots Tour Followed by Q&A with Josh Fox RSVP |
| 6/18 – | CAMP HILL, Digi Plex Cinema Center Gasland Part II Grassroots Tour Followed by Q&A with Josh FoxRSVP |
| 6/19 – | WILLIAMSPORT, Community Arts Center Gasland Part II Grassroots Tour Followed by Q&A with Josh Fox. |
| 6/20 – | PITTSBURGH, Soliders & Sailors Memorial Hall Gasland Part II Grassroots Tour Followed by Q&A with Josh Fox. RSVP |
Wildfire risk potential version 2013, data origin & source: USDA Forest Service
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For immediate release:
More than 40 international protests today to stop the roundups and stop horse slaughter
OAKLAND, Ca. (April 27, 2013)–Protect Mustangs™, the Bay Area-based native wild horse conservation group, is holding protests today in Oakland and Rock Springs, Wyoming to save indigenous wild horses from roundups, abuse, slaughter and pass the SAFE Act. The Oakland rally is held outside the Rockridge BART station from 3:30 to 6 p.m. The Rock Springs rally is held at 70 Gateway Blvd at 2 p.m. The group wants all the wild horses in government funded holding to be returned to the range to help reduce wildfires. More than 40 international protests, spearheaded by Nevada’s Patty Bumgarner on Facebook, are being held to save the horses. Protect Mustangs™ requests Congress stop the cruelty, the slaughter and save taxpayer dollars–especially during the Sequester.
“We are united across the country to say no to slaughter, roundups and cruel overectomies in the field,” states Anne Novak, executive director of Protect Mustangs™. “We want our wild horses to be protected. Did you know America’s wild horses are indigenous? Are you aware that CalTrans found ancient horse fossils while digging the fourth bore of the Caldecott Tunnel?”
The horse, E. caballus, originated in America over a million years ago and returned with the Conquistadors if it ever went extinct in the first place. With history written by the Inquisition, one must read between the lines. It was heresy for Old World animals, such as the horse, to have originated in the heathen Americas.
Novak points out,”Recent DNA testing proves our iconic wild horses are the same species as E. caballus–the original horse.”
Esteemed scientists Kirkpatrick, J.F., and P.M. Fazio explained the following in Wild Horses as Native North American Wildlife (Revised January 2010). The Science and Conservation Center, ZooMontana, Billings:
‘The key element in describing an animal as a native species is (1) where it originated; and (2) whether or not it co‐evolved with its habitat. Clearly, E. 6 caballus did both, here in North American. There might be arguments about ‘breeds,’ but there are no scientific grounds for arguments about ‘species.’
The non‐native, feral, and exotic designations given by agencies are not merely reflections of their failure to understand modern science but also a reflection of their desire to preserve old ways of thinking to keep alive the conflict between a species (wild horses), with no economic value anymore (by law), and the economic value of commercial livestock.’
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) received $78 million last year to run the Wild Horse and Burro Program. Two-thirds of the expenses went towards caring for the equids in captivity. Despite the federal budget crisis, the program received a $2 million increase in funding for their 2014 fiscal budget–including $6 million for the helicopter contractor.
California’s Senator Feinstein chairs Energy and Water subcommittee as well as rules on Interior issues within the Committee on Appropriations. The Committee gives taxpayer dollars to fiscally irresponsible and cruel wild horse and burro roundups despite public outcry.
Roundups and removals are linked to mining and toxic fracking in the West. It appears native horses are being removed to fast track the extractive industry’s use of public land for private profit yet the public and the environment are hit with the costs.
Native wild horses will soon be zeroed out from Wyoming’s “checkerboard” public-private land–allegedly in preparation for the largest natural gas field in the country. The conservation group has requested a $50 million fund be created to mitigate environmental distress from fracking on the range.
“Tourists love to come to Wyoming to see our wild horses,” states Melissa Maser, outreach coordinator for Protect Mustangs™ in Wyoming and Texas. “We’d like to see native wild horses protected for future generations.”
Advocates are documenting wild horses being removed throughout the West as healthy and with fewer foals. The starving and overpopulation myths from BLM spin doctors are fabricated to sway Congress to fund roundups and removals.
“We’d like to find a win-win for wild horses in the West,” explains Novak. “Native horses will help reduce wildfires that cost insurance companies billions of dollars annually and contribute to global warming. We have requested the BLM put a freeze on roundups and return the 50,000 wild horses stockpiled in holding to public land. This will take the burden off the taxpayer and help to reduce wildfires.”
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@Protect Mustangs.org
Kerry Becklund, 510.502.1913 Kerry@ProtectMustangs.org
Photos, video and interviews available upon request
Links of interest:
Gone viral~ The Associated Press, February 10, 2013: Wild-horse advocates split over interior nominee http://seattletimes.com/html/localnews/2020332496_apnvwildhorses1stldwritethru.html
US property exposed to wildfire valued at $136 billion says report: http://www.artemis.bm/blog/2012/09/17/u-s-property-exposed-to-wildfire-valued-at-136-billion-says-report/
KQED Horse fossil found in Caldecott Tunnel: http://science.kqed.org/quest/2011/05/26/new-fossils-from-the-caldecott-tunnel/
Gone viral~ The Associated Press, March 24, 2013: Budget axe nicks BLM wild-horse adoption center http://www.denverpost.com/colorado/ci_22862206
Horseback Magazine: Sequester prompts call for wild horses and burros to be returned to the wild http://horsebackmagazine.com/hb/archives/21568
Horseback Magazine, March 8, 2013: Protect Mustangs calls for fund for Wyoming wild horses http://horsebackmagazine.com/hb/archives/20979
Horseback Magazine: Group takes umbridge at use of the word “feral” http://horsebackmagazine.com/hb/archives/19392
Ruby pipeline and wild horse roundups? http://www.8newsnow.com/story/12769788/i-team-bp-connected-to-wild-horse-roundups
BLM’s 2014 Budget: http://www.blm.gov/wo/st/en/info/newsroom/2013/april/04_10_2013.html
Why are the wild horses being removed? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tCWWgOugF2U
Wyoming Tourism’s video of wild horses: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0tRZkBXkbyY
Protect Mustangs™: www.ProtectMustangs.org
Protect Mustangs™ on Facebook
Protect Mustangs™ on Twitter
Protect Mustangs™ on YouTube
Protect Mustangs™ in the News
Information on native wild horses: http://protectmustangs.org/?page_id=562
Photo © Cynthia Smalley, all rights reserved.
Saturday April 27 from 3-6 pm outside Rockridge BART on College Avenue
JOIN US to Rally to STOP the Roundups!
RETURN all 50,000 Captive Native Wild Horses to Public Land. (Now displaced from their families and freedom, they are held behind bars n BLM short and long term holding facilities and human prisons)
BAN horse slaughter for human consumption and BAN the export of horses to slaughter. PASS the SAFE ACT
The Sequester puts all wild horses & burros in government holding at risk. Freeze the Roundups due to the Sequester!
Read more here: http://
Please invite your friends!
This is a family friendly rally.
Protect Mustangs
www.ProtectMustangs.org
Discover Mustangs
www.DiscoverMustangs.org
April 27th is an international day to protest wild horse roundups, holding them captive and horse slaughter.
Did you know about the important April 25th meeting in Cedarville, Ca.? Can you attend to champion indigenous wild horses and historic burros? They will talk about wiping out the majority of wild horses left on northeastern California’s Twin Peaks range due to the 2012 Rush Fire.
“The changes could result in amendments affecting public lands managed by the BLM’s Alturas, Eagle Lake and Surprise field offices”, said Jeff Fontana, a spokesman for the federal agency, according to the Sacramento Bee.Who can go to this important meeting?
The BLM will push through the anti-wild horse plan unless advocates, lawyers and members of the public go to voice their support for native wild horses to live wild and free on public land, unharassed and in genetically viable herds.
Why is the BLM doing this? They are fast tracking energy projects on wild horse and burro herd management areas (public sanctuaries) as well as doing back room deals on water rights and more.
” . . . The Modoc-Washoe Experimental Stewardship Steering Committee will also discuss wild horse and burro management in northeastern California. A committee exploring options for reopening Cedarville’s lumber mill also will present a report, Fontana said.
The steering committee is one of three nationally established by Congress to advise federal officials on stewardship issues. It works on a full consensus basis to promote innovative range management approaches.
The public meeting starts at 9 a.m. at the BLM office at 602 Cressler St. in Cedarville.”
Read more here:
http://www.sacbee.com/
Neighborhood kids check in often to watch the wild mustangs. They ask a lot of questions.
Tibet & Blondie
Blondie and Tibet are bonding